Charles H. Spurgeon on Psalms 119:73

That I may learn thy commandments. That he might learn them so as to know the sense and meaning of them, their purity and spirituality; and so as to do them from a principle of love, in faith, and to the glory of God: for it is not a bare learning of them by heart or committing them to memory, nor a mere theory of them, but the practice of them in faith and love, which is here meant. John Gill.

Ver. 73-74. From these verses, learn,

1. Albeit nothing can satisfy unbelief, yet true faith will make use of the most common benefit of creation to strengthen itself: "Thine hands have made me and fashioned me."

2. It is a good way of reasoning with God, to ask another gift, because we have received one; and because he hath given common benefits, to ask that he would give us also saving graces: "Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments."

3. Seeing that God is our Creator, and that the end of our creation is to serve God, we may confidently ask whatsoever grace may enable us to serve him, as the Psalmist's example doth teach us...

4. It should be the joy of all believers to see one of their number sustained and borne up in his sufferings; for in the proof and example of one sufferer a pawn is given to all the rest, that God will help them in like case: "They that fear thee will be glad when they see me." David Dickson.

HINTS TO PREACHERS.

Outlines Upon Keywords of the Psalm, By Pastor C. A. Davis.

Ver. 73-80. Natural and spiritual creation. The Psalmist prays to the Creator for spiritual life or "understanding" (Psalms 119:73), he will then be welcomed by the spiritual (Psalms 119:74). He submissively receives affliction for spiritual training (Psalms 119:75-77), deprecates the hostility of the proud (Psalms 119:78), craves the company of the spiritual (Psalms 119:79), and prays for heart soundness (Psalms 119:80).