Psa 119:121-122 | TDavid | STEP | EXPOSITION Verse 121 . I have done judgment and justice. This was a great thing for an Eastern ruler to say at any time, for these despots mostly cared more far gain than justice. Some of them altogether neglected their duty, and would not even do judgment at all, preferring their pleasures to their duties; and many more of them sold their judgments to the highest bidders by taking bribes, or regarding the persons of men. Some rulers gave neither judgment nor justice, others gave judgment without justice, but David gave judgment and justice, and saw that his sentences were carried out. He could claim before the Lord that he had dealt out even handed justice, and was doing so still. On this fact he founded a plea with which he backed the prayer -- "Leave me not to mine oppressors." He who, as far as his power goes, has been doing right, may hope to be delivered from his superiors when attempts are made by them to do him wrong. If I will not oppress others, I may hopefully pray that others may not oppress me. A course of upright conduct is one which gives us boldness in appealing to the Great Judge for deliverance from the injustice of others. Nor is this kind of pleading to be censured as self righteous: when we are dealing with God as to our shortcomings, we use a very different tone from that with which we face the censures of our fellow men; when they are in the question, and we are guiltless towards them, we are justified in pleading our innocence. EXPLANATORY NOTES AND QUAINT SAYINGS Verse 121 . -- This commences a new division of the Psalm indicated by the Hebrew letter Ain -- a letter which cannot well be represented in the English alphabet , as there is, in fact, no letter in our language exactly corresponding with it. It would be best represented probably by what are called "breathings" in Greek. --Albert Barnes. Verse 121 . -- I have done judgment against the wicked , "and justice" towards the good. -- Simon de Muis, 1587-1644. Verse 121 . -- I have done judgment and justice . -- Here the view of David in his judicial capacity might present itself to us; and if so, we have David in the midst of large experience; for the words would take in a large portion of his life. How blessed were their reflections, if, after a long reign, all sovereign rulers could thus appeal unto God. It should be so; for to him all shall be accountable at last. Even although we only conceive of David as speaking in the character of a private man, the sentiment is worthy of all consideration... For parents to say this of their dealings with their children, masters of servants, a man of his neighbours, is very excellent. --John Stephen. Verse 121 . -- Judgment and "justice ," are often put in Scripture for the same, and when put together, the latter is as an epithet to the former. "I have done judgment and justice," that is, I have done judgment justly, exactly, to a hair. --Joseph Caryl. Verse 121. -- Do right and be a king, Be this thy brazen bulwark of defence, Still to preserve thy conscious innocence, Nor ever turn pale with guilt. --Francis's Horace. Verse 121 . -- If our heart condemn us not , then have we confidence before God: . This "testimony of conscience" has often been "the rejoicing" of the Lord's people, when suffering under unmerited reproach or "proud oppression." They have been enabled to plead it without offence in the presence of their holy, heart searching God; nay, even when, in the near prospect of the great and final account, they might well have been supposed to shrink from the strict and unerring scrutiny of their Omniscient Judge. Perhaps, however, we are not sufficiently aware of the importance of moral integrity in connexion with our spiritual comfort. Mark the boldness which it gave David in prayer: "I have done judgment and justice: leave me not to mine oppressors." --Charles Bridges. Verse 121 . -- Leave me not to mine oppressors . That is, maintain me against those who would wrong me, because I do right; interpose thyself between me and my enemies, as if thou wert my pledge. Impartial justice upon oppressors sometimes lays judges open to oppression; but yet they who run greatest hazards in zeal for God shall find God ready to be their surety, when they pray, "be surety for thy servant," as in the next verse. -- Abraham Wright. Verse 121-122 . -- I have done judgment and justice; but , that I may always do it, and never fail in doing it, "uphold thy servant unto good," by directing him, so that he may always relish what is good, and then the consequence will be that "the proud will not calumniate me;" for he that is well established "unto good," and so made up that nothing but what is good and righteous will be agreeable to him, he will so persevere that he will have no reason for fearing "the proud that calumniate him." --Robert Bellarmine. HINTS FOR PASTORS AND LAYPERSONS Verses 121-128. -- The just man's prayer against injustice. Out of the prison of oppression he appeals to God to be his surely ( ); utters his weary longing for deliverance ( ); points to the "time" ( ); and professes his supreme love for God's law in contrast to the oppressors' contempt of it ( ). HINTS FOR PASTORS AND LAYPERSONS Outlines Upon Keywords of the Psalm, by Pastor C. A. Davis. Verse 121-122 . -- The double appeal. Of conscious integrity: "I have done judgment," etc. Of conscious deficiency: "Be surety for thy servant for good." --C.A.D.

Psalms 119:121-122

EXPOSITION

Verse 121. I have done judgment and justice. This was a great thing for an Eastern ruler to say at any time, for these despots mostly cared more far gain than justice. Some of them altogether neglected their duty, and would not even do judgment at all, preferring their pleasures to their duties; and many more of them sold their judgments to the highest bidders by taking bribes, or regarding the persons of men. Some rulers gave neither judgment nor justice, others gave judgment without justice, but David gave judgment and justice, and saw that his sentences were carried out. He could claim before the Lord that he had dealt out even handed justice, and was doing so still. On this fact he founded a plea with which he backed the prayer -- "Leave me not to mine oppressors." He who, as far as his power goes, has been doing right, may hope to be delivered from his superiors when attempts are made by them to do him wrong. If I will not oppress others, I may hopefully pray that others may not oppress me. A course of upright conduct is one which gives us boldness in appealing to the Great Judge for deliverance from the injustice of others. Nor is this kind of pleading to be censured as self righteous: when we are dealing with God as to our shortcomings, we use a very different tone from that with which we face the censures of our fellow men; when they are in the question, and we are guiltless towards them, we are justified in pleading our innocence.

EXPLANATORY NOTES AND QUAINT SAYINGS

Verse 121. -- This commences a new division of the Psalm indicated by the Hebrew letter Ain -- a letter which cannot well be represented in the English alphabet, as there is, in fact, no letter in our language exactly corresponding with it. It would be best represented probably by what are called "breathings" in Greek. --Albert Barnes.

Verse 121. -- I have done judgment against the wicked, "and justice" towards the good. -- Simon de Muis, 1587-1644.

Verse 121. -- I have done judgment and justice. -- Here the view of David in his judicial capacity might present itself to us; and if so, we have David in the midst of large experience; for the words would take in a large portion of his life. How blessed were their reflections, if, after a long reign, all sovereign rulers could thus appeal unto God. It should be so; for to him all shall be accountable at last. Even although we only conceive of David as speaking in the character of a private man, the sentiment is worthy of all consideration... For parents to say this of their dealings with their children, masters of servants, a man of his neighbours, is very excellent. --John Stephen.

Verse 121. -- Judgment and "justice," are often put in Scripture for the same, and when put together, the latter is as an epithet to the former. "I have done judgment and justice," that is, I have done judgment justly, exactly, to a hair. --Joseph Caryl.

Verse 121. -- Do right and be a king,

Be this thy brazen bulwark of defence,

Still to preserve thy conscious innocence,

Nor ever turn pale with guilt. --Francis's Horace.

Verse 121. -- If our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence before God: 1 John 3:21. This "testimony of conscience" has often been "the rejoicing" of the Lord's people, when suffering under unmerited reproach or "proud oppression." They have been enabled to plead it without offence in the presence of their holy, heart searching God; nay, even when, in the near prospect of the great and final account, they might well have been supposed to shrink from the strict and unerring scrutiny of their Omniscient Judge. Perhaps, however, we are not sufficiently aware of the importance of moral integrity in connexion with our spiritual comfort. Mark the boldness which it gave David in prayer: "I have done judgment and justice: leave me not to mine oppressors." --Charles Bridges.

Verse 121. -- Leave me not to mine oppressors. That is, maintain me against those who would wrong me, because I do right; interpose thyself between me and my enemies, as if thou wert my pledge. Impartial justice upon oppressors sometimes lays judges open to oppression; but yet they who run greatest hazards in zeal for God shall find God ready to be their surety, when they pray, "be surety for thy servant," as in the next verse. -- Abraham Wright.

Verse 121-122. -- I have done judgment and justice; but, that I may always do it, and never fail in doing it, "uphold thy servant unto good," by directing him, so that he may always relish what is good, and then the consequence will be that "the proud will not calumniate me;" for he that is well established "unto good," and so made up that nothing but what is good and righteous will be agreeable to him, he will so persevere that he will have no reason for fearing "the proud that calumniate him." --Robert Bellarmine.

HINTS FOR PASTORS AND LAYPERSONS

Verses 121-128. -- The just man's prayer against injustice. Out of the prison of oppression he appeals to God to be his surely (Psalms 119:121-122); utters his weary longing for deliverance (Psalms 119:123-125); points to the "time" (Psalms 119:126); and professes his supreme love for God's law in contrast to the oppressors' contempt of it (Psalms 119:127-128).

HINTS FOR PASTORS AND LAYPERSONS

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

Verse 121-122. -- The double appeal.

Verse 122. Be surety for thy servant for good. Answer for me. Do not leave thy poor servant to die by the hand of his enemy and thine. Take up my interests and weave them with thine own, and stand for me. As my Master, undertake thy servants' cause, and represent me before the faces of haughty men till they see what an august ally I have in the Lord my God. Let not the proud oppress me. Thine interposition will answer the purpose of my rescue: when the proud see that thou art my advocate they will hide their heads. We should have been crushed beneath our proud adversary the devil if our Lord Jesus had not stood between us and the accuser, and become a surety for us. It is by his suretyship that we escape like a bird from the snare of the fowler. What a blessing to be able to leave our matters in our Surety's hands, knowing that all will be well, since he has an answer for every accuser, a rebuke for every reviler. Good men dread oppression, for it makes even a wise man mad, and they send up their cries to heaven for deliverance; nor shall they cry in vain, for the Lord will undertake the cause of his servants, and fight their battles against the proud. The word "servant" is wisely used ,as a plea for favour for himself, and the word "proud" as an argument against his enemies. It seems to be inevitable that proud men should become oppressors, and that they should take most delight in oppressing really gracious men. EXPLANATORY NOTES AND QUAINT SAYINGS Verse 122 . -- Be surety for thy servant for good . What David prays to God to be for him, that Christ is for all his people: Hebrews 7:22 . He drew nigh to God, struck hands with him, gave his word and bond to pay the debts of his people; put himself in their law place and stead, and became responsible to law and justice for them; engaged to make satisfaction for their sins, to bring in everlasting righteousness for their justification, and to preserve and keep them, and bring them safe to eternal glory and happiness; and this was being a surety for them for good. --John Gill. Verse 122 . -- Be surety for thy servant for good . There are three expositions of this clause, as noting the end, the cause, the event. Undertake for me, ut sire bonus et justus, so Rabbi Arama on the place; surety for me that I may be good. Theodoret expounds it, "Undertake that I shall make good my resolution of keeping thy law." He that joins, undertakes; though we have precepts and without God's undertaking we shall never be able to perform our duty. Undertake for me to help me in doing good; so some read it: would not take his part in an evil cause. To commend a wrong to God's protection, is to provoke him to hasten our punishment, to us serve under our oppressors; but, when we have a good cause, and good conscience, he will own us. We cannot expect he should maintain us and bear us out in the Devil's service, wherein we have entangled selves by our own sin. Be with me for good: so it is often rendered: "Shew me a token for good" ( Psalms 86:17 ); "Pray not for this people for good" ( Jeremiah 11:14 ); so, "Remember me, O my God, for good" ( Nehemiah 13:31 ). So here "Be surety for thy servant for good." --Thomas Manton. Verse 122 . -- Be surety for thy servant for good . It is the prayer Hezekiah in his trouble, "O Lord, I am oppressed," undertake for, ( Isaiah 38:14 ); it is the prayer of Job for a "daysman" to between him and God ( Job 9:33 ); it is the cry of the church before Incarnation for the appearance of a Divine Mediator; it is the confidence of every faithful soul since that blessed time in the perpetual of our Great High Priest in heaven, which is to us the pledge of blessedness. --Agellius and Cocceius, in Neale and Littledale. Verse 122 . -- Be surety for thy servant for good . His meaning is, thou knowest how unjustly I am calumniated and evil spoken of in parts: where I am not present or where I may not answer for myself, answer thou for me. --William Cowper. Verse 122 . -- Be surety for thy servant for good . The keen eye of world may possibly not be able to affix any blot upon my outward confession; but, "if thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities; O Lord, who shall stand?" The debt is continually accumulating, and the prospect of payment as distant as ever. I might well expect to be "left to my oppressors," I should pay all that was due unto my Lord. But behold! "Where is the fury of the oppressor?" Isaiah 51:13 . The surety is found -- the debt is paid -- the ransom is accepted -- the sinner is free. There was a voice heard heaven -- "Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom", Job 33:24 . The Son of God himself became Surety for a stranger, and "smarted for it," Proverbs 11:15 . At an infinite cost -- the cost of his precious blood -- he delivered me from "mine oppressors" -- sin -- Satan world -- death -- hell. -- Charles Bridges. Verse 122 . -- Some observe that this is the only verse throughout the whole psalm wherein the Word is not mentioned under the name of "law "judgments ," "statutes," or the like terms, and they make this note it, -- "Where the Law faileth, there Christ is a surety of a better testament. There are those that render the words thus, -- "Dulcify, or, delight thy servant good," that is, make him joyful and comfortable in the pursuit and of that which is good. --John Trapp. HINTS FOR PASTORS AND LAYPERSONS Verse 122 . -- Suretyship entreated. Good expected. Obligation acknowledged: "thy servant." Verse 122 . (first clause). -- After explaining the Psalmist's meaning as shown in the preceding verse, this sentence may be used for a sermon upon the Suretyship of Christ, by a reference to Hebrews 7:22 . A Surety for good wanted -- the deeply felt, though, perhaps, undefined want of a sin burdened soul. The mere statement of a gratuitous pardon on the part of God is not thoroughly believable to such a soul, nor, if it could be believed in, would it give peace to the conscience. For, on the one hand, the pardon could not be perceived as just, nor as consistent with God's necessary hatred of sin, yet the conscience demands this perception; on the other hand, mere pardon does not show how the obligation to a perfect fulfilment of God's law, as righteousness, can be met, yet the conscience demands to see this before it can be satisfied to realize peace Luther's experience. (b) Now the Scriptures tell us that God "justifies the ungodly," and that his "righteousness" is declared in his justifying sinners: Romans 3:25 . He can forgive sins with justice. He can treat sinners as righteous persons, and yet bo righteous in doing so. How? By a Surety. Therefore, a Surety is the real want. A Surety existent. Jesus is the Surety. (a) He undertook to bear our obligation to the law's penalty, and fulfilled it in death. Thus pardon, though mercy to us, is an act of justice to Christ. (b) He undertook our obligation to a perfect obedience, and satisfied for that in his fulfilment of the law; thus for God to treat us as righteous is only just to Christ. (c) God has shown his satisfaction with the office of Christ, and with his work, by the resurrection and glorification of Christ. Hence a well accredited and efficient Surety exists. A Surety nigh at hand. (a) In the gospel, Christ as Surety comes to the sinner as truly as though he himself left his throne and came in his own person. (b) Thus, he is so close that a sinner has but to receive the gospel into his heart and he receives Christ. (c) Christ received as a Surety is the Surety for whosoever receives him. --J.F.