Psalm 119:118-120

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 119:118-120

Here is, I. God's judgment on wicked people, on those that wander from his statutes, that take their measures from other rules and will not have God to reign over them. All departure from God's statutes is certainly an error, and will prove a fatal one. These are the wicked of the earth; they mind earthly things, lay up their treasures in the earth, live in pleasure on the earth, and are strangers and enemies to heaven and heavenly things. Now see how God deals with them, that you may neither... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 119:118

Thou hast trodden down all them that err from thy statutes ,.... That wander from the way of the Lord's commandments; that deviate from his precepts, go astray constantly and wilfully; a people that err in their hearts, and with all their hearts. These the Lord treads down, as mire in the streets, as grapes in a winepress; which shows his abhorrence of them, his indignation at them, and how easily they are subdued under him; for their deceit is falsehood : or, "their hypocrisy is a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 119:119

Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth like dross ,.... Which is of no worth and value, useless and unprofitable; which is cast into the fire, and separated from the choice metal. This expresses the character and state of wicked men; who are of no account with God, are of no profit and advantage to him; nor to men, but harmful and pernicious; are cast into the fire of God's judgments here, and into everlasting burnings hereafter; and will be separated from the righteous, and have no... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 119:120

My flesh trembleth for fear of thee ,.... Not for fear of the wrath of God coming down upon himself, nor for fear of eternal damnation; but for fear of what was coming upon the wicked, for their sins and transgressions. The word F14 סמר ορθοτριχει , Symmachus in Drusius; "horripilavit", Cajetanus apud Gejerum. used signifies such a dread and horror, which seizes a man to such a degree, that it makes the hair of his flesh to stand up; as Jarchi and Kimchi observe; see Psalm 119:53 ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 119:118

Thou hast trodden down - All thy enemies will be finally trodden down under thy feet. Their deceit is falsehood - Their elevation is a lie. The wicked often become rich and great, and affect to be happy, but it is all false; they have neither a clean nor approving conscience. Nor can they have thy approbation; and, consequently, no true blessedness. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 119:119

Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth like dross - There is no true metal in them: when they are tried by the refining fire, they are burnt up; they fly off in fumes, and come to no amount. There is probably an allusion here to the scum or scorias at the surface of melting metals, which is swept oft previously to casting the metal into the mould. Therefore I love thy testimonies - Thy testimonies will stand; and thy people will stand; because thou who didst give the one, and who... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 119:120

My flesh trembleth for fear of thee - I know thou art a just and holy God: I know thou requirest truth in the inner parts. I know that thou art a Spirit, and that they who worship thee must worship thee in spirit and in truth; and I am often alarmed lest I fall short. It is only an assurance of my interest in thy mercy that can save me from distressing fears and harassing doubts. It is our privilege to know we are in God's favor; and it is not less so to maintain a continual filial fear of... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 119:118

Verse 118 118.Thou hast trodden under foot all those who wander from thy statutes. By treading under foot he means, that God overthrows all the despisers of his law, and casts them down from that loftiness which they assume to themselves. The phrase is directed against the foolish, or rather frantic, confidence with which the wicked are inflated, when they recklessly deride the judgments of God; and, what is more, scruple not to magnify themselves against him, as if they were not subject to his... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 119:119

Verse 119 119.Thou hast made all the wicked of the earth to cease as dross. The meaning of this verse is similar to that of the preceding. By the similitude employed, there is described a sudden and an unexpected change, when their imaginative glory and happiness become dissipated in smoke. It is to be observed, that the vengeance of God against the wicked is not all at once manifested, so that they completely perish, or are exterminated from the earth; but as God, in rooting them out one after... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 119:120

Verse 120 120.My flesh hath trembled for fear of thee. (441) At first sight the prophet seems to contradict himself. He had just now said, that, by God’s severity, he was gently drawn to love his testimonies; now he declares, that he was seized with terror. But although these two effects differ widely from each other, yet, if we consider by what kind of discipline God forms us to reverence his law, we will perceive that they entirely harmonize. We require to be subdued by fear that we may... read more

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