To deliver thee from the way of the evil [man]
Who is so by nature and practice, who is hardened in sin and
abandoned to it, whose course of life is evil, and who endeavours
to draw others into the same evil practices; now the Gospel, and
a spiritual knowledge of it, are a means of preserving men from
following the examples of such persons, and from walking with
them in the ways of sin: or from "the evil way" F20, from
every evil way, from a vicious course of life; not from idolatry
only, as some interpret it, though this may be included, and
chiefly designed; but from all manner of sin, from everything
that is contrary to the law of God and sound doctrine; from
the man that speaketh froward things;
perverse things, things contrary to the light of nature, to
divine revelation, to the word of God, both law and Gospel; if a
single man is meant, he might be thought to be the man of sin,
antichrist, who has a mouth speaking blasphemies against God, his
name, his tabernacle, and them that dwell therein, ( Revelation
13:5 Revelation
13:6 ) ; and the Gospel delivers men from following him, and
falling in with his perverse doctrines and practices; but the
word seems to be a collective one, and to be understood of all
wicked men, to whom the description agrees, as it is explained in
the following verses in the plural number; who out of their evil
hearts, and the abundance of wickedness there, speak evil things,
tending to debauch the minds and manners of others; to be
delivered from whom is a singular mercy. Jarchi restrains this to
heretics, and such as caused Israel to apostatize to idolatry,
and turned the law into evil. The Gospel is undoubtedly a means
of preserving from error and heresy.