Psalms 119

Wesley: Said—I have professed and owned it.

Listen here for God claimed as portion and a vow to keep his words—profession that aims at practice. The portion is the Lord himself; keeping follows from belonging to him under grace.

Calvin prefers: I am persuaded my best portion consists in keeping God’s law—compared with imaginary goods that captivate ambition. Another sound reading: God as portion ought to animate observance; if we rest in him alone, hearts are disposed to keep the law and renounce fleshly lusts.

Calling the LORD his portion dethrones every rival gain. Resolve to keep is bound to God as heritage, not to self-made piety.

Wholehearted entreaty asks grace according to the promise. Wesleyan Arminians hear prayer as faith’s living breath—favor sought, not presumed, on the basis of what God pledged.

Both see: the principal request is mercy. The promise keeps prayer from empty wishing.

Calvin: without prayer faith becomes languid. He perseveres in prayer; the sum is that he implored mercy, the hope of which he formed from the word. We are aroused to exercise faith by prayer; the principal request is that God of free grace be favorable. God in his promises is set before us as a willing debtor—so we present no meaningless prayers.

Whole-heart entreaty and promise-bound grace belong together. Mercy is the source of every other blessing asked.

Wesley: Thought—I seriously considered both my former courses, and my duty in all my future actions.

Here the reader meets self-examination that turns the feet—repentance with movement toward the testimonies. Thinking is not morbid stalling; it ends in turning.

Calvin: after paying due regard to his manner of life, his only aim was to follow the law’s teaching. Men go astray because they thoughtlessly indulge passions; no one carefully considers his ways. The commencement of a godly life is awaking, examining, and wisely considering how to regulate conduct—then following the Lord’s direction.

Turning follows serious thought under God’s guide. Without that awakening, conflicting impulses distract miserably.

Haste without delay marks eager obedience. Arminian interpreters hear prompt keeping—grace that does not license procrastination once the feet have turned (v. 59).

Shared warning: tortuous delays and half-resolves are refused. The commandments are worth running toward.

Calvin: diligence and dispatch demonstrate zeal; “delayed not” intensifies haste—run quickly without doubt. Reflecting on listlessness and Satan’s snares shows these words are not vain. Per Paul, we do not the thing we would; impediments within make haste hard. The prophet speaks comparatively against those who loiter and draw near only hesitatingly.

True haste surmounts obstacles without pretending flesh is willing. Pleas that excuse indolence are frivolous.

Wesley: Robbed—Done me many injuries, for my respect to thy law.

The passage carries memory of the law under ensnaring hostility—injuries for piety do not erase Scripture from the heart. Shared fortitude: suffering is no permit to forget.

Calvin: whether cords as allurements or companies that rob, the intent is that under grievous assault he continued in love and practice of the law. When exposed as prey and perceiving no help, continuing to love the law is evidence of genuine piety—otherwise we doubt providence and easily lose remembrance of the law.

Ensnarement tests whether the law is forgotten. Steadfast memory under plunder marks fear of God.

Midnight rising to praise for righteous rules. Arminian interpreters hear secret gratitude for God’s just word—zeal that breaks sleep without needing an audience.

Shared piety: the rules are not only kept but praised. Night praise matches night remembrance (v. 55).

Calvin: he gave thanks for being made partaker of so great a blessing. Studies that break sleep imply great earnestness; in secret retirement, with no human eye upon him, he pronounced high encomiums on God’s righteous judgments—far from ostentation.

Approving the law as wholly reasonable is rare; flesh would alter it. Midnight praise marks sincere assent.

Companionship with all who fear God and keep the precepts. Wesley’s tradition hears holy friendship that advances reverence—fellowship defined by fear and obedience, not party alone.

Shared call: stand with those who keep the precepts when the world troops against worship.

Calvin: not mere concord, but giving the hand to every God-fearer—helper as well as one of their number. Holy combination fosters worship over against impious associations that overthrow it. Marks of the faithful: fearing God and observing the law; fear is the root, service manifests it.

True companions are known by fear and precept-keeping. Superstition without commanded faith is refused.

Earth-wide steadfast love becomes a plea to be taught. Arminian readers hear mercy filling the world and still ask personal instruction—love that teaches, not only spares.

Do not be content with shallow knowledge while the earth proclaims kindness.

Calvin: the earth full of mercy is earnest entreaty—he desires that mercy be shown him by progress in knowing the law. Understanding is an inestimable treasure; he treats not of external teaching only but of inward illumination, the Spirit’s gift. The law was exhibited to all; unless enlightened, it profits little—he prays to be taught effectually by supernatural influence.

General mercy in creation emboldens the plea for illuminating grace. Sloth that stays on the surface is shameful when such a teacher still begged to know more.