19 Ps 139.24 Commentary: avoiding ways that hurt God

<p>Ps 139.24 (NASB), “And see if there be any hurtful way in me…”.

“Hurtful way” translates Heb. otseb (Strongs 6090a) derek (Strongs 1870). &nbsp;Otseb literally means either idolatrous, if otseb is considered a variation of H6089 ‘etseb, or something that is painful (bodily or mental). &nbsp;Strongs then says the implied meaning of otseb’s “painful way” is a sorrowful or wicked way.

Keil & Delitzch point out that the meaning in Ps 139.24 is likely not “an idolatrous way” because such a way, being obvious, would rule out the psalmist (David) asking God to search and try him to discover if any such way is within the psalmist. &nbsp;Therefore, the best interpretation is as indicated by many English translations, a way that causes pain, offense, and grief. &nbsp;Thus NASB and Amp translate it “hurtful”; Darby, Youngs, and ESV translate it “grievous”; and HCSB and NIV translate it “offensive”. &nbsp;The KJV and NKJV, using the implied meaning vs the literal meaning, translate it as “wicked way”. &nbsp;

Reasoning from the most common meaning of hurtful/grievous/offensive, we should ask, “who is being hurt” by this way David asks to be discovered and, if present, to repent of. &nbsp;The commentators I checked interpret this as David wanting to avoid ways that cause himself pain or grief. &nbsp;Keil and Delitzsch say, “The poet gives this name to the way that leads to the pain, torture, viz., of the inward and outward punishments of sin.” &nbsp;The Bible Knowledge Commentary says, “God would also know if the psalmist had any offensive way (lit., "way of pain," i.e., pain caused by being afflicted for wrongdoing).”

I think a better interpretation is that David is asking God to inspect him to see if there is any way in him, any attitude and action of living, that causes pain and grief to God. &nbsp;Justification for this interpretation is that David has already in the psalm demonstrated that he knows right from wrong. &nbsp;In verses 19-22 he shows he can readily identify the wicked, and therefore wicked behavior, and that he hates them for their opposition to God. &nbsp;So it seems superfluous for David to be seriously asking God to see if there is any way in him that would cause himself pain due to evil. &nbsp;It makes more sense to me that David, hating the deeds and person of those who go against God, is asking God to tell him if there is any way in himself that hurts God (using the literal meaning of otseb). &nbsp;

So I think David is either saying to God, “Check me out thoroughly because I know You will find me innocent,” &nbsp;or, “Tell me if there is anything I am doing that is causing You pain and grief, so I can repent of it; and lead me in the right way.”</p>