Psalm 119:115 | “Depart from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commandments of my God.”

The psalmist directly addresses evildoers and commands them to depart. He understands that wholehearted obedience to the word of God requires deliberate separation from influences that would weaken faith and dull obedience. He is resolved to keep the commandments of the Lord, and he knows that ungodly companionship threatens that resolve. Matthew Henry explains. “Those that resolve to keep the commandments of God must have no society with evildoers; for bad company is a great hindrance to a holy life. We must not choose wicked people for our companions, nor be intimate with them; we must not do as they do nor do as they would have us do.” The psalmist does not claim that his obedience depends on others leaving. He would obey regardless. Yet he also recognizes that obedience is strengthened when distractions and temptations are removed. Spurgeon draws our attention to a striking detail. “What a beautiful title for the Lord this verse contains. The word God only occurs in this one place in all this lengthened Psalm, and then it is attended by the personal word ‘my’.” The psalmist is not only guarding principles. He is guarding a relationship. To keep the commandments of his God, he is willing to stand apart, choosing loyalty to the Lord over fellowship with those who oppose his ways.