Geneva Bible Notes (1560)Psalm 119

^{1 a} Here thei are not called blessed, which thinke them selues wise in their owne judgement, nor which imagine to themselues a certeine holines, but thei whose conuersation is without hypocrisie.

^{1 !} The prophet exhorteth the children of God to frame their liues according to his holie worde.

^{3 b} For thei are ruled by Gods Spirit and imbrace no doctrine but his.

^{5 c} Dauid acknowledgeth his imperfection, desiring God to reforme it that his life maie be conformable to Gods worde.

^{7 e} That is, thy precepts, which conteine perfite righteousnes.

^{7 d} For true religion standeth in seruing God without hypocrisie.

^{8 f} He refuseth not to be tryed by tentations, but he feareth to faint, if God succor not his infirmitie in time.

^{9 a} Because youth is most giuen to licenciousnes, he chiefly warneth them to frame their liues betime to Gods worde.

^{11 b} If Gods worde be grauen in our heartes, we shalbe more able to resist the assaltes of Satan: and therefore the Prophet desireth God to instruct him daiely more & more therein.

^{14 c} The Prophet doeth not boast of his vertues, but setteth forthe an example for others to followe Gods worde & leaue worldelie vanities.

^{17 a} He sheweth that we oght not to desire to liue but to serue God, and that we can not serue him aright, except he open our eyes and mindes.

^{19 b} Seing mans life in this worlde is but a passage, what shulde become of him, if thy worde were not his guide?

^{21 c} In all ages thou hast plagued all suche, which maliciously & contempteously depart from thy trueth

^{23 d} When the powers of the worlde gaue false sentence against me, thy worde was guide & counseler to teache me what to do, & to comfort me.

^{25 a} That is, it is almost broght to the graue, & without thy worde I can not liue.

^{26 b} I haue confessed mine offences, and now depend wholly on thee.

^{28 c} If God did not mainteine vs by his worde, our life wolde drop awaie like water.

^{29 d} Instruct me in thy worde, whereby my minde maie be purged from vanitie & taught to obey thy wil.

^{32 e} By this he sheweth that we can nether chose good, cleaue to Gods word, not runne forwarde in his waie, except he make our hearts large to receiue his grace, & willing to obey.

^{33 a} He sheweth that he can not followe on to the end, except God teach him oft times and lead him forwarde.

^{34 b} Not onely in outward conuersation, but also that inward affection.

^{36 c} Hereby meaning all other vices, because that couetousnes is the rote of all euil.

^{37 d} Meaning, all his senses.

^{39 e} Let me not fall to thy dishonour, but let mine heart stil delite in thy gracious worde.

^{40 f} Giue me strength to continue in thy worde euen to the end.

^{41 a} He sheweth that Gods mercie and loue is the first cause of our saluacion.

^{42 b} By trusting in Gods worde he assureth himself to be able to confute the sclanders of his aduersaries.

^{45 c} Thei, that simply walke after Gods worde, haue no lets to intangle them, where as thei, that do contrary, are euer in nets and snares.

^{46 d} He sheweth thatthe children of God oght not to suffer their Fathers glorie to be obscured by the vaine pompe of princes.

^{49 a} Thogh he fele Gods hand stil to lie vpon him, yet he resteth on his promes & comforteth him self therein.

^{51 b} Meaning the wicked, which contemne Gods worde, & tread his religion vnder fote.

^{52 c} That is, the examples, whereby thou declarest thy self to be judge of the worlde.

^{53 d} That is, a vehement zeale to thy glorie, & indignacion against the wicked.

^{54 e} In the course of this life and sorowful exile.

^{55 f} Euen when other slepe.

^{56 g} That is, all thse benefits.

^{57 a} I am persuaded that to kepe thy Law is an heritage and great gaine for me.

^{59 b} He sheweth that none can imbrace the worde of God, except he consider his owne imperfections and waies.

^{61 c} They haue gone about to drawe we into their companie.

^{63 d} Not onely in mutual consent, but also with aide & succour.

^{64 e} For the knowledge of Gods worde is a singular token of his fauour.

^{65 a} Hauing proued by experience that God was true in his promes, he desireth that he wolde increase in him knowledge and judgement.

^{67 b} So Jeremie saith, that before the Lord touched him, he was like a calfe vntamed: so that the vse of Gods rods is to call vs home to God.

^{70 c} Their heart is indurate & hardened, pured vp with prosperitie & vaine estimacion of them selues.

^{71 d} He confesseth that before that he was chastened, he was rebellious, as man by nature is.

^{73 a} Because God leaueth not his worke, that he hathe begon, he desireth a newe grace: that is, that he wolde continue his mercies.

^{74 b} When God sheweth his grace towarde anie, he testifieth to others that he faileth not them that trust in him.

^{75 /} Ebr. in trueth.

^{77 c} He declareth, that when he felt not Gods mercies, he was as dead.

^{79 e} He sheweth that there can be no true feare of God without the knowledge of his worde.

^{79 d} That is, be comforted by mine example.

^{81 a} Thogh my strength faile me, yet my soule groneth and sigheth, resting stil in thy worde.

^{83 b} Like a skynbottel or bladder that is parched in the smoke.

^{84 c} How long wilt you afflict thy seruant?

^{85 d} Thy haue not onely oppressed me violently ,but also craftely conspired against me.

^{86 e} He assureth him self, that God wil deliuer his & destroy suche as vnjustly persecute them.

^{87 f} Finding no helpe in earth, he lifteth vp his eyes to heauen.

^{89 a} Because none shulde esteme Gods worde according to the changes of things in this worlde, he sheweth that it abideth in heauen & therefore is immutable.

^{91 b} Seing the earth and all creatures remaine in that estate, wherin you hast created them, muche more thy trueth remaineth constant & vnchangeable.

^{94 c} He proueth by effect, that he is Gods childe, because he seketh to vnderstand his worde.

^{96 d} There is no thing so perfite in earth, but it hathe an end: onely Gods worde lasteth for euer.

^{97 a} He sheweth that we can not llue Gods worde, except we exercise our selues therein and practise it.

^{99 b} Whosoeuer doeth submit him self onely to Gods worde, shal not onely be safe against the practises of his enemies, but also learne more wisdome, then they that professe it, & are men of experience.

^{102 c} So then of our selues we can do nothing, but when God doeth inwardely instruct vs with his Spirit, we fele his graces sweter then honie.

^{105 a} Of our selues we are but darkenes, and cannot se, except we be lightened with Gods worde.

^{106 b} So all the faithful oght to binde them selues to God by a solemne othe and promes, to sitr vp their zeale to imbrace Gods worde.

^{108 c} That is, my praiers & thankesgiuing, which sacrifice Hosea calleth the calues of the lippes, {Chap. 14,vers. 3}

^{109 d} that is, I am in continual danger of my life.

^{111 e} I estemed no wordlie things but made thy worde mine inheritance.

^{113 a} Whosoeuer wil imbrace Gods worde aright, must abhorre all fantasies & imaginacions bothe of him self & of others.

^{115 b} And hinder me not to kepe the Law of the Lord.

^{117 c} He desireth Gods continual assistance lest he shulde faint in this race, which he had begon.

^{118 d} The craftie practises of them that contemne thy Law, shal be broght to noght.

^{119 e} Which infected thy people, as drosse doeth the metal.

^{120 f} Thy judgements do not onely teache me obedience, but cause me to feare, considering mine owne weakenes, which feare causeth repentance.

^{122 a} Put thy self betwene mine enemies & me, as if thou were my pledge.

^{123 !} Also he sheweth wherein the true seruice of God standeth: that is, when we serue him according to his worde, & not after our one fantasies.

^{124 b} He boasteth not that he is Gods seruant, but herby putteth God in minde, that as he made him his by grace, so he wolde contineu his fauour toward him.

^{126 c} The Prophet sheweth that when the wicked haue broght all things to confusion, and Gods worde to vtter contempt, then is it Gods time to helpe & send remedie.

^{128 d} That is, whatsoeuer dissenteth from the puritie of thy worde.

^{129 a} Conteining high & secret mysteries, so that I am moued with admiracion & reuerence.

^{130 b} The simple idiotes, that submit them selues to God, haue their eyes opened, and their mindes illuminated so sone as they begin to read Gods worde.

^{131 c} My zeale toward thy worde was so great.

^{136 d} He sheweth what oght to be the zeale of Gods children, when they se his worde contemned.

^{138 a} We can not confesse God to be righteous except we liue vprightly and truly, as he hathe commanded.

^{140 b} Golde hathe nede to be fined, but thy worde is perfection it self.

^{141 c} This is the true trial, to praise God in aduersitie.

^{142 d} His faith is grounded vpon Gods worde, that he wolde euer be at hand when his children be oppressed.

^{144 d} So that the life of man without the knowledge of God is death.

^{145 a} He sheweth that all his affections & whole heart were bent to God ward for to haue help in his dangers.

^{148 b} He was more earnest in the studie of Gods worde, then they that kept the watche, were in their charge.

^{149 /} Or, custome.

^{150 c} He sheweth the nature of the wicked to be to persecute against their conscience.

^{154 a} For without Gods promes there is no hope of deliuerance.

^{156 b} According to thy promes made in the Law, which because the wicked lacke, they can haue no hope of saluacion.

^{158 c} My zeale consumed me, when I sawe their malice & contempt of thy glorie.

^{159 d} It is a sure sign of our adoption, when we loue the Law of God.

^{160 e} Since you first promised, euen to the end all thy sayings are true.

^{161 a} The threatenings & persecutions of princes colde not cause me to shrinke to confesse thee, whome I more fear then men.

^{164 b} That is, often & sondrie times.

^{165 c} For their conscience assureth them, that thei please thee, whereas they, that loue not thee, haue the contrarie.

^{166 d} He sheweth that we must first haue faith, before we can worke & please God.

^{168 e} I had no respect of men, but set thee alwaies before mine eies, as the judge of my doings.

^{169 a} As thou hast promised to be the scholemaster vnto all them, that depend vpon thee.

^{171 b} The worde signifieth to powre forthe continually.

^{171 c} All his praier, & desire is to profit in the worde of God.

^{175 d} That is, thy prouident care ouer me, and wherewith you wilt judge mine enemies.

^{176 e} Being chased to and fro by mine enemies, and nauing no place to rest in.