Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth [like] dross; therefore I love thy testimonies.
تفسير هذه الآية
The Verse in Setting
Psalm 119:119 reads, "You put away all the wicked of the earth like dross; therefore I love your testimonies." It sits in the Samech section (vv. 113–120), where the godly soul's love of God's word is sharpened by its sober view of the divine judgment of evil — the believer treasures the testimonies precisely because Jehovah Himself separates the precious from the worthless.
God Loves His Word, God Hates Wavering
The whole stanza balances two heart-affections that always travel together: love for what God has spoken, and a holy distrust of what stands opposed to it.
William KellySamech. Wavering and evil-doing are deprecated as heartily as Jehovah's law is loved. But the need of being sustained is expressed, as on the other hand Jehovah's summary dealings with the deceitful and wicked; for indeed He is to be feared.
The longest psalm in Scripture is built on this very contrast, with each section dedicated to a Hebrew letter so that "all the possibilities of human language are exhausted in setting forth the fulness and perfection of the word of God" (Samuel Ridout). Verse 119 is one of those summary moments where the godly heart, having seen God's verdict on evil, presses closer to His word.
Who Are "the Wicked"?
The verse just before identifies the people in view — those who deliberately turn from God's statutes. The commentary is direct:
MagazinesMark the character of those mentioned in this verse: they "err from Thy statutes." It is not that they err in their minds through ignorance, but they err in their hearts through obstinacy. They deliberately err from God. They are like those in the parable who say: "We will not have this Man to reign over us" (Luke 19:14). They say: "We desire not the knowledge of Thy ways" (Job 21:14). In verse 119 they are justly called "the wicked"! "Their deceit is falsehood," is another way of saying: "Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived" (2 Tim. 3:13).
Like Dross
The Hebrew word here — "seegum" — is the picture of slag skimmed off molten silver. The image carries with it the prophetic warning that even the religious profession can become dross when its heart is gone:
MagazinesToday there are those in the so-called Christian profession, "Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof…" (2 Tim. 3:5). Paul says: "…from such turn away." It is said of Israel: "Son of man, the house of Israel is to Me become dross… Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Because ye are all become dross… so will I gather you in Mine anger and in my fury, and I will leave you there, and melt you" (Ezek. 22:18-20).
The same figure reappears elsewhere: "Take away the dross from the silver, and there cometh forth a vessel for the refiner" (Prov. 25:4), the silver being heated "to be pure and fit for the master's use" (Plumstead Conference). Israel under Jeremiah's day was warned that, having refused the refining, they would be called "reprobate silver" (Morrish Bible Dictionary). God's "summary dealings" finish what refining begins: the dross is put away.
"Therefore I Love Thy Testimonies"
The conclusion the psalmist draws is not fear that paralyses but love that holds fast. Seeing God's righteous separation of evil drives the heart deeper into His word as the only safe ground.
MagazinesWe are living in the last days before the Lord Jesus comes to take His bride home. These are days of apostasy and departure from the faith. We must therefore "… try the spirits whether they are of God …" (1 John 4:1). We shall be able to discern these false spirits only when we know what the Word says. "Therefore I love Thy testimonies" is the positive attitude taken by the Psalmist. We do well to follow his example!
The whole psalm is the heart's school in this lesson — adverse circumstances, inward difficulties, the attractions of the world, the conspiracy of the wicked, all drive the godly soul to count Jehovah's testimonies "the more precious" (Various).
Summary
- Two affections. Love of God's word and hatred of evil are inseparable; verse 119 binds them together.
- Wilful wickedness. "The wicked" here are not the ignorant but those who deliberately reject God's ways and so are themselves the deceived deceivers of 2 Timothy 3:13.
- Dross. God puts the wicked away as slag skimmed off silver — a figure also used of professing Israel in Ezekiel 22 and a warning to mere outward profession.
- Refining. What remains after the dross is removed is "a vessel for the refiner" — God's purpose runs through judgment to purity.
- Therefore love. Seeing God's righteous judgment of evil produces, in the godly, deeper love for His testimonies — the only sure footing in apostate days.