John Calvin Commentary Psalms 119:115

"Depart from me, ye evil-doers, That I may keep the commandments of my God." — Psalms 119:115 (ASV)

Depart from me, ye wicked! Some explain this verse as if David declared that he would devote himself with more eagerness and greater earnestness to keeping the law when the wicked had ceased assaulting him. And, unquestionably, when we feel that God has delivered us, we are more than foolish if this experience does not stir up within us an earnest desire to serve him.

If godliness does not increase in us in proportion to the sense and experience we have of God’s grace, we betray base ingratitude. This, then, is a true and useful doctrine; but the prophet meant to convey a different sentiment in this passage. As he saw how great a hindrance the ungodly are to us, he banishes them to a distance from him; or rather, he testifies that he will beware of entangling himself in their society.

He has not said this so much for his own sake as to teach us by his example, that if we are to persevere in the way of the Lord without stumbling, we must endeavor, above all things, to keep at the greatest possible distance from worldly and wicked men, not in regard to physical distance, but in respect of association and fellowship.

If we form an intimate acquaintance with them, it is scarcely possible for us to avoid being quickly corrupted by the contagion of their example. The dangerous influence of fellowship with wicked men is all too evident from observation; and it is due to this that few continue in their integrity to the end of life, the world being fraught with corruptions.

From the extreme infirmity of our nature, it is the easiest thing in the world to catch infection and to contract pollution even from the slightest touch. The prophet, then, with good reason, tells the wicked to depart from him, so that he may advance in the fear of God without obstruction.

Whoever entangles himself in their companionship will, over time, go so far as to abandon himself to contempt of God and to leading a dissolute life. With this statement agrees the admonition of Paul in 2 Corinthians 6:14, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers.” It was, indeed, beyond the prophet’s power to drive the wicked far from him; but by these words he intimates that from now on he will have no association with them.

He emphatically designates God as his God, to testify that he values him alone more than all mankind. Finding extreme wickedness universally prevailing on the earth, he separated himself from men, so that he might join himself wholly to God. Today, so that bad examples may not lead us into evil, it is very important for us to ensure that God is on our side, and to abide constantly in him, because he is ours.