Depart from me, ye evildoers: for I will keep the commandments of my God.
The verse belongs to a psalm that exalts God's law, and it is read to point out the sacredness of that law. God's law is holy, its claims are sacred, and it is the rule of life that defines right and wrong. The verse places keeping God's commandments in opposition to evildoers and to defiance of His law.
Keeping the commandments requires telling evildoers to depart and rejecting their company and influence in order to remain faithful, rather than being swept along by rebellion. This separation is a settled resolve to keep God's commandments. That resolve springs from taking His testimonies as a heritage forever and the rejoicing of the heart, inclining the heart to perform His statutes always even to the end, hating vain thoughts and loving His law, and taking Him as hiding place and shield while hoping in His word.
To the obedient child of God the commandments are a delight, and David remains loyal to them even as others treat them with contempt, with their disregard strengthening his resolve to keep them. Persistent rebellion against the sacred claims of the law ultimately brings divine judgment.
The verse belongs to a psalm that exalts God's law, and it is read to point out the sacredness of that law. God's law is holy, its claims are sacred, and it is the rule of life that defines right and wrong. The verse places keeping God's commandments in opposition to evildoers and to defiance of His law.
Keeping the commandments requires telling evildoers to depart and rejecting their company and influence in order to remain faithful, rather than being swept along by rebellion. This separation is a settled resolve to keep God's commandments. That resolve springs from taking His testimonies as a heritage forever and the rejoicing of the heart, inclining the heart to perform His statutes always even to the end, hating vain thoughts and loving His law, and taking Him as hiding place and shield while hoping in His word.
To the obedient child of God the commandments are a delight, and David remains loyal to them even as others treat them with contempt, with their disregard strengthening his resolve to keep them. Persistent rebellion against the sacred claims of the law ultimately brings divine judgment.