Vs. 67 — Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep Your word.

John Gill:

Not that he wilfully, wickedly, maliciously, and through contempt, departed from his God; this he denies (Ps. 18:21); but through the weakness of the flesh, the prevalence of corruption, and the force of temptation, and very much through a careless, heedless, and negligent frame of spirit, he got out of the right way, and wandered from it before he was well aware. The word is used of erring through ignorance (Lev. 5:18). This was in his time of prosperity, when, though he might not, like Jeshurun, wax fat and kick, and forsake and lightly esteem the Rock of his salvation; or fall into temptations and hurtful lusts, and err from the faith, and be pierced with many sorrows; yet he might become inattentive to the duties of religion, and be negligent of them, which is a common case.

Thomas Manton:

The use of God’s rod is to bring us home unto God, and the affliction driveth us to make better use of his word: it changeth us from vanity to seriousness, from error to truth, from stubbornness to teachfulness, from pride to modesty. (Manton, T. (1872). The Complete Works of Thomas Manton (Vol. 7, p. 223). London: James Nisbet & Co.)

Prayer:

Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word. Father, I thank You for such love that would not let me stray too far. Thank You stopping me in my tracks to get my attention and to wake me up. If affliction is what it takes, then it is welcomed from Your hand. Such sorrow brought by Your hand reminds me to never get comfortable with this life and to never trust it. Please keep my heart humble and contrite before You. Amen.