Psalm 119:118

We continue taking up the verses of the octave of Psalm 119 entitled Samech.  Today’s verse presents an opposite scenario from that of the two previous verses.  The two previous verses speak of the Lord upholding people whereas today’s verse speaks of Him treading them down.

Psalms 119:118  Thou hast trodden down all them that err from thy statutes: for their deceit is falsehood.

The Lord treads down all them that err from His statutes.  What is it to err?   

Err – To ramble, roam, stray, wander.  To go astray; to stray from (one’s path or line of direction).  To go wrong in judgment or opinion; to make mistakes, blunder.  To go astray morally; to sin.

Those who err from God’s statutes are those who are operating by a different set of rules than those laid down in the Holy Scriptures.  They are taking their cues from someone other than Almighty God.  Therefore, they are going astray from the direction God’s says they should be taking; they are forming wrong opinions; and they are making mistakes.  In short, they are sinning.  Now they deceive themselves into thinking that the way they are pursuing is best for them, which is why they err from God’s statutes.  Of course, their thinking is utterly false as the psalmist said:  for their deceit is falsehood.  Or to describe it another way, it is like our brother Greg Ohly (a member of the church I pastor) described recently.  When one is not aiming his arrow or gun at the right target, his shot goes astray.  If our aim in life is anything other than keeping God’s statutes, then we are sure to err from them.  And what happens when we err from God’s statutes?  We find ourselves being trodden down by God Himself.

When God chooses to tread under foot a man or a people, it is a crushing experience.  There is not one mighty enough to resist as Jerusalem experienced when the Lord trod her down.

Lamentations 1:15  The Lord hath trodden under foot all my mighty men in the midst of me: he hath called an assembly against me to crush my young men: the Lord hath trodden the virgin, the daughter of Judah, as in a winepress.

The psalmist wrote in Psalms 119:21 that it is “the proud that are cursed, which do err from thy commandments.”  The proud are they who think too highly of themselves, their plans, and their opinions.  Such people are sure to err because the Lord’s statutes have a way of crossing the plans and opinions of men as He says in this verse:

Isaiah 55:8  For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

Now the psalmist wrote of the Lord treading down those who err from His statutes as having already occurred:  Thou hast trodden down.  Doubtless the psalmist had already witnessed in his life those whom God had brought low because of their error.   And throughout history the Lord will continue to tread down those who err from His statutes until He finally treads them down forever when the Lord Jesus Christ returns to judge the quick and the dead.  So that we may say that this verse is not only historical, but prophetic.  For the dealings of our immutable and unchangeable God in past history presage His dealings in the future.

1 Corinthians 15:24  Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.

25  For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.

Isaiah 2:17  And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.

Isaiah 63:3  I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment.

4  For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come.

But our verse says the Lord has trodden down all them that err from His statutes.  So that includes even God’s own children when they err.  Speaking of the Lord’s own people the psalmist wrote: 

Psalms 106:43  Many times did he deliver them; but they provoked him with their counsel, and were brought low for their iniquity.

44  Nevertheless he regarded their affliction, when he heard their cry:

45  And he remembered for them his covenant, and repented according to the multitude of his mercies.

I know the good Lord has had to trample me down from time to time.  But the difference between a child of God and one who is not is that when a child of God is “brought low” for his error, he is not trodden down forever.  God remembers His covenant with His people and lifts them up again.  Speaking to God’s own children James wrote:

James 4:8  Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

9  Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.

10  Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

Now folks do not normally like to be trampled on.  So if you do not want the Lord treading you down, then I suggest you get into your Bible and aim towards keeping God’s statutes.  I close with this fitting prayer:  “O let me not wander (err) from thy commandments” (Psalms 119:10).