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Tehillim 119:28
 דָּלְפָה נַפְשִׁי מִתּוּגָה קַיְּמֵנִי כִּדְבָרֶךָ
dalfa nafshi mituga kaimeni kidvarecha
My soul melts away in grief; sustain me according to Your word.

"My soul" dissolves in tears and "melts away in grief" and anguish due to my illness and pain. So I implore You to "sustain me according to Your word." For as You said, "I would, and I heal" (Devarim 32:39)

Some say that David asks to be granted the kingship that G-d promised him at the hand of the prophet Shmuel. "My soul melts away in grief" at all my many troubles. "Sustain me" in my kingship "according to Your word."

David Hamelech speaks appropriately of his soul "melting away," for that is how the soul departs from the body. As Chazal teach, "Today a handbreadth, tomorrow a handbreadth, until it makes the effort and departs."

Similarly, the Midrash says, "My soul melts away in grief" as a result of the calamities that beset me. There is no year without some calamity, no month without an evil tiding, no day without some trouble. Every moment, evil tiding follows evil tiding. So, "Sustain me according to your word."

What is "Your word"? It is what Moshe said, "Hashem will establish you a holy people to Himself" (Devarim 28:9).

The Hebrew term דלפה (dalfa - melts, drips) connotes a trickling flow, a leak drop by drop, become less by less. A corresponding interpretation says that David Hamelech refers to his troubles as coming upon him one after another: drip by drip without interruption. Unable to bear this constant flow of afflictions, he pleads for help.

Throughout his entire life, David Hamelech never had a good dream. As Chazal declare concerning this matter, "His melancholy helped him endure." That is what he says here, "My soul melts away in grief," so "sustain me according to Your word."

- Me'am Lo'ez, Midrash, Chazal

Tehillim 119:27
דֶּרֶךְ-פִּקּוּדֶיךָ הֲבִינֵנִי וְאָשִׂיחָה בְּנִפְלְאוֹתֶיךָ
derech-pikudeicha havineni veasichah benifleoteicha
Make me understand the way of Your commands, that I may talk of Your wondrous works.

David Hamelech pleads for understanding of "the way of Your commands," so "that I may talk of Your wondrous works." When I will understand, my conversation will then be about the mitzvot.

The Midrash says: "Make me understand the way of Your commands." What does "make me understand" here mean? David Hamelech said to the Holy One, "Do not say to me, 'Here they are all before you. Look well into them on your own.' For if You do not make me understand, I know nothing."

- Me'am Lo'ez

Tehillim 119:26
דְּרָכַי סִפַּרְתִּי וַתַּעֲנֵנִי לַמְּדֵנִי חֻקֶּיךָ
derachai siparti vataaneni lamdeni chukeicha
I have told my ways, and You answered me; teach me Your statues.

David Hamelech says to G-d, "I have told my ways, and You answered me." Whenever I had to travel anywhere at all, I would tell You and ask for Your councel. As it says, "And David inquired of Hashem" (1Shmuel 30:8)

Any number of times I inquired of You, "and You answered me" - in Keila and Ziklag (ibid.). Therefore, I pleade now, "Teach me Your statues." Answer this present plea of mine as well. Grant me an understanding heart truly to grasp Your statues.

Another reading of ספרתי says: "I have counted." David Hamelech says, "I have counted" my many responsibilities in having to provide for my needs and the needs of my family, and so I am incapable of devoting myself to study. "Answer me," therefore, by providing for all my needs; and "teach me Your statutes." Instruct me how to acquire knowledge of Your statutes through Your help, not through my effort and toil.

"I have counted my ways, and You answered me." Whenever I reminded myself of Your Thirteen Attributes (cf. Shemot 34:6, 7), I would examine myself and count my ways. I would ask whether I had conducted myself in accordance with those attributes. A covenant is established regarding the Thirteen Attributes, that when one emulates them, one's prayers never come back empty-handed. Since "You answered me," it means that I have followed in Your ways. Therefore, "teach me Your statutes." If "my ways" have been proper, I will surely be refined through observance of Your statutes.

David Hamelech said earlier, "Princes also sit and talk against me, but Your servant speaks in Your statutes" (v119:23). Lest this proclamation be itself cause enough for them to accuse me of pride, I said to them, "My soul cleaves to the dust" (v119:25). I did not make that declaration boastfully. Indeed, a number of times "I have told my ways" - I poured out entreaty before Hashem that He help me vanquish the yetzer hara; and He "answered me." So I am not at all deserving of personal praise.

"I have told of my ways" - I asked for physical things - "and You answered me." If you have thus responded to the physical needs of my body, then assuredly You will "teach me Your statutes" which are food for the soul.

-Me'am Lo'ez, Chazal