Psalms 119:121

“AIN. I have done judgment and justice, etc.] As king of Israel; which is the character given of him, (<100815>2 Samuel 8:15); and in which he was a type of Christ, (<242305>Jeremiah 23:5 <230907>Isaiah 9:7); and as a private person; which is everyone’s duty, and every good man especially will be desirous of performing it: it is not indeed perfectly done by any, and therefore not to be trusted to; nor was it so done by David; nor did he place his confidence in it; nor did he say this in a boasting way, but in defence of himself and his innocence against those who oppressed him with their calumnies, as appears from the next clause. The Syriac version takes it to be an address to God, and as…”

“I have done judgment and justice - This commences a new division of the psalm, indicated by the Hebrew letter Ayin (ע ‛) - 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. The meaning of the first part of this verse is, “I have led a righteous and upright life.” It is equivalent to saying that he had kept the law of God, or had made that the rule of his conduct. Leave me not to mine oppressors - To the people who would do me wrong; who seek my hurt. He urged this on the ground that he had been obedient to the divine…”

“Judgment, &c. - Just judgment. Psalms 119:122”

“119:121-128 Ayin (ע): The servant of the Lord strains to endure the evil around him. He boldly petitions the Lord to rescue him immediately!”

“I have: Psa 7:3-5, Psa 18:20-24, Psa 75:2; Sa1 24:11-15, Sa1 25:28; Sa2 8:15; Act 21:16; Act 25:10, Act 25:11; Co2 1:12 leave me: Psa 37:33, Psa 57:3, Psa 57:4; Pe2 2:9 Psalms 119:122”

“The eightfold Ajin. In the present time of apostasy and persecution he keeps all the more strictly to the direction of the divine word, and commends himself to the protection and teaching of God. In the consciousness of his godly behaviour (elsewhere always צדק וּמשׁפּט, here in one instance משׁפט וצדק) the poet hopes that God will surely not (בּל) leave him to the arbitrary disposal of his oppressors. This hope does not, however, raise him above the necessity and duty of constant prayer that Jahve would place Himself between him and his enemies. ערב seq. acc. signifies to stand in any one's place as furnishing a guarantee, and in general as a mediator, Job 17:3; Isa 38:14; לטוב similar to…”