This psalm containeth sundry prayers, praises, and professions of obedience.
ALEPH.
THIS psalm is supposed to have been written by David under the reign of Saul, in which he was frequently persecuted, but in which also he had some quiet intervals; (see Psalms 119:54.) when he had leisure to write so long a composition, and one laboured with so much art. For, though written under the infallible inspiration of the Divine Spirit, there is great labour manifested in it. It is not only divided into as many parts as there are letters in the Hebrew Alphabet, but likewise each of these parts is divided into eight verses, and every one of these verses begins with that letter of the alphabet which forms the title of the part. Thus each of the eight verses in the first part, termed aleph, begins with an aleph, as those do in the second part, named beth, with a beth. For this reason, in the Massora, this psalm is stiled, "The Great Alphabet." It is further remarkable, that in all these verses, except one or two, there is some word or other which signifies the law of God. There are ten words which are used for this purpose promiscuously in this composition, namely, the law, the ways, the testimonies, the commandments, the precepts, the word, the judgments, the righteousness, the statutes, and the truth of God. The psalm contains a great many pious reflections and excellent rules, without any great connection or dependance on each other; tending principally to set forth the excellence of the divine laws: and this want of connection, probably, was the reason why the psalm was written in this alphabetical method; that the initial letters might be a help to the memory, of those who were to learn it in the original.