TRV
Study This Verse
Public-domain commentary
Matthew Henry
From his Commentary on the Whole Bible. Henry comments on passages, not single verses — this entry covers Psalms 119:118–120. His three-level outline is real structure in the source text, so it is rendered as structure.
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 fear them nor envy them. 1. He treads them all down. He brings them to ruin, to utter ruin, to shameful ruin; he makes them his footstool. Though they are ever so high, he can bring them low (Amo 2:9); he has done it many a time, and he will do it, for he resists the proud and will triumph over those that oppose his kingdom. Proud persecutors trample upon his people, but, sooner or later, he will trample upon them. 2. He puts them all away like dross. Wicked people are as dross, which, though it be mingled with the good metal in the ore, and seems to be of the same substance with it, must be separated from it. And in God's account they are worthless things, the scum and refuse of the earth, and no more to be compared with the righteous than dross with fine gold. There is a day coming which will put them away from among the righteous (Mat 13:49), so that they shall have no place in their congregation (Psa 1:5), which will put them away into everlasting fire, the fittest place for the dross. Sometimes, in this world, the wicked are, by the censures of the church, or the sword of the magistrate, or the judgments of God, put away as dross, Pro 25:4, Pro 25:5.
II.The reasons of these judgments.
God casts them off because they err from his statutes (those that will not submit to the commands of the word shall feel the curses of it) and because their deceit is falsehood, that is, because they deceive themselves by setting up false rules, in opposition to God's statutes, which they err from, and because they go about to deceive others with their hypocritical pretences of good and their crafty projects of mischief. Their cunning is falsehood, so Dr. Hammond. The utmost of their policy is treachery and perfidiousness; this the God of truth hates and will punish.
III.The improvement David made of these judgments.
He took notice of them and received instruction from them. The ruin of the wicked helped to increase,
1.His love to the word of God. "I see what comes of sin; therefore I love thy testimonies, which warn me to take heed of those dangerous courses and keep me from the paths of the destroyer." We see the word of Go fulfilled in his judgments on sin and sinners, and therefore we should love it.
2.His fear of the wrath of God: My flesh trembles for fear of thee. Instead of insulting over those who fell under God's displeasure, he humbled himself. What we read and hear of the judgments of God upon wicked people would make us,
(1.)To reverence his terrible majesty, and to stand in awe of him: Who is able to stand before this holy Lord God? Sa1 6:20.
(2.)To fear lest we offend him and become obnoxious to his wrath. Good men have need to be restrained from sin by the terrors of the Lord, especially when judgment begins at the house of God and hypocrites are discovered and put away as dross.
Historical interpretation
Historical Reception
5 surviving comments on this verse. Each one is dated, so this reads as a timeline rather than a list.
Select a marker to jump to its quote. Markers stagger vertically where authors wrote within a few decades of each other.
O the divine mystery of that cross, on which weakness hangs, might is free, vices are nailed and triumphal trophies raised. So that a certain saint said, “Pierce my flesh with nails for fear of you”; he says not with nails of iron but of fear and faith. For the bonds of virtue are stronger than those of punishment. Lastly, Peter was bound by his faith, when he had followed the Lord as far as the hall of the high priest; no one had bound and punishment had not loosened Peter, who had been bound by faith. Again, when Peter was bound by the Jews, prayer loosed him, punishment did not hold him, because he had not gone back from Christ.
In our affairs, beloved, we have great need of perseverance. And perseverance is the fruit when [Christ’s] teachings become deeply rooted in us. No assault of the wind will be strong enough to uproot the oak that has sent its roots deep down into the depths of the earth and has become firmly encompassed by them. Similarly, no one will be strong enough to overpower the soul that is nailed down by the fear of God, because to be nailed down is to be more securely fastened than to be rooted. In fact, the prophet prayed for this when he said, “Nail my flesh with your fear.”
The next words in the Psalm are, "I have counted," or "thought," or "esteemed, all the ungodly of the earth as transgressors" [Psalm 119:119]. In the Latin version many different renderings are given of the Greek ἐ λογισ
After those words on which we have been commenting, Paul continues and says, "Now the law entered in that sin might abound," but this does not apply to the sin that is derived from Adam, of which he said above: "Death reigned through one." Clearly, we must understand by it either the natural law that was known in those ages among all who had the use of reason or the written Law that was given by Moses but that could not give life or set people free "from the law of sin and death" that came down from Adam. Rather, it added an increase of transgression: "For where there is no law," says the same apostle, "neither is there transgression." Since there is a law in human reason, written by nature in the heart of everyone who enjoys the use of free will, and this law suggests that a person do no evil to another that he would not wish to suffer himself, therefore, according to this law all are transgressors, even those who have not received the law given by Moses, of whom the psalmist says, "I have accounted all the sinners of the earth liars." Not all the sinners of the earth have transgressed against the law given by Moses, but unless they had committed some transgression they would not be called liars, "for where there is no law, neither is there transgression."
For the first covenant, which was made with the first man, is just this: "In the day ye eat thereof, ye shall surely die." Whence it is written in the book called Ecclesiasticus, "All flesh waxeth old as doth a garment. For the covenant from the beginning is, Thou shall die the death." Now, as the law was more plainly given afterward, and the apostle says, "Where no law is, there is no prevarication," on what supposition is what is said in the psalm true, "I accounted all the sinners of the earth prevaricators," except that all who are held liable for any sin are accused of dealing deceitfully (prevaricating) with some law?If on this account, then, even the infants are, according to the true belief, born in sin, not actual but original, so that we confess they have need of grace for the remission of sins, certainly it must be acknowledged that in the same sense in which they are sinners they are also prevaricators of that law which was given in Paradise, according to the truth of both scriptures, "I accounted all the sinners of the earth prevaricators," and "Where no law is, there is no prevarication." And thus, because circumcision was the sign of regeneration, and the infant, on account of the original sin by which God's covenant was first broken, was not undeservedly to lose his generation unless delivered by regeneration, these divine words are to be understood as if it had been said, Whoever is not born again, that soul shall perish from his people, because he hath broken my covenant, since he also has sinned in Adam with all others.
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Summary
Psalm 119:119 powerfully articulates the psalmist's profound love for God's divine law, a love directly intensified by observing God's decisive and purifying judgment against the wicked. By likening the wicked to worthless dross, the verse portrays God as the active Refiner who purges all impurity from the earth, thereby validating the righteousness and trustworthiness of His testimonies and deepening the believer's devotion.
Context
Literary Context
Psalm 119 stands as the longest chapter in the Bible, an intricate acrostic poem meticulously structured around the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet, with each of its 22 stanzas comprising eight verses dedicated to a single letter. This monumental work is a profound and sustained meditation on the manifold perfections of God's revealed will, referred to by a rich tapestry of synonyms including "testimonies," "precepts," "statutes," "commandments," "ordinances," "laws," and "word." Throughout this extensive psalm, the author expresses an unwavering and passionate devotion to God's word, often articulating this commitment in the face of significant trials, persecution, and opposition from the wicked. Verse 119 is situated within the "Peh" section (verses 113-120), a segment that continues to draw a stark contrast between the righteous, who find their delight, guidance, and refuge in God's ways, and the wicked, who willfully deviate from His divine precepts. The psalmist's fervent plea for deliverance from oppressors, as seen in passages like Psalm 119:115, is frequently juxtaposed with his steadfast love for God's commands, thereby meticulously preparing the reader for the robust affirmation of divine justice articulated in verse 119.
Historical & Cultural Context
The foundational concepts of divine law and justice were absolutely central to the fabric of ancient Israelite society, deeply rooted in the covenant relationship established by God at Mount Sinai. God's laws were never perceived as mere arbitrary regulations but rather as direct expressions of His holy and righteous character, meticulously designed to guide His people in paths of righteousness and to distinctly set them apart from the idolatrous and immoral practices of surrounding nations. The powerful imagery of "dross" employed in this verse is drawn directly from the common and well-understood ancient practice of metal refining, a process where impurities (dross) were painstakingly separated from precious metals, such as silver or gold, through the application of intense heat. This refining process was universally understood as a potent metaphor for purification and judgment, signifying the necessary removal of worthless elements to reveal and preserve something pure and valuable. This widespread cultural understanding would have immediately and powerfully conveyed the idea of God's thorough, decisive, and active intervention in purging evil, thereby ensuring the purity and integrity of His divine order. The psalmist's declaration in this verse reflects a deep, covenantal understanding of God's active involvement in human affairs, steadfastly upholding justice in a world frequently marked by profound injustice.
Key Themes
This verse serves as a powerful contribution to several overarching and interconnected themes found within the expansive narrative of Psalm 119 and, indeed, the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it profoundly underscores the theme of Divine Justice and Purity, portraying God not as a distant observer but as the supreme and active Judge who meticulously purges evil from the earth. The vivid comparison of the wicked to "dross" emphatically highlights their utter worthlessness in God's holy sight and their inevitable removal, thereby emphasizing God's absolute holiness and His unwavering commitment to righteousness. Secondly, the verse powerfully reinforces the Affirmation of God's Testimonies. The psalmist's profound and abiding love for God's "testimonies" (His laws and decrees) is presented as a direct and logical consequence of observing God's just and purifying actions. When God deals decisively with wickedness, it serves as a powerful validation of the truth, efficacy, and inherent goodness of His word, demonstrating unequivocally that His ways are indeed righteous, trustworthy, and ultimately victorious. This provides a compelling and deeply personal reason for the believer to cherish, obey, and delight in His word, as so eloquently expressed throughout the entirety of Psalm 119. Finally, the verse speaks profoundly to God's Sovereignty and Ultimate Triumph. It offers a comforting assurance that, despite the temporary prosperity or apparent impunity of the wicked, God remains eternally sovereign over all creation and will ultimately bring all unrighteousness to a just account. This perspective brings immense comfort and significantly strengthens faith in God's ultimate plan of purification and renewal, a vision beautifully articulated in the prophetic promise of a new heaven and new earth where righteousness dwells, as described in Revelation 21:4.
Exposition and Analysis
Key Word Analysis
This primitive root signifies "to repose," meaning to desist from exertion. In this context, it is used causatively and figuratively to mean "to cause to cease," "to put away (down)," or "to take away." It denotes God's active, decisive, and sovereign intervention to remove, eliminate, or bring to an end the presence and influence of the wicked. This is not a passive withdrawal but an intentional act of divine judgment and purification.
This term refers to scoria or refuse, specifically the impurities that are separated and discarded during the process of refining metals. By likening the wicked to dross, the psalmist emphasizes their utter worthlessness, their corrupting nature, and their destined removal from God's pure presence and righteous order. It highlights that they are unwanted and will be purged.
This feminine noun denotes a "testimony" or "witness," particularly in a technical sense referring to God's solemn declarations, His covenant stipulations, and the authoritative principles by which He governs His people. It speaks of God's revealed will, His divine decrees, and the authoritative witness to His character and intentions. The psalmist's love for these "testimonies" is a love for God's very nature and His righteous governance, which is profoundly vindicated by His just dealings with the wicked.
Verse Breakdown
"Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth [like] dross"
This clause serves as a powerful declaration of God's active, comprehensive, and purifying judgment against the wicked. The inclusion of "all" underscores the universal scope of divine justice, encompassing every unrighteous individual. The vivid and poignant simile of "dross" powerfully communicates the intrinsic worthlessness and moral impurity of the wicked in God's holy eyes, indicating their ultimate destiny of removal and destruction. This is a profound affirmation of God's absolute holiness and His unwavering commitment to establishing and maintaining a pure and just order, a realm where evil cannot ultimately endure or stand.
"therefore I love thy testimonies"
This second clause reveals the psalmist's profound, worshipful, and deeply personal response to God's righteous judgment. The crucial conjunction "therefore" establishes a direct and undeniable cause-and-effect relationship: because God is inherently just and actively purges evil from the earth, the psalmist's love for God's revealed will (His testimonies) is not only deepened but also profoundly confirmed and validated. Witnessing God's righteous actions in the world serves to authenticate the truth, goodness, and efficacy of His divine laws, providing a powerful and compelling motivation for unwavering devotion and obedient living. It is an eloquent acknowledgment that God's character, as perfectly revealed in His actions, flawlessly aligns with the eternal principles and precepts laid out in His sacred word.
Literary Devices
Psalm 119:119 masterfully employs several potent literary devices to convey its profound and impactful message. The most prominent device is Simile, vividly evident in the phrase "like dross." This comparison powerfully illustrates the nature and ultimate destiny of the wicked, likening them to the worthless impurities meticulously separated from precious metal during the refining process. This not only emphasizes their valuelessness in God's sight but also highlights God's active, purifying, and sovereign role. Closely related to the simile is Metaphor, where the wicked are not merely like dross but are, in essence, the spiritual dross that God, as the divine Refiner, must decisively remove to ensure the purity and integrity of His kingdom. The verse also skillfully utilizes Contrast, setting God's decisive and purifying action against the wicked in stark opposition to the psalmist's loving and obedient response to God's law. This juxtaposition powerfully highlights the fundamental difference between those who defiantly oppose God's will and those who wholeheartedly embrace and delight in His ways. Furthermore, a clear Cause and Effect relationship is unequivocally established by the pivotal word "therefore." God's act of putting away the wicked (the cause) directly leads to the psalmist's increased and confirmed love for His testimonies (the effect), demonstrating with compelling clarity how divine justice serves to confirm, magnify, and illuminate the inherent beauty and righteousness of God's word.
Theological and Thematic Connections
Psalm 119:119 deeply resonates with the profound biblical themes of divine justice, the vindication of God's holy character, and the ultimate, certain triumph of righteousness. It unequivocally affirms that God is not a passive or indifferent observer of human sin and injustice but rather an active, holy, and sovereign Judge who will meticulously purify His creation. This purging of evil is not an arbitrary act but flows directly from His perfect and immutable nature, serving to uphold the integrity of His covenant and the absolute authority of His word. The psalmist's heartfelt response in this verse provides a timeless model for how a believer's faith is strengthened and their love for God's law is deepened when God's righteous judgments are observed, demonstrating that true piety and devotion are profoundly rooted in an apprehension of God's absolute holiness and His unwavering commitment to justice. This verse offers profound assurance that, despite the often-apparent flourishing or temporary impunity of evil in the present age, God's ultimate plan involves the complete and decisive removal of all that is impure and contrary to His divine will, leading to a perfectly pure and righteous new creation.
Reflection and Application
Psalm 119:119 offers profound and enduring insights for contemporary believers, particularly in a world that often seems to mock justice, where wickedness appears to prosper, and where the righteous can feel overwhelmed. It serves as a powerful call for us to cultivate a deep, unwavering trust in God's sovereign and ultimate justice. When we witness injustice, rather than succumbing to despair, cynicism, or the temptation to seek personal vengeance, this verse profoundly reminds us that God sees all, knows all, and will, in His perfect timing and through His righteous methods, deal decisively with every form of unrighteousness. This comforting truth should not only bring peace to our hearts but also powerfully motivate us to live lives that are consistently in alignment with God's perfect and holy law. Our love for His testimonies should grow exponentially as we recognize that His word is consistently vindicated by His actions in the world, both now and in the eschatological future. Furthermore, the vivid imagery of "dross" serves as a powerful and searching call to diligent self-examination. Are there "impurities" in our own lives—sins, worldly attachments, ungodly attitudes, or unconfessed rebellion—that need to be purged? Just as God meticulously purifies the earth of its dross, He also intensely desires to refine His people, molding us ever more perfectly into the glorious image of His Son. This verse challenges us to courageously embrace God's refining work in our lives, knowing that it is a transformative process that leads to greater spiritual purity, deeper conformity to Christ, and a more authentic, profound love for His perfect will.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why is the wicked compared to "dross" in this verse, and what does this imagery convey about God's character?
The comparison of the wicked to "dross" is a powerful simile drawn from the ancient and well-understood process of metal refining. Dross refers to the worthless impurities, slag, or waste material that separates from precious metals like silver or gold when subjected to intense heat. It is considered valueless and is discarded as refuse, indicating its corrupting nature and its unsuitability for inclusion with the pure metal. By using this vivid imagery, the psalmist emphasizes several key theological and spiritual points:
Christ-Centered Fulfillment
Psalm 119:119 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ. While the psalmist anticipates God's righteous judgment against the wicked, it is Christ who supremely embodies and perfectly executes this divine purification. He is the ultimate Refiner, who, as John the Baptist prophesied, "will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire" (Matthew 3:12). Jesus' first coming initiated a spiritual refinement, offering profound purification from sin through His atoning sacrifice, the shedding of His precious blood, which cleanses our consciences from dead works to serve the living God (Hebrews 9:14). His second coming will bring the final, decisive, and eternal separation of the righteous from the wicked, where all "dross"—every impurity, every unrighteous act, and every unrepentant heart—will be eternally removed from His perfected creation. The Book of Revelation vividly portrays Christ returning as the righteous Judge and conquering King, who will "strike down the nations, and he will rule them with an iron scepter" (Revelation 19:15), ultimately casting all impurity and those who practice evil into the lake of fire, ensuring that "nothing unclean will ever enter" the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:27). Therefore, the psalmist's deep love for God's testimonies, validated by divine justice, is fully realized in the New Covenant, where the law is not merely external but is written on the hearts and minds of believers by the Holy Spirit (Jeremiah 31:33), enabling them to truly love and obey God's perfect will in profound response to Christ's redemptive work and His glorious promise of ultimate justice and a purified kingdom.