Psalm 119:159 kjv
Consider how I love thy precepts: quicken me, O LORD, according to thy lovingkindness.
Psalm 119:159 nkjv
Consider how I love Your precepts; Revive me, O LORD, according to Your lovingkindness.
Psalm 119:159 niv
See how I love your precepts; preserve my life, LORD, in accordance with your love.
Psalm 119:159 esv
Consider how I love your precepts! Give me life according to your steadfast love.
Psalm 119:159 nlt
See how I love your commandments, LORD.
Give back my life because of your unfailing love.
Psalm 119 159 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 1:2 | but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. | Love for God's Law |
| Ps 19:7-11 | The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul... | Benefits of God's Word, Revival |
| Ps 119:47 | for I find my delight in your commandments, which I love. | Delight in God's Commands |
| Ps 119:97 | Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day. | Deep Affection for God's Law |
| Ps 119:167 | My soul keeps your testimonies; I love them exceedingly. | Keeping and Loving Testimonies |
| Ps 119:25 | My soul clings to the dust; give me life according to your word! | Plea for Life from God's Word |
| Ps 119:37 | Turn my eyes from worthless things; give me life in your ways. | Seeking Life in God's Ways |
| Ps 119:40 | Behold, I long for your precepts; in your righteousness revive me! | Longing for Precepts, Plea for Life |
| Ps 119:88 | In your steadfast love revive me, that I may keep the testimonies of your mouth. | Direct parallel: plea for revival based on Hesed |
| Ps 119:107 | I am severely afflicted; give me life, O LORD, according to your word! | Life in Affliction, according to Word |
| Ps 119:149 | Hear my voice according to your steadfast love; O LORD, by your justice preserve my life! | Hearing based on Hesed, Preserve Life |
| Ps 80:18 | Then we shall not turn back from you; give us life, and we will call upon your name. | Corporate Revival |
| Ps 85:6 | Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? | Plea for National Revival |
| Hab 3:2 | O LORD, I have heard the report of you... In wrath remember mercy... | Plea for Revival in difficult times |
| Eph 2:4-5 | But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love... made us alive together with Christ... | Spiritual Revival by God's love |
| Col 2:13 | And you, who were dead in your trespasses... God made alive together with him... | God's act of making alive |
| Exod 34:6-7 | The LORD... abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness... | God's character of Steadfast Love (Hesed) |
| Ps 51:1 | Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love... | Plea based on Hesed |
| Lam 3:22-23 | The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end... | Steadfast love as constant |
| Isa 54:10 | For the mountains may depart... but my steadfast love shall not depart from you... | Unfailing nature of Hesed |
| Ps 33:18 | Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love. | God's observation of those who rely on Hesed |
| Ps 34:15 | The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry. | God sees the righteous |
| 1 Pet 3:12 | For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. | God observes and hears the righteous |
Psalm 119 verses
Psalm 119 159 Meaning
Psalm 119:159 is a heartfelt prayer where the psalmist appeals to the LORD based on his genuine affection for God's precepts. He urges God to observe his love for His word and, in return, requests spiritual and perhaps physical revival or restoration, grounded not in his own merit, but solely in God's unfailing covenant love. It portrays a deep, active love for God's truth as the foundation for a desperate plea for renewed life and vigor.
Psalm 119 159 Context
Psalm 119 is the longest psalm, a sustained meditation on the beauty, power, and sufficiency of God's Word. Each eight-verse strophe corresponds to a letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Verse 159 falls within the "Shin/Sin" (שׂ) section (verses 153-160). Throughout this psalm, the psalmist faces various forms of affliction, opposition from the wicked, and a sense of vulnerability (e.g., Ps 119:153-157). Despite these trials, his commitment and deep affection for God's statutes, testimonies, precepts, and commandments remain steadfast. This verse particularly captures a moment of intense appeal, rooted in personal devotion, for God's divine intervention—a request for revival in the face of daunting circumstances, trusting in the unparalleled ḥesed of the LORD.
Psalm 119 159 Word analysis
- Consider (רְאֵה - r'eh): An imperative verb meaning "see!" or "look upon!" It is an earnest appeal for God to observe, perceive, or take note of a specific fact about the psalmist: his genuine love for God's Word. It suggests the psalmist desires God's acknowledgment and responsive action.
- how I love (אֲהַבְתִּי - ahavti): Derived from ahav, "to love." The phrasing emphasizes the depth and genuineness of the psalmist's affection. This is not merely intellectual assent but a profound devotion of heart and will toward God's instructions.
- your precepts (פִּקּוּדֶיךָ - piqqudeyḵa): One of eight primary synonyms used in Psalm 119 for God's Word, often implying mandates, appointments, or detailed instructions. They are God's explicit commands and regulations for life, demonstrating His specific will for humanity. The possessive "your" signifies their divine origin and authority.
- O LORD (יְהוָה - YHVH): The personal, covenant name of God. It signifies His unchanging faithfulness, His relationship with His people, and His ultimate sovereignty. The use of YHVH underscores the psalmist's appeal to God's character as the God who keeps His promises.
- Revive me (חַיֵּינִי - ḥayyēyṇi): An imperative verb from ḥāyāh, meaning "to live," "to keep alive," "to restore to life," "to give life," or "to preserve." It signifies a renewal of life, whether physical vigor, spiritual vitality, or deliverance from danger/death. It implies a state of being in need of rejuvenation. It is a desperate cry for God to breathe new life into him.
- according to your steadfast love (כְּחַסְדְּךָ - kəḥasdəḵā): This crucial phrase establishes the basis of the psalmist's plea. Hesed refers to God's loyal, unfailing, and covenantal love, rooted in His very character. It is abundant, merciful, and unwavering, irrespective of human merit. The psalmist asks not based on his love for God's precepts (though he states it), but based on God's inherent faithfulness and kindness.
- "Consider how I love your precepts, O LORD!": This phrase expresses a plea for divine recognition. The psalmist brings his heartfelt devotion before God, not boasting, but seeking validation and an acknowledgment of his earnest pursuit of God's ways amidst suffering. It is a humble appeal for God's attentive gaze on his loyal affection.
- "Revive me according to your steadfast love": This forms the core request. It directly links the need for restoration or renewed life to the sovereign and compassionate character of God. The revival sought is not deserved but graciously bestowed, contingent on God's unchanging and abounding hesed, providing assurance that God will indeed act. The first part is the premise for the second; "because of my love for your word, which you see, act according to your love."
Psalm 119 159 Bonus section
The connection between loving God's Word and experiencing spiritual vitality is a recurring theme in scripture. This verse underscores that a revival (a personal awakening or renewal) is often an outcome sought by those who already value and obey God's truth, rather than something granted in a spiritual vacuum. It implies that consistent exposure to and love for God's Word prepare the heart to receive and long for God's life-giving presence. Furthermore, the term "revive me" can carry the dual sense of preserving life in affliction and infusing new spiritual strength, both necessary when under pressure from wicked persecutors, a frequent context in Psalm 119. The psalmist does not ask if God sees, but asks God to consider – to weigh and acknowledge – this deep internal devotion. It is a petition for God to respond favorably to a relationship built on loyalty to His Word, sealed by His enduring faithfulness.
Psalm 119 159 Commentary
Psalm 119:159 stands as a powerful testament to the intimate connection between genuine devotion to God's Word and a fervent prayer for His divine grace. The psalmist expresses a profound love for God's commands, embracing them not as a burden but as a delight. This heartfelt love becomes the ground upon which he dares to approach the Sovereign LORD. Yet, his plea for "revival" is strategically anchored, not in the perceived merit of his own love, but solely in the boundless ocean of God's "steadfast love" (ḥesed). This highlights a crucial theological principle: while human obedience and love are desired by God, salvation and life itself are always a gift, an outpouring of God's unchanging covenant faithfulness. The psalmist acknowledges his own need for supernatural life and relies entirely on God's mercy to grant it. This verse teaches us that our deepest desires for spiritual renewal and vitality should flow from a genuine love for God's revealed will, while recognizing that their fulfillment comes by God’s pure grace.