Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 119:101
I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.
101. The meaning may be either, that he has studiously avoided all places of temptation in order that he might observe the law, or, that the self-restraint which has marked his conduct has sprung from no lower aim than the desire to obey God.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
I have refrained my feet from every evil way – I have walked in the path which thy law marks out. I have avoided the way of wickedness, and have not yielded to the seductions of a sinful life.
That I might keep thy word – I have avoided all those allurements which would turn me from obedience, and which would prevent a right observance of thy commands. This indicates a purpose and a desire to keep the law of God, and shows the method which he adopted in order to do this. That method was to guard against everything which would turn him from obedience; it was, to make obedience to the law of God the great aim of the life.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 101. I have refrained my feet] By avoiding all sin, the spirit of wisdom still continues to rest upon me.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Evil way; or, way of evil; which either is evil, or leads to it; sin, and the temptations or occasions of sin.
That, I might keep thy word; I did this not for any carnal reasons, as some men abstain from divers sins for their credit or advantage, but out of pure respect to thy word.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
101-104. Avoidance of sinfulcourses is both the effect and means of increasing in divineknowledge (compare Ps 19:10).
NUN.(Ps 119:105-112).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
I have refrained my feet from every evil way,…. Of error or immorality, forbidden and condemned by the word of God; every way that is evil in itself, or leads to evil, and in which evil men walk; and though there may be many snares and temptations to walk in such a way, yet a good man cannot allow himself to walk therein, as others do; he has not so learned the word of God; he is under the influence of divine grace, and withholds himself from it; he abstains from all appearance of evil, and lays a restraint, as upon his mouth and lips, so upon his feet, or guards his walk and conversation. This shows, that as David had an affection for the word of God, and made great proficiency in knowledge by it; so it had an influence on his life and conversation, and his knowledge appeared to be not merely speculative, but practical: his end, in laying such a restraint upon his feet, was not out of vain glory, and to gain popular applause nor through fear of losing his credit among men, nor of the wrath of God; but out of love to God, and to his word, as follows:
that I might keep thy word; such was his love to it, and his regard to the honour of it; considering whose word it was, and with whose authority it was clothed, and whose glory was concerned therein; that he was careful to walk according to it, and in the way that directed to, and shun every other way.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
101 I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.
Here is, 1. David’s care to avoid the ways of sin: “I have refrained my feet from the evil ways they were ready to step aside into. I checked myself and drew back as soon as I was aware that I was entering into temptation.” Though it was a broad way, a green way, a pleasant way, and a way that many walked in, yet, being a sinful way, it was an evil way, and he refrained his feet from it, foreseeing the end of that way. And his care was universal; he shunned every evil way. By the words of thy lips I have kept myself from the paths of the destroyer, Ps. xvii. 4. 2. His care to be found in the way of duty; That I might keep thy word, and never transgress it. His abstaining from sin was, (1.) An evidence that he did conscientiously aim to keep God’s word and had made that his rule. (2.) It was a means of his keeping God’s word in the exercises of religion; for we cannot with any comfort or boldness attend on God in holy duties, so as in them to keep his word, while we are under guilt or in any by-way.
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary
101. I have restrained my feet from every evil path He intimates that he proclaimed war against every vice, that he might wholly devote himself to the service of God. From this we learn the profitable lesson, that in order to our keeping God’s Law, we must, from the commencement, beware lest our feet should step aside into crooked by-paths; for with a nature so corrupted as ours is, amidst so many allurements, and with minds so fickle, we are in the greatest danger of being led astray; yea, it is a rare miracle if any man hold on in his life in a right course, without turning aside in one direction or another. The faithful, therefore, have need to exercise the greatest circumspection, in order to keep their feet from going astray.
In the next verse, David commends his own constancy in observing the Law. He declares that ever since he had learned from God the right manner of living, he had pursued the right course. As the way is so slippery, and our feet so feeble, and our whole disposition so prone to go astray after innumerable errors, no small exertions are requisite on our part, in order to avoid declining from God’s judgments. But we must attend to the manner of teaching to which the Psalmist refers; for though all, without exception, to whom God’s word is preached, are taught, yet scarce one in ten so much as tastes it; yea, scarce one in a hundred profits to the extent of being enabled, thereby, to proceed in a right course to the end. A peculiar manner of teaching is, therefore, here pointed out — that which consists in God’s drawing his chosen people to himself. I have been brought, as if the Psalmist had said, into the way of salvation, and preserved in it by the secret influence of the Holy Spirit.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
Psa 119:101 I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.
Ver. 101. I have refrained my feet, &c. ] I have clapped up my unruly affections close prisoners, and hampered them; abandoning every error in judgment and enormity in practice.
That I might keep thy word
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
evil. Hebrew. ra’a’. App-44.
way. Including religious way, in the sense of Act 9:2; Act 19:9, Act 19:23; Act 24:14. Compare Act 16:17; Act 18:26; especially in Psa 119:104.
word. Same word as in Psa 119:9. Some codices, with one early printed edition, with Aramaean, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read “words” (plural)
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
refrained: Psa 119:59, Psa 119:60, Psa 119:104, Psa 119:126, Psa 18:23, Pro 1:15, Isa 53:6, Isa 55:7, Jer 2:36, Tit 2:11, Tit 2:12, 1Pe 2:1, 1Pe 2:2, 1Pe 3:10, 1Pe 3:11
Reciprocal: Isa 56:2 – keepeth his Jer 14:10 – refrained Jer 15:16 – thy word Joh 7:17 – General 1Jo 5:18 – keepeth
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Psa 119:101-102. I have refrained, &c., from every evil way Every way which either is evil, or leads to evil; sin, and the temptations or occasions of sin; that I might keep thy word Not for any worldly or carnal reasons, as some men abstain from divers sins for their credit or advantage: but out of pure respect to thy word; for thou hast taught me Namely, by thy blessed Spirit illuminating my mind, and working in my heart, which other teachers cannot do.