Psalms 119:57

119:57-64 True believers take the Lord for the portion of their inheritance, and nothing less will satisfy them. The psalmist prayed with his whole heart, knowing how to value the blessing he prayed for: he desired the mercy promised, and depended on the promise for it. He turned from by-paths, and returned to God's testimonies. He delayed not. It behoves sinners to hasten to escape; and the believer will be equally in haste to glorify God. No care or grief should take away God's word out of our minds, or hinder the comfort it bestows. There is no situation on earth in which a believer has not cause to be thankful. Let us feel ashamed that others are more willing to keep from sleep to spend the time in sinful pleasures, than we are to praise God. And we should be more earnest in prayer, that our hearts may be filled with his mercy, grace, and peace.

CHETH. Psalm 119:57-58 . Thou art my portion, O Lord — Whereas other men place their portion and happiness in worldly things, I have chosen thee for my portion and chief treasure: and thou art an all-sufficient and excellent portion for me: see notes on Psalm 16:5 ; Psalm 73:26 . I have said that I would keep thy words — I have not only purposed it in my own heart, but have professed it before others, and I do not repent of it. I entreated thy favour, &c. — Thy gracious presence and merciful assistance.

57 Thou art my portion, O Lord: I have said that I would keep thy words. 58 I intreated thy favour with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word. 59 I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies. 60 I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments. 61 The bands of the wicked have robbed me: but I have not forgotten thy law. 62 At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments. 63 I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts. 64 The earth, O Lord, is full of thy mercy: teach me thy statutes. In this section the Psalmist seems to take firm hold upon God himself; appropriating him (Psalm 119:57), crying out for him (Psalm 119:58), returning to him (Psalm 119:59), solacing himself in him (Psalm 119:61, Psalm 119:62), associating with his people (Psalm 119:63), and sighing for personal experience of his goodness (Psalm 119:64). Note how Psalm 119:57 is linked to the last of the former one, of which indeed it is an expanded repetition. "This I had because I kept thy precepts. Thou art my portion, O Lord: I have said that I would keep thy words." Psalm 119:57 "Thou art my portion, O Lord." A broken sentence. The translators have mended it by insertions, but perhaps it had been better to have left it alone, and then it would have appeared as an exclamation, - "My portion, O Lord!" The poet is lost in wonder while he sees that the great and glorious God is all his own!

Well might he be so, for there is no possession like Jehovah himself. The form of the sentence expresses joyous recognition and appropriation, - "My portion, O Jehovah!" David had often seen the prey divided, and heard the victors shouting over it; here he rejoices as one who seizes his share of the spoil; he chooses the Lord to be his part of the treasure. Like the Levites, he took God to be his portion, and left other matters to those who coveted them. This is a large and lasting heritage, for it includes all, and more than all, and it outlasts all; and yet no man chooses it for himself until God has chosen and renewed him. Who that is truly wise could hesitate for a moment when the infinitely blessed God is set before him to be the object of his choice? David leaped at the opportunity, and grasped the priceless boon. Our author here dares exhibit the title-deeds of his portion before the eye of the Lord himself, for he addresses his joyful utterance directly to God whom he boldly calls his own. With much else to choose from, for he was a king, and a man of great resources, he deliberately turns from all the treasures of the world, and declares that the Lord, even Jehovah, is his portion. "I have said that I would keep thy words." We cannot always look back with comfort upon what we have said, but in this instance David had spoken wisely and well. He had declared his choice: he preferred the word of God to the wealth of worldlings.

CHETH Whereas other men place their portion and happiness in worldly things, I have chosen thee for my portion and chief treasure, as he said, Psalm 16:5 73:26 , and thou hast an all-sufficient and an excellent portion for me. I have said; I have not only purposed it in my own heart, but have professed and owned it before others, and I do not repent of it.

57 . Thou art my portion, O Lord ] So some MSS of the LXX (AT); but the Heb. text must be rendered, Jehovah is my portion: I have purposed to observe thy words : or, Jehovah is my portion, have I said: that I may observe thy words : or, more simply, with cod. א of the LXX, and the Vulg., Jehovah my portion, I have purposed &c. Cp. Psalm 16:5 ; Psalm 73:26 ; Psalm 142:5 . 57–64 . Chçth . The Psalmist’s devotion to Jehovah and His law.