Psalm 119:118
NKJV
118
You reject all those who stray from Your statutes,
For their deceit is falsehood.
KJV
118 Thou hast trodden down all them that err from thy statutes: for their deceit is falsehood.
The Folly of Falsehood and the Safety of Truth
My Notes
“You reject all those who stray from Your statutes, for their deceit is falsehood.” —Psalm 119:118 (NKJV)
God’s Word is not just a guide—it’s a dividing line. This verse reminds us that straying from His statutes is not a minor misstep, but a rejection of His authority. David sees clearly: deceit may look clever, but it is falsehood in God’s eyes. Let this truth stir us to walk in reverent obedience and to examine the subtle ways we may be tempted to stray.
God does not overlook rebellion. He does not wink at deceit. This verse is a sobering reminder that those who stray from His statutes—who choose their own way over His—are not merely mistaken, but rejected. Their deceit is not cleverness, but falsehood. It may wear the mask of religion, but it is hollow, powerless, and destined to collapse under divine judgment.
David reflects on the fate of those who wander from God’s commands—not to gloat, but to guard his own heart. The judgments of God, seen throughout history, stir him to deeper reverence and obedience. So too should we tremble—not with fear of man, but with holy awe before the God who treads down falsehood like mire in the streets.
To err from God’s statutes is to reject His reign. It is to measure life by earthly standards, to treasure pleasure over purity, and to live as a stranger to heaven. The path may seem smooth, the excuses polished, but the end is ruin. God regards such deceit as chaff—light, worthless, and easily swept away.
Outward righteousness without inward truth is a lie. A form of godliness that denies its power is a confectionery religion—sweet to the taste, but void of substance. God sees through every disguise. What the world calls diplomacy, He calls deception. What man excuses, He exposes. And what is built on falsehood, He will not uphold.
Cross-References
Psalm 119:21 (KJV)
Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, Which do err from thy commandments.
Acts 17:31 (NKJV)
because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”
1 John 1:8 (KJV)
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
Time to Reflect
What does it mean to “stray” from God’s statutes in today’s culture? Consider both obvious rebellion and subtle compromise.
How do we discern between worldly wisdom and biblical truth? Think about examples of teachings or trends that appear wise but contradict Scripture.
Have you ever felt tempted to envy or fear those who seem to prosper while ignoring God’s ways? How does this verse make you feel about that temptation?
Prayer
Lord, keep me from straying. Let me not be deceived by appearances or led astray by subtle lies. Help me to walk in Your truth with integrity and reverence. May Your statutes be my delight, and Your Word my anchor. Let me never envy the wicked or fear their ways, but tremble before You and cling to Your Word. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen
Proverb for Today
Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, And apply your heart to my knowledge; For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you; Let them all be fixed upon your lips, So that your trust may be in the Lord; I have instructed you today, even you. Have I not written to you excellent things Of counsels and knowledge, That I may make you know the certainty of the words of truth, That you may answer words of truth To those who send to you? Proverbs 22:17-21 NKJV
Summary of Commentaries:
Psalm 119:118 reveals God’s judgment against those who willfully stray from His statutes. Commentators agree that such individuals are not merely mistaken—they are despised, trodden down, and regarded as worthless, like chaff or dross. Their deceit is not cleverness but falsehood, a hypocritical mask that cannot stand before God’s truth. Though they may appear righteous outwardly, their hearts are far from Him. This verse warns against worldly compromise and self-deception, urging believers to fear God and remain faithful. David’s meditation on divine judgment strengthens his resolve to obey, reminding us that safety and integrity are found only in walking God’s way.
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 118, 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
“Thou hast trodden down all them that err from thy statutes.” There is no holding up for them; they are thrown down and then trodden down, for they choose to go down into the wandering ways of sin. Sooner or later God will set his foot on those who turn their foot from his commands: it has always been so, and it always will be so to the end. If the salt has lost its savor, what is it fit for but to be trodden under foot? God puts away the wicked like dross, which is only fit to be cast out as road metal to be trodden down.
“For their deceit is falsehood.” They call it far seeing policy, but it is an absolute falsehood, and it shall be treated as such. Ordinary men call it clever diplomacy, but the man of God calls a spade a spade, and declares it to be falsehood, and nothing less, for he knows that it is so in the sight of God. Men who err from the right road invent pretty excuses with which to deceive themselves and others, and so quiet their consciences and maintain their credits; but their mask of falsehood is too transparent. God treads down falsehoods; they are only fit to be spurned by his feet and crushed into the dust. How horrified must those be who have spent all their lives in contriving a confectionery religion, and then see it all trodden upon by God as a sham which he cannot endure!
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Enduring Word
You reject all those who stray from Your statutes: The psalmist here speaks of the righteous judgment of God. He uses His word (statutes) as a measuring line for His judgment, rejecting all those who stray from His word and the principles revealed therein. (David Guzik)
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Albert Barnes
Thou hast trodden down all them that err from thy statutes – Compare the notes at Psalms 119:21. Rather, “Thou hast made light of,” or “thou despisest.” The Hebrew word means properly to suspend in a balance; to weigh. Then it means to lift up lightly or easily; and then, to make light of; to contemn; to regard anything as “light.” The Septuagint and Latin Vulgate render it, “Thou dost despise.” That is, God regards them as of no account; as a light substance of no value; as chaff which the wind carries away. Compare Job 21:18; Psalms 1:4; Psalms 35:5; Isaiah 17:13.
For their deceit is falsehood – This seems to be a truism – for deceit must imply falsehood. In the original, this is an emphatic way of declaring the whole thing to be false, as the Hebrew language often expresses emphasis by mere repetition – thus “pits, pits,” meaning many pits. The psalmist first characterizes their conduct as deceitful – as that which cannot be relied on – as that which must fail in the end; he then speaks of this system on which they acted as altogether a “lie” – as that which is utterly “false;” thus giving, as it were, a double emphasis to the statement, and showing how utterly delusive and vain it must be.
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John Gill
Thou hast trodden down all them that err from thy statutes,…. That wander from the way of the Lord’s commandments; that deviate from his precepts, go astray constantly and willfully; a people that err in their hearts, and with all their hearts. These the Lord treads down, as mire in the streets, as grapes in a winepress; which shows his abhorrence of them, his indignation at them, and how easily they are subdued under him;
for their deceit [is] falsehood: or, “their hypocrisy [is] a lie”: the appearance they make is a false one; they appear outwardly righteous, but are inwardly wicked; have a form of godliness, but deny the power of it: or all their deceitful doctrines are lies in hypocrisy, though dressed up with all the art and cunning they are masters of; or all their subtle schemes to corrupt and subvert the true doctrines of the word are in vain and to no purpose.
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Matthew Henry
God’s judgment on wicked people, on those that wander from his statutes, that take their measures from other rules and will not have God to reign over them. All departure from God’s statutes is certainly an error and will prove a fatal one. These are the wicked of the earth; they mind earthly things, lay up their treasures in the earth, live in pleasure on the earth, and are strangers and enemies to heaven and heavenly things. Now see how God deals with them, that you may neither fear them nor envy them.
1. He treads them all down. He brings them to ruin, to utter ruin, to shameful ruin; he makes them his footstool. Though they are ever so high, he can bring them low (Amos 2:9); he has done it many a time, and he will do it, for he resists the proud and will triumph over those that oppose his kingdom. Proud persecutors trample upon his people, but, sooner or later, he will trample upon them.
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Miscellaneous Comments
“Thou hast trodden down,” etc. David here, by a new meditation, confirms himself in the course of godliness: for considering the judgments of God, executed according to his word in all ages upon the wicked, he resolves so much the more to fear God and keep his testimonies. Thus, the judgments of God, executed on others, should keep us from sinning after their similitude.
The Lord, in chastising his own children, takes them in hand like a father to correct them; but when his wrath is kindled against the wicked, he tramples them under his feet, as vile creatures which are no account with him.
—William Cowper.
“For their deceit is falsehood.” The true sense of the passage is, “for their cunning hath been fallacious,” that is, it hath deceived them themselves and brought on their ruin.
—Samuel Horsley, 1733-1806.
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Additional Cross-References
Psalm 119:21 (KJV)
21 Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed,
Which do err from thy commandments.
Acts 17:31 (NKJV)
because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”
1 John 1:8 (KJV)
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
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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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