What does it mean to "not turn wickedly from my God"? Verse in Focus “For I have kept the ways of the LORD and have not wickedly departed from my God.” Psalm 18:21 Understanding the Phrase in Context • David is testifying that, through every crisis, he stayed on the pathway God had marked out. • “Kept the ways” = observed, guarded, and remained within God’s revealed boundaries. • “Not wickedly departed” = refused to veer off that path in rebellion or self-will. • The contrast is clear: God’s way versus every alternative that looks easier, safer, or more popular but is, in reality, wicked. Defining “Turn Wickedly” To “turn wickedly” (or “depart wickedly”) combines two Hebrew ideas: 1. To bend away, swerve, or withdraw. 2. To do so with moral perversity, treating God’s authority lightly. So the phrase is more than a casual misstep; it is a deliberate pivot from God’s rule to one’s own. Biblical Snapshots of Turning Wickedly • Saul: obeyed partially, spared King Agag, and lost the kingdom (1 Samuel 15:22-23). • Israel in the wilderness: craved Egypt’s idols and died outside the land (Psalm 106:19-27). • Demas: “loved this world” and deserted Paul (2 Timothy 4:10). Each example shows conscious, willful departure rather than accidental failure. What “Not Turning Wickedly” Looks Like Positive obedience: • Whole-hearted loyalty—“You shall follow exactly the path that the LORD your God has commanded you” (Deuteronomy 5:32). • Consistent trust—“Trust in the LORD with all your heart … do not lean on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5-6). • Loving submission—“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15). Negative resistance to sin: • Refusing to redefine evil as good (Isaiah 5:20). • Resisting peer pressure to compromise (Psalm 1:1). • Rejecting self-made religion or selective obedience (Colossians 2:8). Practical Implications Today • Daily decisions: entertainment choices, business ethics, online behavior—each one either keeps or breaks fellowship. • Doctrinal fidelity: holding to the historic gospel when trendy revisions appear (Galatians 1:6-9). • Perseverance: enduring hardship without accusing God of injustice (Job 13:15). Safeguards That Keep Us from Turning Away 1. Saturate your mind with Scripture (Psalm 119:11). 2. Cultivate transparent fellowship—allow trusted believers to speak correction (Hebrews 3:13). 3. Maintain regular self-examination before the Lord (2 Corinthians 13:5). 4. Depend on the Spirit’s power, not sheer willpower (Galatians 5:16). 5. Remember past deliverances—gratitude fuels loyalty (Psalm 103:1-5). Encouragement from Other Scriptures • “The LORD will not abandon His people, for His great name’s sake” (1 Samuel 12:22). • “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion” (Philippians 1:6). • “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58). Not turning wickedly from our God is both a sober responsibility and a Spirit-enabled possibility. As we keep to His ways, He guards our steps and makes our feet like those of a deer, setting us secure on the heights (Psalm 18:33). |
    |