Psalms 119:73

“JOD. Thy hands have made me and fashioned me, etc.] Not the psalmist himself, nor his parents, but the Lord alone: for though parents are fathers of our flesh, they are but instruments in the hand of the Lord; though man is produced by natural generation, yet the formation and fashioning of men are as much owing to the power and wisdom of God, which are his hands, as the formation of Adam was. Job owns this in much the same words as the psalmist does, (<181008>Job 10:8); (see <19D913>Psalm 139:1315). God not only gives conception, and forms the embryo in the womb, but fashions and gives it its comely and proportionate parts. Or, “covered me”; the first word may respect conception, and this…”

“Thy hands have made me - This commences a new division of the psalm, in which each verse begins with the Hebrew letter Jod (י y) - or “i” - the smallest letter in the Hebrew alphabet, called in Matthew 5:18, “jot;” “one jot or tittle shall in no wise pass from the law.” The words “thy hands have made me” are expressive of the idea that he had been formed or moulded by God - as the “hands” are the instruments by which we do anything. See the notes at Job 10:8; compare Psalms 100:3. And fashioned me - Fitted me; shaped me, formed me as I am. He had received alike his existence and the particular form of his existence from God - as a man makes a statue or image. Compare Psalms 139:13-16. Give…”

“119:73-80 Yodh (י): In this prayer for comfort and compassion, the psalmist commits himself to his Creator, who has afflicted him. He wants God to pay back his enemies for the wrongs they have done. He also prays to receive the gift of life. He not only prays for himself but also considers the whole community of the godly, asking that God’s answers to prayer would encourage them. 119:73-76 As God’s child, the psalmist asks for divine wisdom.”

“Thy hands: Psa 100:3, Psa 111:10, Psa 138:8, Psa 139:14-16; Job 10:8-11 give me: Psa 119:34, Psa 119:125, Psa 119:144, Psa 119:169; Ch1 22:12; Ch2 2:12; Job 32:8; Ti2 2:7; Jo1 5:20 that I may: Psa 111:10; Jam 3:18 Psalms 119:74”

“The eightfold Jod. God humbles, but He also exalts again according to His word; for this the poet prays in order that he may be a consolatory example to the God-fearing, to the confusion of his enemies. It is impossible that God should forsake man, who is His creature, and deny to him that which makes him truly happy, viz., the understanding and knowledge of His word. For this spiritual gift the poet prays in Psa 119:73 (cf. on 73a, Deu 32:6; Job 10:8; Job 31:15); and he wishes in Psa 119:74 that all who fear God may see in him with joy an example of the way in which trust in the word of God is rewarded (cf. Psa 34:3; Psa 35:27; Psa 69:33; Psa 107:42, and other passages). He knows that God's…”