Psalm 119:79 NKJV
79
Let those who fear You turn to me,
Those who know Your testimonies.
Restoring Fellowship Among the Faithful
My Notes
David’s prayer here is tender and revealing. Some believe this verse reflects a time when, after his grievous sin involving Uriah, even the godly distanced themselves from him. Though he was king, those who feared the Lord may have turned away, ashamed or grieved by his failure. This troubled David deeply. So he prayed—not for vindication, but for restoration: “Lord, let them turn to me again.”
He longed for fellowship with those who were not only upright in heart but wise in the Word—those who “know Your testimonies.” David desired the company of believers whose lives were shaped by truth, whose conversations would edify and encourage. These were the people he wanted near.
Though surrounded by proud enemies, David knew not all were against him or against God. There were still those who feared the Lord, and he sought their companionship. Perhaps slander had driven some away, or perhaps his own faults had wounded others. Either way, David asked the Lord to restore what had been lost—to turn hearts back toward him.
This is the mark of a humble believer: a desire not only to be right with God, but also to be reconciled with His people. We cannot afford to lose the love of even the least of the saints. And if we have, it is right to pray for its return.
When the world brings trouble, the believer seeks comfort among the faithful. Earthly friendships—based on status, wealth, or beauty—fade. But fellowship rooted in God’s Word and shared devotion to Christ endures forever.
David’s prayer may also carry a deeper meaning: “Let them know Your testimonies through my experience.” In other words, let others learn from my journey—my failures, my repentance, and my restoration. Let my life be a testimony that draws them closer to Your truth.
Summary:
In Psalm 119:79, David expresses his desire for those who fear God and understand His testimonies to turn to him for support and companionship. Acknowledging his past mistakes, which may have alienated some faithful followers, he prays for their return, emphasizing the importance of mutual encouragement among believers. The commentaries below highlight that true friendship is rooted in a shared devotion to God’s law and understanding. David values the approval of the righteous, recognizing that both devotion and intelligence are crucial for spiritual fellowship. This plea reveals his longing for reconciliation and unity within the community of faith, reflecting a deep need for divine and communal support.
Note: Psalm 119 is an acrostic pattern. There are 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet; each of the 22 sections is given a letter of the Hebrew alphabet, and each line in that section begins with that letter. Today, we’re looking at verse 79, which is in the 10th section, which is called “י YOD”. According to the hebrews4christians.com website, the letter י YOD is the 10th letter of the Aleph-Bet, having the numeric value of ten. The pictograph for י YOD looks like an arm or a hand. י YOD is the most frequently occurring letter in the Scriptures as well as the smallest of the letters
The website https://www.abarim-publications.com/Hebrew_Alphabet_Meaning.html defines the meaning of the letter YOD יד as:
After one of two regular words for hand (for the other, see the 11th letter). The noun יד (yad) denotes the hand, typically not as outstretched, but rather as holding something or being a fist. The word is synonymous with power or might; to fall in one’s hands. It’s typical that the alphabet’s smallest letter came to mean power, but perhaps its shape reminded one of a little fist. As a postfix, this letter י (yod) forms a possessive, and as a prefix, it creates a third person singular imperfect.
“In this section, each verse begins with the Hebrew letter Jot, or i, the smallest letter in the Hebrew alphabet, called in Mat 5:18, jot; one jot or tittle shall in no wise pass from the law.”—Albert Barnes.
……..Bill
Commentaries:
Charles Spurgeon
“Let those that fear thee turn unto me, and those that have known thy testimonies.” Perhaps the tongue of slander had alienated some of the godly, and probably the actual faults of David had grieved many more. He begs God to turn to him, and then to turn his people towards him. Those who are right with God are also anxious to be right with his children. David craved the love and sympathy of gracious men of all grades,—of those who were beginners in grace, and of those who were mature in piety—“those that fear thee,” and “those that have known thy testimonies.” We cannot afford to lose the love of the least of the saints, and if we have lost their esteem, we may most properly pray to have it restored. David was the leader of the godly party in the nation, and it wounded him to the heart when he perceived that those who feared God were not as glad to see him as aforetime they had been. He did not bluster and say that if they could do without him, he could very well do without them; but he so deeply felt the value of their sympathy that he made it a matter of prayer that the Lord would turn their hearts to him again. Those who are dear to God and are instructed in his word should be very precious in our eyes, and we should do our utmost to be upon good terms with them.
David has two descriptions for the saints: they are God fearing and God knowing. They possess both devotion and instruction; they have both the spirit and the science of true religion. We know some believers who are gracious but not intelligent; on the other hand, we also know certain professors who have all head and no heart: he is the man who combines devotion with intelligence. We neither care for devout dunces nor for intellectual icebergs. When fearing and knowing walk hand in hand, they cause men to be thoroughly furnished unto every good work. If these are my choice companions, I may hope that I am one of their order. Let such persons ever turn to me because they find in me congenial company.
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Enduring Word
Let those who fear You turn to me: The psalmist recognized the presence of proud enemies, but he did not believe that all were against himself or God. There were others who feared God, and he could find companionship with them. They had much in common – they both were those who knew God’s word (Those who know Your testimonies). (Guzik)
i. Turn to me: “As the believer finds trouble from the world, he prays that he may find help from the Lord’s people…. It is painful, therefore, to see Christians often walking aloof from each other, and suffering coldness, distance, differences, and distrust to divide them from their brethren.” (Bridges)
ii. “Either, 1. Turn their eyes to me as a spectacle of God’s wonderful mercy; or rather, 2. Turn their hearts and affections to me, which have been alienated from me.” (Poole)
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Albert Barnes
Let those that fear thee turn unto me – Let thy friends be my friends. Let them show me favor, and count me among their companions. If the great and the powerful turn away from me; if they persecute me, and do me wrong; if they cast out my name as evil, and are unwilling to associate with me, yet let thy friends, however poor and humble, regard me with kindness, and reckon me among their number, and I shall be satisfied.
And those that have known thy testimonies – Thy law. Those who can see and appreciate the beauty of thy commandments. This is the ground of true friendship in religion – the common love of God, of his law, and of his service. This is a permanent ground of affection. All friendship founded on earthly distinctions; all derived from titled birth – from rank – from affluence – from civil, military, or naval renown – from beauty, strength, or nobleness of form – must be temporary; but that which is founded on attachment to God, to his law, and to the Savior, will abide forever.
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John Gill
Let those that fear thee turn unto me,…. Whose companion he was fond of being, Psalm 119:63; There were some good men, it seems, that turned from him, took the part of his enemies, and sided with them against him, which was a matter of grief to him. Some think this refers to the affair of Bathsheba; when some that feared the Lord, that had been familiar with him, did not choose to keep company with him, but abstained from his conversation, having so foully sinned, and brought forth dishonor to God and on his ways. Jarchi and Kimchi both make mention of this. Now this grieved David; and he desired of all things that they would turn to him again, and favor him with their company, who were the excellent in the earth, in whom was all his delight. The Targum is, “turn to my doctrine;” to hear it, receive it, profess it, and abide by it;
and those that have known thy testimonies; as such as fear the Lord do: they know them, and have a spiritual understanding of what they testify of; they know them, and love them, and delight in them; they know them, and own, acknowledge, and profess them; they know them, and keep, and observe them; and an excellent character this is.
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Matthew Henry
“Let those that fear thee turn unto me.” Some think it intimates that when David had been guilty of that foul sin in the murder of Uriah, though he was a king, they that feared God grew strange to him, and turned from him, for they were ashamed of him; this troubled him, and therefore he prays, Lord, let them “turn to me“ again. He desires especially the company of those that were not only honest but intelligent, “that have known thy testimonies,” have good heads as well as good hearts, and whose conversation will be edifying. It is desirable to have an intimacy with such.
How much he valued the goodwill of saints, and how desirous he was to stand right in their opinion, and keep up his interest in them and communion with them: Let those that fear thee turn to me. He does not mean so much that they might side with him, and take up arms in his cause, as that they might love him, and pray for him, and associate with him. Good men desire the friendship and society of those that are good. Some think it intimates that when David had been guilty of that foul sin in the murder of Uriah, though he was a king, those that feared God grew strange to him and turned from him, for they were ashamed of him; this troubled him, and therefore he prays, Lord, let them turn to me again. He desires especially the company of those that were not only honest, but intelligent, that have known thy testimonies, have good heads as well as good hearts, and whose conversation will be edifying. It is desirable to have an intimacy with such.
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The Pulpit Commentaries
Let those that fear thee turn unto me; or, “return to me;” i.e. recover their confidence in me, when they see that I am not forsaken of thee (see Psalms 119:76, Psalms 119:77), but am the recipient of thy “tender mercies.” And those that have known thy testimonies; or, according to another reading, “and let them know thy testimonies;” i.e. “let them learn from my experience to know thy precepts better.”
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Miscellaneous Comments
“Let those that fear thee turn unto me,” etc. As he had not his own flesh to fight against only, but the world also, so he did not only himself fight, but he seeketh the help of others. When many see that religion cannot be truly professed but danger will come of it, because many set themselves against it, they flee from it, and go to the greater pair, which is the wicked. If we will avoid this, let us join ourselves to God’s children, and they will help us with counsel and advice; for one may be strong when we are weak, another may have counsel when we shall not know what to do; therefore by them we shall be kept from many evil things. So Paul (2Ti 1:16), after he had complained of the wrong that many had done unto him, he straightway giveth thanks for the family of Onesiphorus, which refreshed him more than all his enemies could discourage him; so that he durst oppose this one household to the whole rabble of the wicked.
—Richard Greenham.
“Let those that fear thee,” etc. You must go to God and beseech him to choose your company for you. Mark what David said and did; in Psa 119:63 he saith, “I am a companion of all them that fear the Lord;” yet in this verse he goes to God, and prayeth, saying, “Let those that fear thee, O Lord, turn unto me, and those that have known thy testimonies.” As if he should say, “Of a truth, Lord, I am a companion of all that do fear thee; but it is not in my power to bend their hearts unto me; the hearts of all men are in thy hands,” now therefore “let those that fear thee turn unto me.” So do you go to God, and say likewise: Lord, do thou choose my company for me; oh, do thou bow and incline their hearts to be my companions.
—William Bridge.
One great means to restore a good understanding among God’s people is prayer. David goeth to God about it: “Lord, let them turn to me.” The Lord governs hearts and interests; both are in his hands, and he useth their alienation or reconciliation, either for judgment or mercy. God, when he pleaseth, can divert from us the comfort of godly friends; and when he pleaseth, he can bring them back again to us. The feet of God’s children are directed by God himself; if they come to us, it is a blessing of God; if not, it is for a correction. He made Jacob and Laban meet peaceably (Genesis 30), and in the next chapter, Jacob and Esau (Genesis 31).
—Thomas Manton.
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Cross-References
Psalm 119:63 (KJV)
63 I am a companion of all them that fear thee,
And of them that keep thy precepts.
Psalm 142:7 (KJV)
7 Bring my soul out of prison,
That I may praise thy name:
The righteous shall compass me about;
For thou shalt deal bountifully with me.
Jeremiah 15:19 (ASV)
19Therefore thus saith Jehovah, If thou return, then will I bring thee again, that thou mayest stand before me; and if thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as my mouth: they shall return unto thee, but thou shalt not return unto them.
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Closing Thoughts
“Now therefore, listen to me, my children, For blessed are those who keep my ways. Hear instruction and be wise, And do not disdain it. Blessed is the man who listens to me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at the posts of my doors. For whoever finds me finds life, And obtains favor from the Lord; But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul; All those who hate me love death.” Proverbs 8:32-36 NKJV
י YOD : Confidence in the Creator and His Word.
73
Your hands have made me and fashioned me;
Give me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments.
74
Those who fear You will be glad when they see me,
Because I have hoped in Your word.
75
I know, O Lord, that Your judgments are right,
And that in faithfulness You have afflicted me.
76
Let, I pray, Your merciful kindness be for my comfort,
According to Your word to Your servant.
77
Let Your tender mercies come to me, that I may live;
For Your law is my delight.
78
Let the proud be ashamed,
For they treated me wrongfully with falsehood;
But I will meditate on Your precepts.
79
Let those who fear You turn to me,
Those who know Your testimonies.
80
Let my heart be blameless regarding Your statutes,
That I may not be ashamed.
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