Psalms 119:56

Verse Psalms 119:56. This I had, because I kept thy precepts.] Though thou didst leave us under the power of our enemies, yet thou hast not left us without the consolations of thy Spirit.

ANALYSIS OF LETTER ZAIN. - Seventh Division

In this part the psalmist -

I. Prays.

II. Shows his trust in God, notwithstanding his discouragements.

III. Commends the word of God, by showing what blessed effects it had produced in him.

I. 1. He prays: "Remember;" accomplish and perfect thy promise. God's promises are made to prayer and faith; if men do not exert these, God will not fulfil the others.

2. "Made to thy servant:" The promises are made to the obedient. It is in vain to desire God to remember his promises made to us, if we make no conscience to perform our promises made to him.

3. "Wherein thou hast caused me to put my trust:" This is a forcible argument to induce God to fulfil his promises. They are thy promises; thou hast made them to us; and thou hast caused us to hope, because made by thee, that they shall be fulfilled.

II. He shows that the hope he had in God made him steady, even in afflictions.

1. "This is my comfort in affliction:" That is, God's word and promise.

2. "Thy word hath quickened me;" brought me life, strength, and courage.

3. He mentions his afflictions. 1. The proud have had me in derision. 2. Yet I have not declined from thy law. 3. For in my afflictions I remembered thy judgments; his casting down the proud and exalting the humble. And, 4. From these considerations he derived comfort.

III. His knowledge of God's purity and judgments caused him to commiserate the state of the wicked.

1. "Horror hath taken hold upon me:" For those who trampled under foot God's word, and persecuted the righteous, he grieved; not because of the evil they did him, but of the evil they did themselves. He describes those men.

2. They forsook God's laws. Probably apostate Israelites.

3. He was not without consolation, though much afflicted and harassed. He took delight in God's law, and made his songs of it.

4. And this was a source of joy to him both day and night.

5. He concludes with this acclamation: "This I had;" I had this spirit, this power, this comfort, "because I kept thy precepts." While I suffered for God, I was enabled to rejoice in God. As I made him my portion, so he has been my praise.