Psalm 119:113
NKJV
113
I hate the double-minded,
But I love Your law.
KJV
113
I hate vain thoughts: but thy law do I love.
A Heart Anchored in Truth
My Notes
Scripture: “I hate the double-minded, but I love Your law.” — Psalm 119:113 (NKJV)
My Thoughts
David’s words reveal a soul that has made a clear choice. He does not claim perfection, but he does claim allegiance. Though vain and wandering thoughts may knock at the door of his mind, he refuses to welcome them. He hates what is divided, deceptive, and unstable—and he loves what is pure, steady, and true.
The double-minded are those who want both God and the world. They speak of faith but live in compromise. They seek the blessings of obedience while clinging to the pleasures of sin. David’s hatred of this duplicity is not bitterness—it is spiritual clarity. He longs for a heart that is wholly God’s.
Our thoughts matter. Pride, self-trust, ambition, and idle dreaming may seem harmless, but they erode the soul’s foundation. The emotions of the heart are the spring from which actions flow. Loving God’s Word will shape our affections, guard our thoughts, and anchor our convictions.
David did not say he was free from vain thoughts but hated them. He did not say he perfectly kept the law, but he loved it. And that love gave him the strength to resist what was false and cling to what was true.
Let us be those who:
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Reject double-mindedness, choosing full devotion over divided loyalty
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Hate what is vain, not because we are perfect, but because we are being perfected
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Love God’s law, even when we fall short, because it leads us back to Him
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Guard our thoughts, knowing they shape our steps and reveal our hearts
The more we love the Word, the more we will hate what draws us from it. And in that love, we will find the grace to walk in truth, not just occasionally—but consistently, faithfully, and wholeheartedly.
Cross Reference
“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” — James 4:8 (NKJV) “Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” — Matthew 22:37 (NKJV)
Questions
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Where have I noticed double-mindedness in my thoughts or choices?
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What vain thoughts do I need to reject today?
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How can I develop a deeper love for God’s Word this week?
🙏 Prayer
Lord, I don’t want to live divided. Incline my heart fully to You. Help me to hate what is false and love what is true. Let Your Word shape my thoughts, steady my emotions, and anchor my soul. Make me single-minded in devotion, and faithful in obedience. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Proverb for Today
He who has knowledge spares his words, And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit. Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive. Proverbs 17:27-28 NKJV
Summary of Commentaries:
Psalm 119:113 reveals David’s deep spiritual discernment—he hates vain, double-minded thoughts and loves God’s law. Commentators highlight that these “vain thoughts” include pride, worldly ambition, skepticism, and sinful imaginations. David’s hatred is not passive; it reflects a heart inclined toward holiness. Though not free from such thoughts, he actively resists them and clings to God’s Word. The law offers clarity, stability, and truth in contrast to the wavering opinions of man. Loving the Word helps believers master vain thoughts and remain watchful. True devotion begins in the heart, and David’s love for God’s Word fuels his rejection of all that opposes it.
NOTE: Psalm 119 is an acrostic pattern. There are 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet; each of the 22 sections is given a letter of the Hebrew alphabet, and each line in that section begins with that letter. Today, we’re looking at verse 113, which is in the 15th section, which is called “Samek ס. The website https://www.abarim-publications.com/Hebrew_Alphabet_Meaning.html defines the letter Samek ס as: The verb סמך (samak) means lean upon, support, uphold. It is the verb that is used in the phrase “laying on of hands.”
…….Bill
Commentaries:
Charles Spurgeon
“I hate vain thoughts: but thy law do I love.” In this paragraph the Psalmist deals with thoughts and things and persons which are the opposite of God’s holy thoughts and ways. He is evidently in great fear of the powers of darkness, and of their allies, and his whole soul is stirred up to stand against them with a determined opposition. Just as he began the octave, Psa 119:97, with “O how I love thy law,” so here he begins with a declaration of hatred against that which breaks the law. The opposite of the fixed and infallible law of God is the wavering, changing opinion of men: David had an utter contempt and abhorrence for this; all his reverence and regard went to the sure word of testimony. In proportion to his love to the law was his hate of man’s inventions. The thoughts of men are vanity; but the thoughts of God are verity. We hear much in these days of “men of thought,” “thoughtful preachers,” and “modern thought:” what is this but the old pride of the human heart? Vain man would be wise. The Psalmist did not glory in his thoughts; and that which was called “thought” in his day was a thing which he detested. When man thinks his best his highest thoughts are as far below those of divine revelation as the earth is beneath the heavens. Some of our thoughts are specially vain in the sense of vain glory, pride, conceit, and self trust; others in the sense of bringing disappointment, such as fond ambition, sinful dreaming, and confidence in man; others in the sense of emptiness and frivolity, such as the idle thoughts and vacant romancing in which so many indulge; and, yet once more, too many of our thoughts are vain in the sense of being sinful, evil, and foolish. The Psalmist is not indifferent to evil thoughts as the careless are; but upon them he looks with a hate as true as was the love with which he clung to the pure thoughts of God.
The last octave was practical, this is thoughtful; there the man of God attended to his feet, and here to his heart: the emotions of the soul are as important as the acts of the life, for they are the fountain and spring from which the actions proceed. When we love the law it becomes a law of love, and we cling to it with our whole heart.
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Enduring Word
I hate the double-minded, but I love Your law: The psalmist knew the frustration of dealing with those who were double-minded. They were uncertain and uncommitted in their lives. In contrast, the law of God is sure and certain. (Guzik)
i. “Double-minded is akin to the word in Elijah’s taunt at those who hobbled ‘first on one leg and then on the other’ (1 Kings 18:21, Jerusalem Bible).” (Kidner)
ii. “Double-minded people are people who know about God but are not fully determined to worship and serve him only. They are those who want both God and the world. They want the benefits of true religion, but they want their sin too…. The Psalmist hates this double-mindedness; he also hates it in himself.” (Boice)
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Albert Barnes
I hate vain thoughts – This commences a new portion of the psalm, distinguished by the Hebrew letter Samech (ס s), answering to our “s.” The word rendered “vain thoughts” occurs only in this place. It is rendered by the Septuagint, παρανόμους paranomous – transgressors. So the Latin Vulgate. Luther renders it “die Flattergeister,” the frivolous-minded. The word means divided; a man of a divided mind; a man who has no sure faith in regard to divine things, but is driven here and there; a sceptic; a doubter. Compare James 1:8. Thus it refers not to his own thoughts primarily, as being “vain” or worthless, but to a state of mind or heart in general, where there is no firmness, no stability, no settled view: a state of mind wavering, doubtful, skeptical, in regard to religion. What is implied here in reference to what he loved – by stating (in the way of contrast) what he “hated,” – would be a mind which was settled in its convictions of truth, and firm in its adherence to truth; a mind which was steadfast in religion, and not vacillating, skeptical, or uncertain on the subject. This denotes that the psalmist sought such a state of mind for himself, and that he valued it in others.
But thy law do I love – I have no “divided” or unsettled feelings in regard to that. I am conscious of a firm attachment to it. This thought he has repeatedly expressed in the psalm.
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John Gill
I hate vain thoughts,…. Or thoughts: evil thoughts are undoubtedly meant, no other can be the object of hatred to a good man; they are such as are contrary to the law of God, and forbidden by it, mentioned in the next clause as the object of love, in opposition to these; and which are abominable to God, and defiling to men; should be forsaken, need pardon; and, if not pardoned, will be brought into judgment, and there exposed, and men punished for them. There are multitudes of these rise up in the minds of men, not only bad men, but good men; even sometimes atheistical blasphemous thoughts, as well as proud, haughty, revengeful, lustful, impure, and worldly ones; which, when observed by a good man, give him great concern and uneasiness, and raise a holy indignation in him against them. The word is used for the “opinions” of men; the ambiguous, doubtful, wavering, and inconstant sentiments of the mind, 1 Kings 18:21, and is used of branches, or the tops of trees, waved with the wind to and fro: and may be applied to all heterodox opinions, human doctrines, damnable heresies; such as are inconsistent with the perfections of God, derogate from his grace, and from the person and offices of Christ; and are contrary to the word, and which are therefore rejected and abhorred by good men. The Targum is, “I hate those who think vain thoughts;”
but thy law do I love; which forbids and condemns such vain and wicked thoughts, and requires pure and Holy Ones. Or, “thy doctrine”; which comes from God, is concerning him, and reveals his mind and will, his grace and love, to men; the doctrine of Christ, concerning his person, office, and work; the doctrine of the Scriptures, which contain the whole Gospel of Christ, as well as the law of God; the doctrine according to godliness, and which is good, sound, and wholesome, and to be received in the love of it.
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Matthew Henry
Here we have,
1. David’s dread of the risings of sin, and the first beginnings of it: I hate vain thoughts. He does not mean that he hated them in others, for there he could not discern them, but he hated them in his own heart. Every good man makes conscience of his thoughts, for they are words to God. Vain thoughts, how light soever most make of them, are sinful and hurtful, and therefore we should account them hateful and dreadful, for they do not only divert the mind from that which is good, but open the door to all evil, Jer. 4:14. Though David could not say that he was free from vain thoughts, yet he could say that he hated them; he did not countenance them, nor give them any entertainment, but did what he could to keep them out, at least to keep them under. The evil I do I allow not.
2. David’s delight in the rule of duty: But thy law do I love, which forbids those vain thoughts, and threatens them. The more we love the law of God the more we shall get the mastery of our vain thoughts, the more hateful they will be to us, as being contrary to the whole law, and the more watchful we shall be against them, lest they draw us from that which we love.
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Miscellaneous Comments
When David had an inclination in his heart to God’s statutes, the immediate effect of it was to “hate vain thoughts.” We read, “I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes;” and it follows, “I hate vain thoughts.” The vanity of his heart was a burden to him. A new creature is as careful against wickedness in the head or heart, as in the life. A godly man would be purer in the sight of God than in the view of man. He knows none but God can see the wanderings of his heart or the thoughts of his head, yet he is as careful that sins should not rise up as that they should not break out.
—Stephen Charnock.
“I hate vain thoughts“ or, the evil devices; or, the double hearted imaginations; or, the intermeddling, counter coursing thoughts: that is to say, that kind of practice of some men, that sail with every wind, and seek still to have two strings to their bow. The Hebrew word doth properly signify boughs Or branches, which shoot up perplexedly or confusedly in a tree.
—Theodore Haak, 1618-1657.
When David was able to vouch his love to the command, he did not question his title to the promise. Here he asserts his sincere affection to the precepts: “I hate vain thoughts: but thy law do I love.” Mark he doth not say he is free from vain thoughts, but he “hates” them, he likes their company no better than one would a pack of thieves that break into his house. Neither saith he that he fully kept the law, but he “loved” the law even when he failed of exact obedience to it. Now from this testimony his conscience brought in for his love to the law, his faith acts clearly and strongly on the promise in the next words, “Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.”
—William Gurnall.
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Additional Cross-References
1 Kings 18:21 (KJV)
21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.
James 1:8 (KJV)
8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
James 4:8 (KJV)
8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
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Samek ס: Held up and supported by the word of God.
113
I hate the double-minded,
But I love Your law.
114
You are my hiding place and my shield;
I hope in Your word.
115
Depart from me, you evildoers,
For I will keep the commandments of my God!
116
Uphold me according to Your word, that I may live;
And do not let me be ashamed of my hope.
117
Hold me up, and I shall be safe,
And I shall observe Your statutes continually.
118
You reject all those who stray from Your statutes,
For their deceit is falsehood.
119
You put away all the wicked of the earth like dross;
Therefore I love Your testimonies.
120
My flesh trembles for fear of You,
And I am afraid of Your judgments.
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