The sweet psalmist of Israel here conjures up a request against a besetting sin that not a single soul is spared from gazing upon vanity! With a slow, and intentional reading, the saints of God feel the weight of this request into the core and who they are

This is not a new desire of the Psalmist. He is continually asking for the Lord to give him understanding (Psalm 119:27). This repeated request is not vain redundancy, or futile repetition.

if you have been redeemed by the blood of Christ, you have been given this will and this heart and this faith and you must avail yourself to them, lest you shrink back and your heart wander away

Here is a man who is vigorous in the pursuit of his religion. He is zealous in chasing after God. Those who know with full assurance that they are going to heaven continually press forward and toward it.

And observe, the Psalmist doesn’t ask to be put near other Christians or to have false people removed from his sight, in order to be obedient. Instead, he recognizes that obeying the Lord is a matter of one's own heart, not one's circumstances.

He was losing his composition due to the heaviness of his heart and the afflictions he was facing. And here we see a man who has a great burden, one beyond his ability to bear. And this is indeed not a foreign feeling for some of us. The feelings of being helpless, stuck, defeated, or brought low and without the ability or opportunity to climb out of this hole of despair.

We may lay down at the feet of God, as beloved children, all that is upon our hearts. He is not unable to bear it. And then, he guides his children on the proper pathway. We have, as our God, a compassionate Father, full of mercy.

And here, we see that the word of God is not impotent, but is very relevant in any and every human experience, even this very common one of sorrow and depression. 

It is not uncommon for those who are bold in heart and of face (Isaiah 50:7) for the Lord and his word to be plotted against by those around us. Because we are not greater than our Master, we can expect the type of treatment he received while on the earth (John 15:20).

Here we see the high places, among the princes and majesty of the world, in which the psalmist sat. He was the point of scorn among those in power, and among whom were considered his equals. Yet among these men, there was no desire more significant than to show derision and contempt toward him.

Since this is the case we can be sure that in the day of trial, our reproach will be removed, our integrity will remain, the Lord will be glorified, and after all is said and done it will end well for us.