that Your promise
The "promise" refers to God's covenantal assurances found throughout Scripture. In the Old Testament, God's promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were foundational to Israel's identity. These promises include land, descendants, and blessing (Genesis 12:1-3). In a broader sense, the promise can also be seen as the coming of the Messiah, fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who is the ultimate expression of God's faithfulness (2 Corinthians 1:20). The promise of salvation and eternal life is central to Christian hope.

has given me life
The psalmist attributes life itself to God's promise. This can be understood both physically and spiritually. In a physical sense, God's protection and provision sustain life. Spiritually, the promise of redemption and eternal life through Christ is the ultimate source of life (John 10:10). The concept of life here is abundant and eternal, aligning with Jesus' declaration that He is "the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6). This life is not just survival but a flourishing existence in relationship with God.

The psalmist starts by anchoring his hope in something specific—“This is my comfort.” He isn’t speaking of vague optimism but a solid, definable encouragement found in God Himself.

• Scripture repeatedly reveals God as the source of real comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3-4; Isaiah 51:12).

• The Lord’s reassurance is not sentimental; it rests on His unchanging character (Malachi 3:6) and faithful track record (Joshua 21:45).

• Like David in Psalm 23:4, we can say, “I will fear no evil, for You are with me,” because biblical comfort centers on God’s presence, not circumstances.

Comfort shines brightest against the backdrop of suffering. “In affliction” reminds us that trials are neither unusual nor purposeless.

• Jesus promised we would face trouble (John 16:33), yet He also promised His peace.

• James 1:2-4 calls believers to “consider it pure joy” when testing comes, because God uses hardship to refine faith.

• Psalm 34:19 affirms, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him from them all,” highlighting that deliverance and difficulty often coexist.

The comfort cited is rooted squarely in God’s promise, not in human resolve.

• God’s integrity guarantees His word (Numbers 23:19). Psalm 119:89 declares, “Your word, O LORD, is everlasting.”

• Abraham’s confidence in Romans 4:20-21 illustrates how faith grows strong when anchored in divine promises.

• Every biblical covenant—from Noah’s rainbow (Genesis 9) to the new covenant in Christ (Luke 22:20)—shows that God’s promises are reliable lifelines in every generation.

The promise doesn’t merely console; it revives. “Has given me life” points to tangible renewal—spiritually, emotionally, sometimes even physically.

• Jesus said, “The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life” (John 6:63), underscoring Scripture’s life-giving power.

• Believers are “made alive with Christ” (Ephesians 2:4-5), a present reality that energizes perseverance.

• The psalmist later testifies, “I will never forget Your precepts, for by them You have revived me” (Psalm 119:93), echoing the same idea of quickening grace.

Psalm 119:50 teaches that real, sustaining comfort flows from God’s unfailing promises, even in the midst of suffering. Those promises do more than soothe; they breathe life into weary souls, proving once again that the Word of the Lord is both reliable and revitalizing for every affliction we face today.

(50) Comfort.--As in Job 6:10, where the same noun occurs, its only other use. We might render, "This is my comfort, that thy word quickeneth me."