This psalm is not more remarkable in its structure than in its moral beauty—the expression of the law written on Israel's heart, after God's intervention to restore them to the land, yet before their complete deliverance. Each section consists of eight verses marked successively by each letter of the Hebrew alphabet in due order, all dwelling on the virtues of divine revelation as made known to the chosen people: law, testimonies, ways, precepts, statutes, commandments, and word generally.
Aleph. “Blessed [are] the perfect in the way, that walk in Jehovah's law. Blessed [are] they that observe his testimonies, that seek him with a whole heart. Yea, they practice no wrong, in his ways they walk. Thou hast commanded thy precepts, to keep (them) diligently. Oh, that my ways were established to keep thy statutes! Then shall I not be ashamed in my looking to all thy commandments. I will give thee thanks with uprightness of heart, in my learning the judgments of thy righteousness. Thy statutes I will keep: forsake me not utterly” (vers. 1-8).
All here is introductory and general: the return after wandering and sorrowful experience; Jehovah's laws written within under the new covenant.
Beth. “By what shall a youth cleanse his path? By taking heed (to keep it) according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee; let me not wander from thy commandments. In my heart have I laid up thy saying, that I might not sin against thee. Blessed [art] thou, Jehovah: teach me thy statutes. With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth. In the way of thy testimonies have I rejoiced as over all wealth. In thy precepts I will meditate and regard thy paths. In thy statutes I will delight myself; I will not forget thy word” (vers. 9-16).
Here is the washing of water by the word, God purifying the heart by faith even where natural energy might be strongest.
Gomel. “Grant unto thy servant I shall live, and I will keep thy word. Open mine eyes, and I shall behold wondrous things out of thy law. For me I [am] a sojourner in the earth: hide not thy commandments from me. My soul breaketh with longing for thy judgments at every time. Thou hast rebuked proud men, accursed, that wander from thy commandments. Roll from me reproach and contempt, for thy testimonies I have observed. Princes also sat and at me talked; thy servant doth meditate in thy statutes. Thy testimonies also fare] my delights, my counselors (lit. men of my counsel)” (vers. 17-24).
Jehovah's goodness is asked according to and in His word, the delight and guide of the Israel of God, whosoever might despise.
Daleth. “My soul cleaveth unto dust: quicken me according to thy word. My ways I declared, and thou answeredst me: teach me thy statutes. The way of thy precepts make me understand, and I will meditate in thy wonders. My soul droppeth for sorrow: raise me up according to thy word. Way of falsehood remove from me, and thy law grant me graciously. Way of faithfulness I have chosen; thy judgments have I held (or set [before me]). I have cleaved unto thy testimonies: Jehovah, put me not to shame. The way of thy commandments I will run, for (or when) thou wilt enlarge my heart” (vers. 25-32).
The heart prefers abasement from and with God to ease without Him, but looks for enlargement to do His will with alacrity.
He. “Teach me, Jehovah, the way of thy statutes, and I shall observe it [unto the] end. Make me understand, and I will observe thy law and will keep [it] with a whole heart. Make me go in the path of thy commandments; for therein I delight. Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to gain. Turn away mine eyes from seeing vanity; in thy way quicken me. Set up thy saying for thy servant, who [is devoted] to thy fear. Turn away my reproach of which I am afraid, for thy judgments [are] good. Behold, I have longed for thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness” (vers. 33-40).
The need of Jehovah's teaching in order to obey and be kept is here spread before Him.
Vau. “And let thy mercy, Jehovah, come to me, thy salvation according to thy mind. And I will answer my reviler a word; for I confide in thy word. And take not out of my mouth the word of truth utterly, for I have hoped in thy judgments. And I will observe thy law continually forever and ever. And I will walk at large; for thy precepts have I sought. And I will speak of thy testimonies before kings, and will not he ashamed. And I will delight myself in thy commandments which I have loved, and I will lift up thy commandments which I have loved, and I will meditate in thy statutes” (vers. 41-48).
The taste of the grace of Jehovah, of His salvation as he expresses it, is next craved for courage and fidelity.
Zaire. “Remember for thy servant the word on which thou hast made me hope. This [is] my comfort in mine afflictions, for thy saying hath quickened me. Proud men deride me exceedingly: from thy law I swerve not. I remembered thy judgments of old, Jehovah, and have comforted myself. Indignation seizeth me because of wicked men forsaking thy laws. Thy statutes were songs in the house of my sojournings. I remember in the night thy name, Jehovah, and observe thy law. This hath been to me, because thy precepts I observed” (vers. 49-56).
“The word” is owned as hope and comfort in the midst of pride and ungodliness; His name gives motive to obey.
Cheth. “Jehovah [is] my portion, and I have tried to keep thy words. I have sought thy: face with a whole heart: be gracious to me according to thy saying. I have thought on my ways, and; turned my feet unto thy testimonies. I hasted and delayed not to keep thy commandments. Cords of wicked men surrounded me: thy laws I have not forgotten. At midnight I rise to give thanks unto thee because of the judgments of thy righteousness. A companion am I to all who fear thee, and to those who keep thy precepts. Of thy mercy, Jehovah, the earth is full; thy statutes teach me” (vers. 57-64).
Here the heart rises to Jehovah Himself; so that wicked men's bands were powerless to make the law forgotten, and he saw His mercy everywhere.
Teth. “Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, Jehovah, according to thy word. Goodness of judgment and knowledge teach me, for in thy commandments I believe. Before I was afflicted I went astray, and now thy saying I keep. Good [art] thou and doing good: teach me thy statutes. Proud men have forged falsehood; with a whole heart I will observe thy precepts. Fat as the grease is their heart: I delight myself in thy law. [It is] good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn thy statutes. The law of thy mouth [is] better to me than thousands of gold and silver” (vers. 65-72).
It is a soul profiting by affliction, and confiding all the more in Jehovah, to learn His statutes, better than thousands of gold and silver.
Yod. “Thy hands made me and fashioned me: make me understand, and I will learn thy commandments. Thy fearers will see me and be glad; for I have hoped in thy word. I know, Jehovah, that thy judgments [are] righteousness, and [in] faithfulness thou hast afflicted me. Let, I pray, thy mercy be for my comfort according to thy word to thy servant. Let thy compassions come to me, and I shall live; for thy law [is] my delights. Let proud men be ashamed; for [with] falsehood they perverted me: I will meditate in thy precepts. Let them turn unto me that fear thee and know thy testimonies. Let my heart be perfect in thy statutes, that I be not ashamed” (vers. 73-80).
Jehovah is looked to as a faithful Creator, and those that fear Him counted on. As He afflicted for good, so would He show lovingkindness.
Caph. “My soul fainteth for thy salvation; in thy word do I hope. Mine eyes fail for thy saying, so that I say (saying), When wilt thou comfort me? For I am become like a wine-skin in smoke; thy statutes I forget not. How many (lit. like what) [are] thy servant's days? When wilt thou execute judgment on my persecutors? Proud [men] dig for me pits, which (or who) are not according to thy law. All thy commandments [are] faithfulness: [with] falsehood do they persecute me. Help me. They had almost consumed me in the earth (or land); but I did not forsake thy precepts. According to thy mercy quicken me. I will keep the testimony of thy mouth” (vers. 80-88).
Here the prayer is instant, as the iniquity grows apace, and weakness is realized in the severest trial. It is not the hope of the Christian, who like Christ will go on high; but deliverance, as Israel expect and will have, by judgments executed manifestly on the enemy.