Psalms 119:139

139 My zeal has consumed me because my foes forget Your words.

Psalms 119:139 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 119:139

My zeal hath consumed me
Zeal for God and his glory, for his word and ordinances and worship; which is a fervour of the mind, burning love, and flaming affections for God, shown in a holy indignation against sin and sinners. This was a zeal according to knowledge, sincere and hearty, and what continued; and which was shown in embracing and defending the truths of the word, and resenting every indignity cast upon them; to such a degree, that it ate up his spirit, wore away his flesh, and almost consumed him; see ( Psalms 69:9 ) ;

because mine enemies have forgotten thy words;
not merely through an indifference to them, and inattention in hearing them; nor through want of an earnest heed to keep and retain them; nor through negligence in laying them up, and a carelessness in making use of proper means to recollect them; but through an aversion to them, an hatred of them, and a spiteful malicious contempt of them, casting them away and despising them; which stirred up the spirit of the psalmist, and raised such an emotion in him as was almost too much for him.

Psalms 119:139 In-Context

137 Righteous are You, O LORD, and upright are Your judgments.

138 The testimonies You have laid down are righteous and altogether faithful.

139 My zeal has consumed me because my foes forget Your words.

140 Your promise is completely pure; therefore Your servant loves it.

141 I am lowly and despised, but I do not forget Your precepts.