Charles H. Spurgeon on Psalms 119:48

My hands also will I lift up. To lift up the hands is taken variously, and it signifies:

1. To pray: as in Psalms 28:2 Lamentations 2:19 Habakkuk 3:10.

2. To bless others: as Leviticus 9:22 Psalms 134:2.

3. To swear: as Genesis 14:22 Exodus 6:8.

4. To set about some important matter: as Genesis 41:44; "without thee shall no man lift up his hand; "i.e. shall attempt anything, or shall accomplish; Psalms 10:12, "lift up thine hand, "viz., effectively, to bring help: Hebrews 12:12, "lift up the hands, "etc.; i.e. strongly stimulate Christians.

Perhaps all these may be accommodated to the present passage; for it is possible to be either,

1. Prayer for Divine grace for the doing of the precepts: or,

2. Blessing, i.e. praise of God because of them, and the advantages which have thence accrued to us: which the Syriac translator approves, who adds, "and I will glory in thy faithfulness:" or,

3. Vow, or oath of constant obedience, etc.: or,

4. Active and earnest undertaking of them; which, also, appears to be here chiefly meant. Henry Hammond in Synopsis Poli.