Psalms 119

Wesley: Thy word—Thy promises.

Arminians hear prayer that God perform what he pledged, and frank confession that hope rests on that word. The promise is public ground on which servants may hope; “gave me hope” names the word’s power to awaken trust under grace.

Calvin: he prays God would perform what he promised—the event proves God does not forget. Cause was given him to hope; there would be no place for hope unless grace had been presented. He speaks of the promises.

God made the hope by presenting grace in the word. Remembering the word is asking performance for the servant in whom hope was caused—not a self-started optimism.

The promise itself comforts and quickens under affliction. Classical Arminians hear Scripture as living consolation—not a distraction from pain, but life given by what God has said.

Shared pastoral ground: when other refuges fail, the word revives.

Calvin: though God kept him in suspense, he reposed in the word. He did not hunt vain consolations as the world does; satisfied with the word, he found life full and perfect when other refuges failed—and covertly confesses that without courage from the word he would be as a dead man.

The promise animates in affliction. Life in the midst of death comes by careful meditation on what God has spoken.

Derision does not pry the singer from the law. The emphasis is on steadfastness under scorn—honesty may draw insult, yet turning away is refused.

Hold the law when mockery is utter. Shared call: do not let the majority’s liberty in unbelief make you dislike God’s word.

Calvin: though honesty render us obnoxious to insults, we must by unflinching constancy repel pride lest we take a dislike to the law. Unbelievers are called proud—their wisdom despises God. “Very much” means the attack continued day by day; the wicked, being the majority, arrogate greater liberty.

Stability of faith requires disregarding reviling. Pride’s contempt is met by not turning aside.

Wesley: Judgments—Thy ancient dispensations to the children of men in punishing the ungodly.

Arminian readers hear comfort from remembering how God has long judged and ruled—history catechizes hope. Old rules steady present scorn.

Calvin: “of old” points to examples by which God made himself known as righteous Judge. Remembering ancient judgments confirms the law when God does not always bare his arm; vengeance on the ungodly confirms what was spoken. The faithful also find consolation learning that after the wicked revel, they face God’s seat, while those who combat under such a Guardian need not doubt their preservation.

Old judgments comfort by proving God has not spoken in vain. Ingratitude, not lack of demonstrations, hides them from us.

Wesley: Horror—A mixed passion, made up of abhorrence of their sins, and dread and sorrow at the consideration of the judgments of God coming upon them.

The note struck is holy grief and dread over law-forsaking—not smug rage. Love of the law includes sorrow at its abandonment.

Calvin: either grief at seeing the law violated, or horror at the thought of the wicked’s perdition; he abides by fear marking ardent zeal—held in detestation the impious boldness of those who lightly esteem the law. It is no new offense if numbers throw off God’s yoke; fear of God kindled holy indignation rather than discouragement.

Horror at forsaking the law counters the flattery that “what is common is lawful.” God’s long-suffering does not void coming judgment.

Wesley: The house—In this world, wherein I am a stranger and pilgrim, as all my fathers were.

Those in Wesley’s line hear the statutes as pilgrimage songs—joy in God’s word while still not home. Shared piety: sojourners sing the law, not only lament exile.

Calvin: singing indicates joy; saints are pilgrims with inheritance in heaven. David in exile ceased not to draw consolation—or rather joy above sadness—from the law, though denied temple and sacrifices; he never departed from his God.

Statutes as songs mark rare virtue under deprivation. Pilgrimage is not excuse for silence about the word.

Wesley: Thy name—Thy holy nature and attributes, thy blessed word, and thy wonderful works. In the night—When darkness causes fear in others, I took pleasure in remembering thee; and when others gave themselves up to sleep, my thoughts and affections were working towards thee.

Wesleyan Arminians hear night remembrance joined to daytime keeping. Affection in the dark feeds obedience in the light.

Calvin’s stanza ties night remembrance to keeping the law—secret devotion, not ostentation. The name remembered when others sleep marks earnest desire that breaks ordinary rest for praise and fidelity.

Nocturnal piety and law-keeping belong together. God-fearing memory is not idle sentiment.

Wesley: This—This comfortable remembrance.

Arminians hear the comfort of vv. 54–55 as gift tied to keeping—not wages that purchase God, yet a blessing attending those who hold the precepts. Gratitude, not boasting, fits the line.

Calvin connects this “this is done to me” with having kept the statutes—comfort experienced in the path of fidelity. Keeping is not the root of mercy but the place where promised consolation is tasted.

Blessing fallen and precepts kept are confessed together without Pelagian purchase. The servant traces comfort to the life of obedience under the word.