Psalms 119:8

They also do no iniquity: they walk in His ways.

Negative and positive goodness

I. Negative goodness. “They do no iniquity.” In their external conduct, and to the eye of society, they appear faultless.

1. It is socially valuable. He who in society practically respects the social rights of others, who is free from falsehood, chicanery, and debauchery is certainly a more valuable man than he who is guilty of all these enormities.

2. It is morally worthless. There is no virtue in the not doing of wrong, but there is sin in not doing the right.

II. Positive goodness. “They walk in His ways.” To walk in His ways implies three things--

1. Spiritual life. A dead man cannot walk. There is no walking in the Divine way unless the soul is quickened into spiritual life--a life of supreme sympathy with God.

2. Spiritual vigour. A man may live and yet be too weak in the frame to raise himself from his couch or take one step. The man who walks in the right way has moral vigour--a vigour that grows with every effort.

3. Spiritual progress. A constant advance from one point to another. Every holy volition and aspiration are steps onward. (David Thomas, D. D.)

Psalms 119:8

I will keep Thy statutes.

Good resolutions

It is a great help to godliness to resolve that we will live godly; for that which is not, concluded, how shall it be performed? Or what hope is there we should attain to the end--that is, to the perfection of piety--when we are careless of the beginnings thereof, which are purposes, intentions, and resolutions that we will be godly? Where, when of weakness we fail in following forth our resolution, it shall be well done again to renew it; for, by often renewing of our resolution to do any good, we become the stronger to accomplish it. (Bp. Cowper.)