Psalms 26:5 - Exposition

I have hated the congregation of evil-doers. Fifthly, he has hated, and hates, with a holy and strong abhorrence (comp. Psalms 139:22 ), the congregation of evil-deers—the gatherings and assemblies of those who meet only for wicked purposes—to sin themselves, and to draw others into like evil courses. This is a positive trait of a very marked character, and goes far beyond the explanation which has been given of it: "I take no part in assemblies for the ruin of others" (Hengstenberg). Sixthly and lastly, he will not sit with the wicked . This only goes beyond the declarations in Psalms 26:4 by extending to all wicked persons of every kind the avoidance there limited to "vain persons," and "dissemblers.'' The spirit is that indicated by Jacob in Genesis 49:6 ; by St. Paul, in 1 Corinthians 5:9-11 and Ephesians 5:7 , Ephesians 5:11 ; and by St. John, on the celebrated occasion when he avoided contact with Cerinthus (Iren; 3.3, § 4).