
Text -- Psalms 139:24 (NET)




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collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)
Clarke -> Psa 139:24; Psa 139:24
Clarke: Psa 139:24 - -- If there be any wicked way - דרך עצב derech otseb : a way of idolatry or of error. Any thing false in religious principle; any thing contrar...
If there be any wicked way -
"To hate the sin with all the heart
And yet the sinner love.

Clarke: Psa 139:24 - -- Lead me in the way everlasting - בדרך עולם bederech olam , in the old way - the way in which our fathers walked, who worshipped thee, the i...
Lead me in the way everlasting -
Calvin -> Psa 139:24
Calvin: Psa 139:24 - -- 24.And lead me, etc. I see no foundation for the opinion of some that this is an imprecation, and that David adjudges himself over to punishment. It ...
24.And lead me, etc. I see no foundation for the opinion of some that this is an imprecation, and that David adjudges himself over to punishment. It is true, that “the way of all the earth” is an expression used sometimes to denote death, which is common to all, but the verb here translated to lead is more commonly taken in a good than a bad sense, and I question if the phrase way of this life ever means death. 221 It seems evidently to denote the full continuous term of human life, and David prays God to guide him even to the end of his course. I am aware some understand it to refer to eternal life, nor is it denied that the world to come is comprehended under the full term of life to which the Psalm~ ist alludes, but it seems enough to hold by the plain sense of the words, That God would watch over his servant to whom he had already shown kindness to the end, and not forsake him in the midst of his days.
TSK -> Psa 139:24
TSK: Psa 139:24 - -- And see : Psa 7:3, Psa 7:4, Psa 17:3; Pro 28:26; Jer 17:9, Jer 17:10
wicked way : Heb. way of pain, or grief, Heb 12:15, Heb 12:16
and lead : Psa 5:8,...

collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)
Barnes -> Psa 139:24
Barnes: Psa 139:24 - -- And see if there be any wicked way in me - Margin, "way of pain,"or "grief."The Hebrew word properly means an image, an idol Isa 48:5, but it a...
And see if there be any wicked way in me - Margin, "way of pain,"or "grief."The Hebrew word properly means an image, an idol Isa 48:5, but it also means pain, 1Ch 4:9; Isa 14:3. The word in the form used here does not occur elsewhere. Gesenius (Lexicon) renders it here idol-worship. DeWette, "way of idols."Prof. Alexander, "way of pain."The Septuagint and Vulgate, "way of iniquity."So Luther. The Syriac, "way of falsehood."Rosenmuller, "way of an idol."According to this, the prayer is that God would search him and see if there was anything in him that partook of the nature of idolatry, or of defection from the true religion; any tendency to go back from God, to worship other gods, to leave the worship of the true God. As idolatry comprehends the sum of all that is evil, as being alienation from the true God, the prayer is that there might be nothing found in his heart which tended to alienate him from God - would indicate unfaithfulness or want of attachment to him.
And lead me in the way everlasting - The way which leads to eternal life; the path which I may tread forever. In any other way than in the service of God his steps must be arrested. He must encounter his Maker in judgment, and be cut off, and consigned to woe. The path to heaven is one which man may steadily pursue; one, in reference to which death itself is really no interruption - for the journey commenced here will be continued through the dark valley, and continued forevermore. Death does not interrupt the journey of the righteous for a moment. It is the same journey continued - as when we cross a narrow stream, and are on the same path still.
Poole -> Psa 139:24
Poole: Psa 139:24 - -- Wicked way in me Heb. way of trouble or grief ; any course of life which is grievous, either,
1. To myself, as all sin is to the sinner sooner or l...
Wicked way in me Heb. way of trouble or grief ; any course of life which is grievous, either,
1. To myself, as all sin is to the sinner sooner or later: or,
2. To others; as I am accused of causing much trouble and designing mischief to the king and kingdom.
In the way everlasting in the right and good way, which is lasting, and leads to everlasting life; whereas the way of wickedness, to which this is opposed, will perish , as is said, Psa 1:6 , and bring men into utter destruction. Or, as others render it, in the old way , which is the good way, as it is called Jer 6:16 ; in the way of righteousness and holiness, which may well be called the old way, because it was from the beginning of the world written in man’ s heart, whereas wickedness is of a later date. Possibly it may be rendered, in thy way (the ellipsis of the pronoun being very frequent, as hath been noted and proved before; or, in the way , to wit, the way of God, which is oft called emphatically the way , as Psa 25:8 119:1 Pro 23:19 29:27 , and which is sufficiently understood from its opposition to the wicked way in the former clause) for ever , or as long as I live, as this Hebrew word olam without any prefix to it is used, Job 41:4 Psa 21:4 45:7 , and elsewhere. But this with submission.
Gill -> Psa 139:24
Gill: Psa 139:24 - -- And see if there be any wicked way in me,.... Not that David thought himself free from wickedness, or that there was none to be found in his heart an...
And see if there be any wicked way in me,.... Not that David thought himself free from wickedness, or that there was none to be found in his heart and life; and therefore said this in a boasting way, he knew otherwise; see Psa 19:12; but he is desirous it might be thoroughly looked into and seen whether there was any such wicked way in him he was charged with; as that he had a design upon the life of Saul, and to seize his throne and kingdom, which never entered into his mind, 1Sa 24:9. Or, "any way of grief" d; what tended to wound and grieve his own soul, or to grieve the hearts of God's people; or to grieve the Holy Spirit of God; and which he ought to grieve for and repent of: suggesting, that upon the first conviction he was ready to relinquish any such wicked way, and express his abhorrence of it, and testify true repentance for it. Some render it, "the way of an idol" e; because a word from the same root signifies an idol: every carnal lust in a man's heart is an idol; and whatsoever engrosses the affections, or has more of them than God himself has, or is preferred to him, Eze 14:4. The Targum is,
"and see if the way of those that err is me;''
and lead me in the way everlasting; or, "in the way of old" f: the good old way, the ancient path, in which the patriarchs before and after the flood walked, Or, "in the perpetual way" g; the way that endures for ever; in opposition to the way of the wicked, that perishes, Psa 1:6; or in the way that leads to everlasting life, to eternal peace and rest, and endless pleasures; as opposed to the way of grief and sorrow. It designs Christ, the true and only way to eternal life, the path of faith, truth, and godliness, Mat 7:13; in which the Lord leads his people, as a father does his child, and as the shepherd his flock. The Jewish commentators, Aben Ezra and Kimchi, interpret it the way of the world; and take it to be the same with the way of all flesh, death, or the grave; which is called man's world, or home, Jos 23:14; and make the sense to be this: If thou seest any evil in me, take me out of the world; kill me at once, let me die But this seems to be foreign from the text; for the word "lead" designs a blessing or benefit, as Calvin well observes. The Targum is,
"lead me in the way of the upright of the world;''
the way in which upright men walk.

expand allCommentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes
NET Notes -> Psa 139:24; Psa 139:24
NET Notes: Psa 139:24 Heb “in the path of antiquity.” This probably refers to the moral path prescribed by the Lord at the beginning of Israel’s history. ...
Geneva Bible -> Psa 139:24
Geneva Bible: Psa 139:24 And see if [there be any] ( p ) wicked way in me, and lead me in the ( q ) way everlasting.
( p ) Or any heinous or rebellious way: meaning that thou...

expand allCommentary -- Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis -> Psa 139:1-24
TSK Synopsis: Psa 139:1-24 - --1 David praises God for his all-seeing providence;17 and for his infinite mercies.19 He defies the wicked.23 He prays for sincerity.
Maclaren -> Psa 139:23-24
Maclaren: Psa 139:23-24 - --God's Scrutiny Longed For
Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts; 24. And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead m...
MHCC -> Psa 139:17-24
MHCC: Psa 139:17-24 - --God's counsels concerning us and our welfare are deep, such as cannot be known. We cannot think how many mercies we have received from him. It would h...
Matthew Henry -> Psa 139:17-24
Matthew Henry: Psa 139:17-24 - -- Here the psalmist makes application of the doctrine of God's omniscience, divers ways. I. He acknowledges, with wonder and thankfulness, the care Go...
Keil-Delitzsch -> Psa 139:23-24
Keil-Delitzsch: Psa 139:23-24 - --
He sees in them the danger which threatens himself, and prays God not to give him over to the judgment of self-delusion, but to lay bare the true st...
Constable: Psa 107:1--150:6 - --V. Book 5: chs. 107--150
There are 44 psalms in this section of the Psalter. David composed 15 of these (108-110...

Constable: Psa 139:1-24 - --Psalm 139
David praised God for His omniscience, omnipresence, and omnipotence in this popular psalm. It...
