Vs. 173 — Let Your hand become my help, For I have chosen Your precepts.

John Calvin:

As he had devoted himself to the doctrine of the law, David requests that the hand of God may be stretched forth for his aid. Farther, by these words he declares, that those who yield themselves to God to be governed by His word have continually need of His help. (Calvin, J., & Anderson, J. (2010). Commentary on the Book of Psalms (Vol. 5, p. 48). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)

Abraham Wright:

David having before made promises of thankfulness, seeks now help from God, that he may perform them. Our sufficiency is not of ourselves, but of God; to will and to do are both from him. In temporal things men ofttimes take great pains with small profit; first, because they seek not to make their conscience good; next, because they seek not help from God; therefore they speed no better than Peter, who fished all night and got nothing till he cast his net in the name of the Lord. But in spiritual things we may far less look to prosper, if we call not for God’s assistance: the means will not profit us unless God’s blessing accompany them. There is preaching, but for the most part without profit; there is prayer, but it prevails not; there is hearing of the word, but without edifying; and all because in spiritual exercises instant prayer is not made unto God, that his hand may be with us to help us. (Spurgeon, C. H. (2009). The treasury of David: Psalms 111-119 (Vol. 5, p. 438). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)

Prayer:

Let Your hand become my help, for I have chosen Your precepts. You, O’ Lord, have chosen to show me that we are wholly dependent for all things, in all things, and from all things that are harmful. Your hand is my help. Your words are light and wisdom. Your heart is my fixed aim. Grant me breath to live that I may praise You and enjoy You in the flesh. Grant me a heart compassion for souls that I be invigorated with the zeal of my Savior. All from You, by You, for You. Be glorified in this servant, whom You have made. Amen.