Deal bountifully with your servant, that I may live, and keep your word.
All Commentaries on Psalms 119:17 Go To Psalms 119
Augustine of Hippo
AD 430
15. He had said, "Wherewithal shall a youngman cleanse his way? Even by keeping Thywords." Behold he now more openly asketh aid that he may do this: "Reward," he saith, "Thy servant: let me live, and keep Thy word" (ver. 17) ...It his reward that he asketh, who saith, "Reward Thy servant." For there are four modes of reward: either evil for evil, as God will reward everlasting fire to the unrighteous; or good for good, as He will reward an everlasting kingdom to the righteous; or good for evil, as Christ by grace justifieth the ungodly; or evil for good, as Judas and the Jews through their wickedness persecuted Christ. Of these four modes of reward, the first two belong to justice, whereby evil is rewarded for evil, good for good; the third to mercy, whereby good is rewarded for evil; the fourth God knoweth not, for to none cloth He reward evil for good. But that which I have placed third in order, is in the first instance necessary: for unless God rewarded good for evil, there would be none to whom He could reward good for good. ...
16. Nowhere then let human pride raise itself up: God giveth good rewards unto His own gifts. ...
