Charles H. Spurgeon on Psalms 119:168

1. The claim of God's word upon our utmost obedience." I have kept thy precepts and thy testimonies." He does not mean that he had kept them perfectly; for that were to contradict other expressions in the psalm. He means that he kept them sincerely and strove to keep them perfectly, as one who realized their claim upon him.

(a) The whole word is divine: an equal authority pervades every precept; no distinction should be made of more or less obligation.

(b) The whole word is pure and right; expediency, or making the measure and manner of obedience suitable to our own purpose, is a false principle; to be carefully distinguished from righteous expediency, which is the foregoing of a personal right in consideration of another's benefit.

(c) The moral code of the word is a unity; obedience is like a connected chain, a wilful flaw in one link renders all useless.

2. The consciousness which greatly helps obedience: "For all my ways are before thee."

(a) "Are before thee, "as plainly seen by thee.

(b) "Are before thee, "constantly observed.

(c) "Are before thee; "deliberately placed before thee by me, that they may be corrected and directed.

J.F.