Psalms 119:97

“MEM. O how love I thy law! etc.] The whole word of God, the preceptive part of it; the commands of the moral law, which are holy, just, and good, and to be loved: but they are not loved by carnal men, whose minds are enmity to them, and therefore are not and cannot be subject to them, but despise and reject them; but to a good man, on whose heart they are written, they are delightful, and loved to admiration: though this is wholly owing to the grace of God; and marvellous it is that men so sadly depraved by sin should love the holy law of God; yet so it is, and David could appeal to God for the truth of it. So the ordinances of the Gospel, the commands of Jesus Christ, are not grievous to…”

“O how love I thy law! - This commences a new division of the Psalm, indicated by the Hebrew letter Mem (מ m, “m”). The expression here, “O how love I thy law,” implies intense love - as if a man were astonished at the fervour of his own emotion. His love was so ardent that it was amazing and wonderful to himself - perhaps wonderful that he, a sinner, should love the law of God at all; wonderful that he should ever have been brought so to love a law which condemned himself. Any man who reflects on what his feelings are by nature in regard to religion, will be filled with wonder that he loves it at all; all who are truly religious ought to be so filled with love to it, that it will be…”

“119:97-104 Mem (מ): The instruction and wisdom of God through his word are far superior to the best that human teachers can offer. 119:97-102 make me wiser: God’s word provides wisdom and perspective. God is the true source of wisdom.”

“O how: Psa 119:48, Psa 119:113, Psa 119:127, Psa 119:159, Psa 119:165, Psa 119:167, Psa 1:2; Deu 6:6-9, Deu 17:19; Jos 1:8; Pro 2:10; Pro 18:1 Psalms 119:98”

“The eightfold Mem. The poet praises the practical wisdom which the word of God, on this very account so sweet to him, teaches. God's precious law, with which he unceasingly occupies himself, makes him superior in wisdom ( Deu 4:6), intelligence, and judgment to his enemies, his teachers, and the aged ( Job 12:20). There were therefore at that time teachers and elders (πρεσβύτεροι), who (like the Hellenizing Sadducees) were not far from apostasy in their laxness, and hostilely persecuted the young and strenuous zealot for God's law. The construction of Psa 119:98 is like Joe 1:20; Isa 59:12, and frequently. היא refers to the commandments in their unity: he has taken possession of them for…”