John Gill Commentary Psalms 119:98

"Thy commandments make me wiser than mine enemies; For they are ever with me." — Psalms 119:98 (ASV)

You through your commandments have made me wiser than my
enemies

David had his enemies, as every good man has. These are often cunning and crafty ones, at least in wickedness; many of them are wise and prudent as to natural things, wiser in worldly things and political matters than the children of light, and often lay deep schemes and take crafty counsel against the saints;

and yet they, by attending to the word and commands of God, and being under his direction and counsel, counterwork the designs of their enemies, and overturn their schemes and measures, which are brought to confusion; honesty being in the issue the best policy.

However, the people of God are wiser than they in the best things; in the affair of salvation; in things relating to a future state, and their happiness there.

This wisdom they attain through the Word of God, which is written for their learning; through the Scriptures, which are able to make men wise to salvation: these are the means, and no more; for it is God that is the efficient cause, or makes the means effectual, to make them wise, and wiser than others; it is owing to his divine teachings, to his Spirit and grace.

The words may be rendered, "it has made me wiser in your commandments than my enemies" ^F4 ; that is, the law; and so is another reason why it was so greatly loved by him: or, "your commandments", that is, everyone of your commandments, "have made me wiser" ^F5 . Joseph Kimchi gives this as the sense, ''by my enemies you have made me wise ^F6 ; you have learned me your commandments, so that I see they cannot remove your law from my mouth;''

for they [are] ever with me ;

that is, the commandments of God, or his law, and the precepts of it; they were his privy counsellors, with whom on all occasions he consulted, and so became wiser than his enemies, and outwitted them: these were always near him, in his heart and in his mouth; he was ever thinking and speaking of them, and so did not forget the instructions they gave him; they were ever before his eyes, as the rule of his conduct.

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FOOTNOTES:

• F4: So Junius & Tremellius.
• F5: So Cocceius, Muis, Gejerus and the Targum.
• F6: "Fas est et ab hoste doceri", Ovid.