Psalm 119:173

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.

 


Psalm 119:172

Vs. 172 — My tongue shall speak of Your word, For all Your commandments are righteousness.

William Cowper:

One duty of thankfulness promised by David is, to speak of God’s words for the edification of others. Every Christian man, as he is a priest to offer sacrifice unto God, so is he a prophet to teach his brethren; for unto us all stands that commandment, “Edify one another in their most holy faith.” But, alas, ye shall see many Christians now, who at their tables, and in their companies, can speak freely upon any subject; only for spiritual matters, which concern the soul, there they are dumb, and cannot say with David, “My tongue shall speak of thy word.” (Spurgeon, C. H. (2009). The treasury of David: Psalms 111-119 (Vol. 5, p. 438). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)

Prayer:

My tongue shall speak of Your word, for all Your commandments are righteousness. Give us–I speak for all saints in Christ Jesus, understanding in the ways and of things of Thy kingdom. And with understanding give us courage to speak, that is, to share with the brethren in the household of God and also with those who are without. Help us to speak void of  arrogance and self-righteousness; but let our words be with patience and seasoned as it were with salt. Help us to always speak with a consciousness of the grace and mercy that You have spoken to us. Also let our words be clear and concise, not mixed or double-minded with various opinions and directions. Temper our heart’s attitude, motive, and tongue. As we share Your ways with others, flood our hearts with fresh compassion for them and their situation. Remind us of our own frailness and failures that we may speak with humility and gentleness. Yet, when fools mock You and Your word, give us wisdom when and what to speak and when to let the fool wallow in his futility. I pray this way because of our whole dependence upon Thy Spirit. Amen.


Psalm 119:171

Vs. 171 — My lips shall utter praise, For You teach me Your statutes.

John Stephen:

You have stood at the fountain head of a stream of water, and admired while it bubbled up, and ran down in a clear rivulet, till at length it swelled the mighty river. Such is the allusion here. The heart taught of God cannot contain itself, but breaks out in praise and singing. This would be the effect of divine illumination, and this would be felt to be a privilege, yea, and a high duty. Have you not found so, believers, specially on communion occasions? Be assured, such utterances are the sign of a renewed heart; yea, of a heart filled with all gratitude of right feeling. (Spurgeon, C. H. (2009). The treasury of David: Psalms 111-119 (Vol. 5, pp. 437–438). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)

Prayer:

My lips shall utter praise, for You teach me Your statutes. The more You teach me, the more I have rejoice in You. The more You open my eyes into Thy precepts and testimonies, the more praise that is stirred up with and seeks to erupt from my lips. Do not withhold the treasures of Thy word. More, teach me more, that I may know Thee more in Thy loveliness.


Psalm 119:170

Vs. 170 — Let my supplication come before You; Deliver me according to Your word.

Ambrose (in Neale and Littledale):

Knock therefore at the door of the heavenly palace: knock, not with your bodily hand, but with the right hand of prayer. For the voice can knock as well as the hand, as it is written, “It is the voice of my Beloved that knocketh”: Cant. 5:2. (Spurgeon, C. H. (2009). The treasury of David: Psalms 111-119 (Vol. 5, p. 437). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)

Prayer:

Let my supplication come before You; deliver me according to Your word. Father, even with understanding and encouragement, we cannot deliver ourselves. How foolish is such self-confidence. We cannot deliver ourselves from ourselves; from others; from the enemy that encamps against us; from the sin that works to devour us; from this godless world that desires to poison us; from the snare of the fowler and the arrows that fly by night. Our safety is in You alone. Our rescue can come from no other. Hear the cries of the weak and the oppressed and deliver. You are the great Deliverer. There is no other! Amen!


Psalm 119:169

Vs. 169 (NKJV) — Let my cry come before You, O Lord; Give me understanding according to Your word.

Charles H. Spurgeon:

He wants the Lord’s attention to his prayer to be very close and considerate. He uses a figure of speech and personifies his prayer. We may picture his prayer as Esther, venturing into the royal presence, entreating an audience, and begging to find favour in the sight of the blessed and only Potentate. It is a very sweet thing to a suppliant when he knows of a surety that his prayer has obtained audience, when it has trodden the sea of glass before the throne, and has come even to the footstool of the glorious seat around which heaven and earth adore. It is to Jehovah that this prayer is expressed with trembling earnestness—our translators, filled with holy reverence, translate the word, “O LORD.” We crave audience of none else, for we have confidence in none beside. (Spurgeon, C. H. (2009). The treasury of David: Psalms 111-119 (Vol. 5, p. 433). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)

Prayer:

Let my cry come before You, O Lord; give me understanding according to Your word. Hear my distress, my Savior and Confidant. Blow away the anxiousness and despair from my mind and grant me a clear understanding of the situation. Wisdom; I cry out for wisdom. Peace; I cry out for peace. As You uphold me, grant me these graces through Thy word. And if it be in accordance with Your will, allow me, I pray, to see even a glimpse of Your hand at work that I may be more humble and have more  words of praise to offer You.