Psalm 119 88

Psalm 119:88 kjv

Quicken me after thy lovingkindness; so shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth.

Psalm 119:88 nkjv

Revive me according to Your lovingkindness, So that I may keep the testimony of Your mouth.

Psalm 119:88 niv

In your unfailing love preserve my life, that I may obey the statutes of your mouth.

Psalm 119:88 esv

In your steadfast love give me life, that I may keep the testimonies of your mouth.

Psalm 119:88 nlt

In your unfailing love, spare my life;
then I can continue to obey your laws.

Psalm 119 verses

Psalm 119 88 Meaning

Psalm 119:88 is a heartfelt plea to God for renewed life and strength. The Psalmist asks to be revived or restored to vitality, explicitly stating that this request is based solely on God's steadfast, covenant love (chesed). The ultimate purpose of this divine intervention is clear: so that the Psalmist can continue to diligently observe and obey the decrees and precepts that originate from God Himself. It emphasizes complete dependence on divine grace for spiritual sustenance and the ability to maintain fidelity to God's Word, especially in times of hardship.

Psalm 119 88 Context

Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible, an extended acrostic poem (each of its 22 stanzas of eight verses begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet) celebrating the various aspects of God's Law and Word. The Psalmist's consistent theme is love for, devotion to, and dependence on God's revealed will amidst trials and persecutions. Verse 88 falls within the "Pe" section (verses 81-88). This particular section is characterized by intense expressions of distress, suffering, and fervent longing for God's salvation (e.g., "My soul faints for Your salvation," v. 81; "They almost annihilated me," v. 87). Despite being afflicted and seemingly at the point of perishing, the Psalmist declares his steadfastness to God's precepts (vv. 86-87). Amidst this profound personal suffering and threat, the prayer for revival in verse 88 is not for mere comfort or relief from trouble, but specifically to sustain and enable his commitment to God's divine truth. It reveals a priority of obedience above personal ease.

Psalm 119 88 Word analysis

• Revive me (Hebrew: חַיֵּנִי, chayyēnî from the root חיה, chayah): This verb means "to live," "to give life," "to quicken," or "to restore to life and vitality." In the context of the Psalms, it frequently denotes a spiritual, emotional, or even physical quickening from a state of weakness, weariness, or near-death experience (spiritual apathy, oppression-induced exhaustion). It is a plea for renewed inner strength and vigor, a fresh infilling of life, which is God-given and not self-generated.

• according to Your lovingkindness (Hebrew: כְּחַסְדֶּךָ, kᵉḥasdhekā from חסד, chesed): Chesed is a profound Hebrew term referring to God's steadfast love, loyal love, covenant faithfulness, unfailing kindness, and mercy. It is often described as "loyal love." By basing the request on chesed, the Psalmist acknowledges that any revival or grace received is not deserved or earned through human merit but flows solely from God's abundant, gracious, and faithful character. It emphasizes the gratuitous and compassionate nature of God's saving acts towards His people.

• so that I may keep (Hebrew: וְאֶשְׁמְרָה, wᵉʾešmᵉrâh from שמר, shamar): This verb means "to guard," "to observe," "to keep," "to protect," or "to diligently attend to." It signifies a careful, conscious, and active adherence to something. It is not passive knowledge but active obedience and preservation. The use of "so that" highlights the purpose or goal of the revival being requested.

• the testimony (Hebrew: עֵדוּתְ)־, ʿēḏûṯ): This term refers to God's revealed decrees, statutes, or precepts. It often denotes the body of divine truth that bears witness to God's character and will. In Psalm 119, it is used interchangeably with "law," "statutes," "commandments," and "precepts," emphasizing the divine authority and trustworthiness of God's revelation.

• of Your mouth (Hebrew: פִּיךָ, pîkhā from פֶּה, peh): This phrase emphasizes the direct divine origin and ultimate authority of the "testimony." It indicates that these are not human traditions or laws, but words directly uttered by God, carrying His supreme authority and perfect truth. It signifies that God's Word is binding, powerful, and truly His own utterance.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "Revive me according to Your lovingkindness": This pairing explicitly links divine quickening to God's character. It highlights the source of renewed life as God's grace and faithful love, rejecting any notion of self-sufficiency or earned favor. It establishes the plea's foundation in God's nature, not human worth.
  • "so that I may keep the testimony of Your mouth": This phrase expresses the divinely oriented purpose of the revival. It's not revival for personal ease, comfort, or worldly gain, but for the empowerment to live in sustained obedience to God's perfect and authoritative Word. It shows that spiritual vitality is intrinsically linked to faithfulness.

Psalm 119 88 Bonus section

• The progression in the verse is crucial: Divine grace (chesed) leads to divine action (revival), which then leads to human obedience. This mirrors the New Covenant promise that God would put His Spirit within His people to enable them to walk in His statutes (Ezek 36:27).
• The context of suffering (implied in the preceding verses) elevates this prayer; it’s a cry for inner renewal even when outward circumstances remain dire, specifically for the sake of continuing obedience to God’s Word amidst persecution or distress.
• This prayer highlights that living a life pleasing to God is not just about understanding His Word, but about being inwardly vitalized by His Spirit to perform it diligently. Without God's active chesed, obedience becomes burdensome or impossible, especially in trying times.

Psalm 119 88 Commentary

Psalm 119:88 encapsulates a foundational principle of the Christian life: true spiritual obedience is a direct consequence of divine grace. The Psalmist, feeling overwhelmed and weary from afflictions (as evident from the preceding verses), cries out to God not for the removal of his suffering, but for an inner revival. This revival is sought not because of any inherent worthiness or performance, but purely according to God's lovingkindness (chesed). This highlights God's unfailing love and covenant faithfulness as the sole basis for His benevolent intervention. The clear purpose given for this requested quickening of life is so that the Psalmist may keep the testimony of God's mouth. This demonstrates that renewed spiritual strength is desired not as an end in itself, but as the enabling power for diligent and active obedience to God's Word, which is acknowledged as supremely authoritative because it proceeds directly from the divine mouth. The verse beautifully illustrates humanity's utter dependence on God's grace to live righteously and obey His commands, emphasizing that faithful living is an outflow of divine empowering, not mere human willpower. It is a timeless prayer for anyone struggling to remain faithful amidst trials, acknowledging that God Himself provides both the will and the ability to obey.