Psalms 119:176

Verse 176. I have gone astray like a lost sheep] A sheep, when it has once lost the flock, strays in such a manner as to render the prospect of its own return utterly hopeless. I have seen them bleating when they have lost the flock, and when answered by the others, instead of turning to the sound, have gone on in the same direction in which they were straying, their bleatings answered by the rest of the flock, till they were out of hearing! This fact shows the propriety of the next clause.

Seek thy servant] I shall never find thee; come to the wilderness, take me up, and carry me to the flock. See the notes on the parable of the lost sheep, Luke 15:4, c. The psalmist began with "Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord" and he concludes with "I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant." And thus, conscious of the blessedness of those who are in the way or righteousness, he desires to be brought into it, that he may walk in newness of life. Ver. 1: "It is a good way, and they are blessed that walk in it." Verse the last, "Bring me into this way, that I may be blessed." And thus the Psalm, in sentiment, returns into itself; and the latter verse is so connected with the former, as to make the whole a perfect circle, like the serpent biting its own tail.

There is one extraordinary perfection in this Psalm: begin where you will, you seem to be at the commencement of the piece; end where you will, you seem to close with a complete sense. And yet it is not like the Book of Proverbs, a tissue of detached sentences; it is a whole composed of many parts, and all apparently as necessary to the perfection of the Psalm, as the different alphabetical letters under which it is arranged are to the formation of a complete alphabet. Though there be a continual recurrence of the same words, which would of itself prevent it from having a pleasing effect upon the ear, yet these words are so connected with a vast variety of others, which show their force and meaning in still new and impressive points of light, that attention is still excited, and devotion kept alive, during the whole reading. It is constructed with admirable art, and every where breathes the justest and highest encomiums on the revelation of God; shows the glories of the God who gave it, the necessities and dependence of his intelligent creatures, the bounty of the Creator, and the praise and obedience which are his due. It is elegant throughout; it is full of beauties, and I have endeavoured in the preceding notes to mark some of them; but the number might have been greatly multiplied. To no Psalm can its own words be better applied, Psalms 119:18: "Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law."

ANALYSIS OF LETTER TAU. - Twenty-Second Division

In this last section the psalmist seems to sum up all his preceding exercises.

I. He prays.

II. Gives thanks.

III. Confesses his errors.

IV. Craves mercy; and,

V. Promises obedience.

I. In the first two verses he prays for his prayers, begging God to accept them.

1. "Let my cry come near before thee!"

2. "Let my supplication come before thee!" This repetition shows his earnestness, fervency, importunity, and perseverance. See Luke 11:1, c.

That for which he prays is, 1. Understanding 2. Deliverance.

1. "Give me understanding." I want more light.

2. Give me this "according to thy word." In the measure which thou hast promised.

3. And give it to me for this end, that I may know thy law, be obedient to its precepts, and finally, by thy mercy, obtain everlasting life.

4. "Deliver me according to thy word." I want salvation, and that measure of it which thy word promises.

II. He gives thanks.

1. "My lips shall utter praise." I will celebrate thy praises with songs.

2. "My tongue shall speak." I shall set forth thy wondrous deeds.

3. Shall show that all thy commandments are righteousness; just, holy, impartial.

4. But these things I cannot do till "thou hast taught me thy statutes."

III. He proceeds to other parts of prayer: -

1. "Let thy hand help me." My own strength will avail little.

2. "I have chosen thy statutes:" and without thy help I cannot obey them.

3. "I have longed for thy salvation." Thou knowest my heart is right with thee.

4. "And thy law is my delight." A man naturally longs for that which he delights to possess.

Here he notes three things: -

1. I have "chosen thy precepts."

2. I have "longed for thy salvation."

3. "Delighted in thy law;" therefore "let thy hand be with me."

He prays for, -

1. Life: "Let my soul live."

2. "And it shall praise thee." When the soul is dead to God, there is neither gratitude nor obedience.

3. "Let thy judgments help me." Cause the merciful dispensations of thy providence ever to work in my behalf. In this sense the word judgments is frequently taken in this Psalm.

IV. He confesses his errors.

1. "I have gone astray," departed from thee, my Shepherd.

2. "And like a lost sheep too." See the note.

3. My errors, however, have not been wilful and obstinate. I did not sufficiently watch and pray, and my sheep - like simplicity was practised upon by my arch enemy.

4. The consequence, however, has been, I am lost - far from thy fold. But thou didst come to seek and save that which was lost.

5. Therefore, O Lord, seek me. I am in the wilderness; leave the ninety and nine that do not need thee as I do, and seek me; for, by thy grace, I seek thee.

V. I look for thee in the spirit of obedience.

1. Seek thy servant. I am ready to do thy will, though I erred from thy ways.

2. "I do not forget thy commandments," though I have often come short of my duty.

These words may be very suitable to a person who has backslidden, and who is returning to God with a penitent and believing heart.

1. Though he had fallen, the light of God continued to shine into his conscience.

2. He had not forgotten God's way, nor lost sight of his own state. The word of the Lord, applied by his Spirit, 1. When he was slumbering, awakened him. 2. When he was dead, quickened him. 3. When he was in danger, preserved him. 4. When he was wounded, cured him. 5. When he was assailed by his foes, armed and defended him. 6. And by this word he was nourished and supported. It was ever well with the psalmist, and it is ever well with all the followers of God, when they do not forget God's word.

It may be just necessary to note here, that if this Psalm be considered as belonging to the times of the Babylonish captivity, which it most probably does, the psalmist, though speaking in his own person, is ever to be considered as speaking in the persons of all the captives in Babylon.