Psalms 119:20

20 I am continually consumed with longing for your rulings.

Psalms 119:20 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 119:20

My soul breaketh for the longing
His heart was just ready to break, and his soul fainted; he was ready to die, through a vehement desire of enjoying the object longed for, after mentioned; "hope deferred makes the heart sick", ( Proverbs 13:1 Proverbs 13:2 ) ; the phrase is expressive of the greatness, vehemence, and eagerness of his mind after the thing he desired, which follows:

[that it hath] unto thy judgments at all times;
not the judgments of God on wicked men, though these are desirable for the glorifying of his justice; nor his dark dispensations of providence, though good men cannot but desire and long for the time when these judgments shall be made manifest: but rather the righteous laws and precepts of God are designed, which he desired to have a more perfect knowledge of, and yield a more constant obedience unto; or, best of all, the doctrines of grace and righteousness, that should be more clearly revealed in the times of the Messiah; who was to set judgment in the earth, his Gospel; and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and glorify the justice of God; than which nothing was more earnestly and importunately wished and longed for by Old Testament saints; see ( Psalms 119:81 ) ( Psalms 14:7 ) .

Psalms 119:20 In-Context

18 Open my eyes, so that I will see wonders from your Torah.
19 Though I'm just a wanderer on the earth, don't hide your mitzvot from me.
20 I am continually consumed with longing for your rulings.
21 You rebuke the proud, the cursed, who stray from your mitzvot.
22 Remove scorn and contempt from me, because I observe your instruction.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.