Psalm 119:69 | “The insolent smear me with lies, but with my whole heart I keep your precepts.”

The psalmist turns his attention to the arrogant who have spread false accusations against him. The Hebrew verb translated “smear” (taphal) can mean “to plaster” or “to whitewash,” suggesting an attempt to cover the truth with deception. Their lies stand in sharp contrast to the goodness and faithfulness of God. Though surrounded by slander, the psalmist refuses to be moved. Instead of defending himself or striking back, he finds safety in wholehearted obedience to God’s word. Matthew Henry writes, “He will bear it patiently; he will keep that precept which forbids him to render railing for railing, and will with all his heart sit down silently. He will go on in his duty with constancy and resolution: ‘Let them say what they will, I will keep thy precepts, and not dread their reproach.’” Rooted in trust, the psalmist anchors his heart in God’s commands, confident that steadfast obedience is the surest refuge from every lie of the enemy.