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In this verse we have David engaging himself to God in two particulars. First, to the blessing of God, "Thus will I bless Thee while I live." And secondly, to praying to Him, "I will lift up my hands," etc.

I. DAVID'S ENGAGING HIMSELF TO BLESSING, "Thus will I bless Thee," etc.

1. The thing itself promised is blessing; David promises to bless God. This at the first hearing may seem to carry some kind of difficulty in it. The apostle's rule (Hebrews 7:7) is, that without contradiction the less is blessed of the greater; if so, how can we be said to be blessers of God, who is so infinitely superior to us? For this we must, therefore, know that there is a double kind of blessing; the one imperative, or by way of authority; the other declarative, end by way of publication. According to the first sense, so God blesses man, namely by making him blessed. According to the second sense, so man blesses God, namely, by declaring Him blessed, and by acknowledging that blessedness which is in Him. This is that which ties upon us all as a duty to be performed by us, and accordingly we shall find often mention made of it in Scripture, in sundry places — as for instance Psalm 103:1,

2. It is exquisite upon a twofold ground. First, the goodness which is in Himself. And secondly, the overflowing and communications of this goodness to us; each of these call for this our blessing, and do engage us thereunto. There are two ways especially in which God is blest of His creatures. The one is objectively by way of representation; and the other is significatively by way of publication. According to the first sense, so all His creatures bless Him (Psalm 19:1; Psalm 147:3). But according to the second sense, so He is blest only by angels and men, who are, therefore, to do it with so much the greater intention.

2. What is it to bless God thus? We may take it in these explications.

(1) Sincerely, in the uprightness and integrity of our hearts.

(2) Affectionately, as having our hearts much enlarged in us. As God loves a cheerful giver, so He loves a cheerful thanksgiver; that is, such an one as is thoroughly apprehensive of the greatness of the mercy itself, and which accordingly has his spirit much advanced and enlarged about it.

(3) Spiritually. This is another thing which belongs to this "thus"; when we bless God by the assistance of His Spirit, and in the name of His Son, that is, to bless Him as we should do for the mariner of it.

3. The extent, and that is in these words, "While I live"; whereby he signifies that it was not only a sudden fit or mood in him, but an habitual frame and disposition of spirit. This is thanksgiving in those which are God's servants, it is a constant and settled thing in them; that mercy which they receive but once, yet they are thankful for always, and they do more or less remember it all their lives long. This there is very good ground and reason for, if we examine it, and search into it.

(1) God's dealing with us In regard of His mercies, which He does extend unto us all our lives long. His goodness runs through the whole course of our lives, and every moment of them we have some touch and sprinkling of it; therefore it is but requisite that our praises should be so likewise.

(2) If we consider the nature of God's mercies in themselves, not only for the continuance, but the quality, they are such as nothing less than a life is sufficient for the celebrating of them; a few days, or years, are too little and scanty for such a performance; especially if we speak of the great mercies of all, which is the love of God in Christ, and those spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Him; they are such as call for a life indeed for the publishing of them.

(3) Do but consider how much we provoke God by our sins. We offend Him while we live, and therefore while we live we should praise Him, that so we may in some measure make amends for those offences. So, then, every day will I praise Thee, because every day I sin against Thee.

II. DAVID'S ENGAGING HIMSELF TO PRAYER. "I will lift up my hands," etc.

1. The duty itself.

(1) An expression of homage and obedience to God. They hereby signify that they are at His disposing, and stand in need of His owning of them.

(2) An opportunity of converse and communion with Him.

(3) A means for the diverting of evils from us, and the obtaining of blessings.

2. The manner or carriage of it. "In Thy Name." This does include divers things in it.

(1) The Person to whom the prayer is made, and that is God, and He alone.

(2) It shows the manner in which it is done, and that is according to the will of God, with His allowance and approbation of us; we must not ask anything of God loosely and carelessly, we do not care how, but with reverence and awfulness, and humility, and submission to His good pleasure.

(3) By Thy assistance, by Thy Spirit helping of me (Jude 1:20; Romans 8:26, 27). It must be the voice of God's Spirit in us, this is to pray in His Name.

(T. Horton, D. D.)

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KJV: Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.

WEB: So I will bless you while I live. I will lift up my hands in your name.