Albert Barnes Commentary Psalms 119

Blessed are the undefiled in the way — In the way or journey of life; in the path of religion; in the road which leads to heaven. As life—the religious life—is represented under the image of a journey, the expression here is equivalent to saying, “Blessed are those who in the journey of life—in their religious course—are pure, sincere, uncontaminated.” On the word way, see the notes at (Psalms 1:6).

The margin here on the word undefiled, is perfect, or sincere. So the Hebrew. The word is the same as in (Job 1:1), where it is rendered “perfect.” See the notes at that passage. The Greek translation is undefiled—ἄμωμοι amōmoi. So the Latin, “immaculati.” Luther renders it, “Who live without blemish” or stain.

The idea is, “Blessed are they who are upright, sincere, perfect, in their course.” The whole psalm is designed to illustrate this thought, by showing what the influence of a sincere and conscientious attachment to the principles of the law or word of God in the various circumstances of life must be.

Who walk in the law of the Lord — Who habitually obey his law. This constitutes sincerity, uprightness, perfection in a man’s life, for the law of the Lord is the only just rule of human conduct.

Blessed are they that keep his testimonies - His commandments or laws, considered as what he bears witness to concerning that which is just, wise, good. Every law of a parent is to his children a testimony on his part of what is wise and right and good; and so every law of God is his solemn testimony as to what is right and good for man. See Psalms 19:7, note; Psalms 25:10, note.

And that seek him with the whole heart - With a sincere desire to know his will and to do it; without hypocrisy or guile; with no selfish or sinister aims. As God knows the heart, all other modes of seeking him must be in vain. It is impossible for man to impose on him by appearances.

They also do no iniquity - See the notes at 1 John 3:9. The meaning is that they are righteous; their character is that they do what is right. It cannot mean that all persons who are religious are actually and absolutely perfect—for no one would hold this opinion; no one does hold it. It is general language such as is commonly used to describe an upright or righteous man. The declaration is true of all who are the friends of God—or, who are truly religious—in the following senses:

1. That they are habitually and characteristically righteous;
2. That they intend to do right—for a man who deliberately purposes to do wrong, to lead a life of sin and disobedience, cannot be a pious man.
3. That when they do err, it is not the result of intention or the design of their life, but because they are tempted, are overcome with passion, or are led by the power of their native corruption of heart to act contrary to their better judgment and their true character.

See Romans 7:14-17.

On the other hand, it is true that a man who is not characteristically righteous, who is not an upright man in his dealings, and who is not true, and honest, and temperate, and just, and benevolent, cannot be a child of God and heir of heaven.

No exactness of orthodoxy, no fervour of emotion, and no zeal in the cause of religion can constitute true piety without this.

They walk in his ways - Habitually, constantly, characteristically. They are not merely honest, upright, and just in their dealings with men, but they walk in the ways of God; they are religious.

Thou hast commanded - All this is here traced to the command of God; to the fact that he has required it. It is not mere human prudence; it is not mere morality; it is not because it will be for our interest; it is because God requires it. This is the foundation of all true virtue; and until a man acts from this motive, it cannot be said that he is in the proper sense a righteous man.

To keep thy precepts diligently - Hebrew, “very much;” that is, to do it constantly, faithfully. Each one of his laws is to be observed, and to be observed always, and in all circumstances.

O that my ways were directed ... - This indicates the desire of the pious heart. That desire—a prevailing, constant, uniform desire—is to keep the law of God. It is the aim of life, the supreme purpose of the soul, and the ruling wish of such a person: to keep the law of God. Anyone in whose heart this is not the constant wish cannot be a pious person.

The Hebrew particle used here, and translated as “O that,” is a particle denoting a wish, or an earnest desire. The word “ways” denotes the course of life. The whole phrase expresses an earnest desire to live in accordance with the law of God. It also implies a sense of dependence on God.