Psalm 119:115 NKJV
115
Depart from me, you evildoers,
For I will keep the commandments of my God!
A Holy Resolve
My Notes
Scripture: “Depart from me, you evildoers, for I will keep the commandments of my God.” — Psalm 119:115 (NKJV)
My Thoughts
There comes a moment in every believer’s journey when a line must be drawn. David drew his boldly: “Depart from me, you evildoers.” Not out of pride, but out of purity. He knew that to walk in obedience, he could not walk in step with the ungodly. Their influence was a hindrance to holiness, and so he chose separation for the sake of devotion.
Bad company corrupts good character. David understood that proximity to sin can dull the edge of conviction. So he purged his palace, not just of people, but of patterns. He refused to let the actions of others define his own. His allegiance was clear: “I will keep the commandments of my God.”
Notice the intimacy—my God. In all of Psalm 119, this is the only time David uses that phrase. It’s not just about duty; it’s about relationship. His obedience flows from love, not legalism. Like Jesus in the wilderness, David resisted temptation by clinging to the Word and commanding evil to depart.
This is the call for us:
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To choose our companions wisely, knowing they shape our walk
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To separate from what pulls us away, even when it’s uncomfortable
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To renew our resolve, not once, but daily
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To obey not out of fear, but out of love for our God
True courage is not loud—it is steady. It is the quiet, unwavering decision to follow God when others do not. And when we make that choice, we find strength not in ourselves, but in the One who calls us His own.
Cross References
“Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;” — Psalm 1:1 (NKJV)
“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.” — Ephesians 5:11 (NKJV)
“Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.” — Matthew 4:10 (NKJV)
Questions
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Are there influences in my life that hinder my obedience to God?
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What does it mean for me to say “my God” in this season?
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How can I renew my resolve to keep His commandments today?
Prayer
Lord, give me the courage to walk away from what pulls me from You. Help me to choose holiness over comfort, and obedience over compromise. You are my God—my refuge, my strength, my joy. I will keep Your commandments, not just with my lips, but with my life. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Proverb for Today
Cease listening to instruction, my son, And you will stray from the words of knowledge. Proverbs 19:27 NKJV
Summary of Commentaries:
Psalm 119:115 reflects David’s bold separation from evildoers to preserve his obedience to God. Commentators emphasize that bad company corrupts character and hinders holiness, so David purged his surroundings of those who flattered yet defied God’s law. His resolve—“I will keep the commandments of my God”—shows personal devotion and spiritual courage. The phrase “my God” reveals intimacy and ownership of faith. Like Jesus resisting temptation, David stood firm against ungodly influence. This verse calls believers to guard their associations, renew their commitment to righteousness, and choose companions who encourage godliness, knowing obedience thrives in an atmosphere of spiritual integrity.
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 115, 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
“Depart from me, ye evil doers.” Those who make a conscience of their thoughts are not likely to tolerate evil company. If we fly to God from vain thoughts, much more shall we avoid vain men. Kings are all too apt to be surrounded by a class of men who flatter them, and at the same time take liberty to break the laws of God: David purged his palace of such parasites; he would not harbor them beneath his roof. No doubt they would have brought upon him an ill name, for their doings would have been imputed to him, since the acts of courtiers are generally set down as acts of the court itself; therefore, the king sent them packing bag and baggage, saying, “Depart from me.” Herein, he anticipated the sentence of the last great day, when the Son of David shall say, “Depart from me, ye workers of iniquity.” We cannot thus send all malefactors out of our houses, but it will often become a duty to do so where there is right and reason for it. A house is all the better for being rid of liars, pilferers, lewd talkers, and slanderers. We are bound at all hazards to keep ourselves clear of such companions as come to us by our own choice if we have any reason to believe that their character is vicious. Evil doers make evil counsellors. Those who say unto God, “Depart from us,” ought to hear the immediate echo of their words from the mouths of God’s children, “Depart from us. We cannot eat bread with traitors.”
“For I will keep the commandments of my God.” Since he found it hard to keep the commandments in the company of the ungodly, he gave them their marching orders. He must keep the commandments, but he did not need to keep their company. What a beautiful title for the Lord this verse contains! The word God only occurs in this one place in all this lengthened psalm, and then it is attended by the personal word “my“—”my God.”
My God! how charming is the sound!
How pleasant to repeat!
Well may that heart with pleasure bound,
Where God hath fixed his seat.
—Doddridge.
Because Jehovah is our God therefore we resolve to obey him, and to chase out of our sight those who would hinder us in his service. It is a grand thing for the mind to have come to a point, and to be steadfastly fixed with the holy determination,—”I will keep the commandments.” God’s law is our pleasure when the God of the law is our God.
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Enduring Word
Depart from me, you evildoers: In a rare departure in his ongoing conversation with God about His word, the psalmist here addressed the evildoers that brought him such trouble. He knew that the best remedy was to put space between him and these evildoers, so he boldly told them, “Depart from me.” (Guzik)
i. The psalmist was careful in the choosing of his friends. As it has been said, “Show me your friends, and I will show you your future.” (Guzik)
ii. “Every man will insensibly contract the good or bad qualities of the company which he keeps; and should, therefore, be careful to keep such as will make him wiser and better, and fit him for the goodly fellowship of saints and angels.” (Horne)
iii. “Not that we would indulge morose or ascetic seclusion. We are expressly enjoined to courtesy and kindness (1 Peter 3:8); to that wise and considerate ‘walk towards them that are without’ (Colossians 4:5), which ‘adorns the doctrine of God our Saviour’ (Titus 2:10), and indeed in some instances has been more powerful even than the word itself (Compare 1 Peter 3:1,2), to ‘win souls to Christ.’ But when they would tempt us to a devious or backsliding step – when our connexion with them entices us to a single act of conformity to their standard, dishonourable to God, and inconsistent with our profession – then we must take a bold and unflinching stand.” (Bridges)
For I will keep the commandments of my God: This is why he wanted space between him and the evildoers. He was committed to obedience, to keeping the commandments of God. (Guzik)
i. The second line of this verse very much connects with the first line. “Since he found it hard to keep the commandments in the company of the ungodly, he gave them their marching orders. He must keep the commandments, but he did not need to keep their company.” (Spurgeon)
ii. Jesus demonstrated the same spirit when He steadfastly resisted the devil while being tempted in the wilderness (Matthew 4). He told the devil to go away (Matthew 4:10) and repeatedly relied on the word of God (Matthew 4:4,7,10). (Guzik)
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Albert Barnes
Depart from me, ye evil-doers – Workers of iniquity; bad men. See the notes at Psalms 6:8. This indicates a determined purpose that nothing should deter or allure him from the service of God. A man who wishes to serve God and lead a religious life must separate himself from the society, as such, of unprincipled people.
For I will keep the commandments of my God – This is my fixed resolution. It may be remarked here
(1) that bad people will turn away from the society of one who has formed such a resolution, and who carries it out;
(2) The resolution is a necessary one to be formed and executed, if a man will serve God.
(3) The formation and execution of such a purpose is the best way to get rid of the society of bad people.
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John Gill
Depart from me, ye evildoers,…. The same with the evil thinkers, Psalm 119:113. According to Aben Ezra, they that think evil commonly do it; as they devise it, they commit it. This describes such persons whose course of life is, and who make it their constant business to do, iniquity; such the psalmist desires to depart his presence, to keep at a distance from him, as being very disagreeable to him; and who would be a great hinderance to him in keeping the commandments of God, as follows: these same words will be spoken by David’s son and antitype, at the great day of account, Matthew 7:23;
for I will keep the commandments of my God; of God who has a fight to command, and not of men, especially when opposed to the commands of God; of God, who is the covenant God and Father of his people; and whose covenant, grace, and favor, in choosing, redeeming, regenerating, and adopting them, lay them under greater obligations still to keep his commandments; and whose commandments are not grievous: and though they cannot be perfectly kept by good men, yet they are desirous of keeping them as well as they can, and determine in the strength of divine grace so to do; and which they do out of love to God, and with a view to his glory, without any selfish or mercenary ends. The Syriac version renders it, “that I may keep,” &c. to which end he desires to be rid of the company of wicked men, who are both a nuisance to good men, and a hindrance in religious duties.
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Matthew Henry
1. David’s firm and fixed resolution to live a holy life: I will keep the commandments of my God. Bravely resolved! like a saint, like a soldier; for true courage consists in a steady resolution against all sin and for all duty. Those that would keep God’s commandments must be often renewing their resolutions to do so: “I will keep them. Whatever others do, this I will do; though I be singular, though all about me be evil-doers, and desert me; whatever I have done hitherto, I will for the future walk closely with God. They are the commandments of God, of my God, and therefore I will keep them. He is God and may command me, my God and will command me nothing but what is for my good.”
2. His farewell to bad company, pursuant to this resolution: Depart from me, you evil-doers. Though David, as a good magistrate, was a terror to evil-doers, yet there were many such, even about court, intruding near his person; these he here abdicates, and resolves to have no conversation with them. Note, Those that resolve to keep the commandments of God must have no society with evil-doers; for bad company is a great hindrance to a holy life. We must not choose wicked people for our companions, nor be intimate with them; we must not do as they do nor do as they would have us do, Ps. 1:1; Eph. 5:11.
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Miscellaneous Comments
“Depart from me, ye evil doers,” etc. As if he had said, talk no more of it, save your breath, I am resolved on my course, I have sworn, and am steadfastly purposed to keep the commandments of my God; with God’s help, there will I hold me, and all the world shall not wrest me from it.
—Robert Sanderson, 1587-1663.
“Of my God.” As a man can esteem of anything which he knows is his own; so if once he knows that God is his, he cannot but love him, and carefully obey him: neither is it possible that any man can give to God hearty and permanent service, who is not persuaded to say with David, He is my God. All the pleasures, all the terrors of the world cannot sunder that soul from God, who can truly say, The Lord is my God.
—W. Cowper.
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Additional Cross-References
Psalm 6:8 (KJV)
8 Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity;
For the Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping.
Matthew 7:23 (KJV)
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
2 Corinthians 6:14 (KJV)
14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
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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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