Psalms 119:38

38 1Confirm to your servant your promise, 2that you may be feared.

Psalms 119:38 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 119:38

Stablish thy word unto thy servant
Either God's word of promise, which never fails, is firm and stable in Christ; and the sense is, that God would assure him of the fulfilment of it, and give him a strong faith and firm belief of it; for otherwise the word of the Lord cannot be surer or more stable than it is: or else the word of his grace; and then the sense is, that he might be established in it, and the truths of it, and be established by it; for the word is a means of establishment, and a good thing it is to have the heart established with grace, with the doctrine of grace, ( Hebrews 13:9 ) ;

who [is devoted] to thy fear;
who served the Lord with reverence and godly fear; who feared the Lord and his goodness; that grace being a reigning one in his heart, and ever before his eyes. Or, "which is unto thy fear" F4; that is, which word is unto thy fear; which leads unto it, and has a tendency to promote and increase it; and so is a commendation of the word of God from this effect of it.


FOOTNOTES:

F4 (Ktaryl rva) "quod ad timorem tuum", Pagninus, Montanus; "quod ad timorem tui facit", Musculus; "et ducit", Schmidt; "quod datum est ad timorem tui", Michaelis.

Psalms 119:38 In-Context

36 Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!
37 Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways.
38 Confirm to your servant your promise, that you may be feared.
39 Turn away the reproach that I dread, for your rules are good.
40 Behold, I long for your precepts; in your righteousness give me life!

Cross References 2

  • 1. 2 Samuel 7:25
  • 2. [Psalms 25:10; Psalms 112:1; Psalms 128:1; Psalms 130:4]
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.