《Spurgeon ’s Verse Expositions of the Bible – Psalms (Vol. 1)》(Charles H. Spurgeon)
Commentator
Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-1892) was born in Essex, England. After preaching his first sermon at the age of 16, he became pastor of the church in Waterbeach at the age of 17. His most fruitful years of ministry were at the New Park Street and later the Metropolitan Tabernacle pulpit in London. Called the "Prince of Preachers," he had more than 1,900 sermons published prior to his death.
Before each weekly sermon, Spurgeon read a passage of Scripture, often interrupting his readings with spontaneous verse by verse comments to expose the Scripture's meaning and content. Many of these expositions were published at the end of his weekly sermons in The Sword and The Trowel.
However, they have never before been published as a work to themselves. Three volumes are here published under the title Spurgeon's Expositions of the Bible containing a complete compilation of those expositions. While not every scripture of the Bible was covered in his transcribed expositions, this mammoth project has resulted in a "virtual" concise Bible commentary.
Introduction
01 Psalm 1
02 Psalm 2
Verses 1-12
Psalms 2:1-3. Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
The conspiracy was both strong and influential, The kings and the rulers combined against Jehovah and against his Christ. They were very determined; they set themselves with resolute purpose; they took counsel together. They were full of a horrible enthusiasm; they raged; they thought the work as good as done, but they imagined a vain thing. The fight was against Jehovah, and against his Anointed, the Christ, the Messiah. What came of it all? Did they break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from them? Listen: -
Psalms 2:4. He that sitteth in the heavens shalt laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.
For what can mortals be as compared with the Eternal? The fire can readily enough consume the tow. Shall men set themselves in opposition to omnipotence, and hope to prosper? And when God determines to glorify his anointed Son, shall worms of the dust prevent him from doing so’? What can come of all their opposition? God simply laughs at them, Jehovah has them in derision.
Psalms 2:5. Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.
He scarcely needs to lift his hand, he has only to speak; and when Jehovah speaks in wrath, his words are thunderbolts. Men’s hearts are indeed troubled when God’s words come hot with anger into their spirits. This is what God said:-
Psalms 2:6. Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
“You have raged, you have deliberated, you have resolved; but it is all nothing. There is my Son, the crowned King.” And such is the Anointed tonight; the Christ is on the throne, let Isis enemies say what they will, and he must reign, nothing can prevent it. He must be King of kings and Lord of lords, for thus is it written concerning him.
Psalms 2:7. I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
This is the seal of the Anointed. He is the Son of the Highest, the only begotten Son of the Father, who says to him, “Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.”
Psalms 2:8. Ask of me, and I shalt give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
Christ is asking of his Father; even he cannot have what he desires without asking for it. Prayer is so essential to the progress of the kingdom of Christ that even Christ himself must ask. But then God has promised to give to Christ the heathen for his inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth to be his possession. This is the great strength of all missionary enterprise. Dear friends, we may be quite sure that the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord when we read such a text as this: “I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.” If men will not yield to the Lord when he is made known to them, if they resist the drawings of divine love, what will happen? Listen:-
Psalms 2:9-10. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces, like a potter’s vessel. Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.
“Ye rulers, ye magistrates, ye senators, ye governors of the earth, be wise, be instructed.”
Psalms 2:11. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
“If you are wise, you will obey the superior King; you will yield obedience to the great Lord of all.”
Psalms 2:12. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the Way, when his wrath is kindled but a little.
The kings and rulers are bidden to do this; let each one of us do the same, let us give the kiss of homage to him whom God has made to be our King, and take him to be our Lord and Ruler for ever and ever.
Psalms 2:12. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.
It is so; those of us who have tried it can bear witness that it is so, there is no life like a life of trust in God. The nearest approach to heaven that we can live in this mortal body is a life of simple confidence in the Lord Jesus Christ. Now let us read concerning our Lord’s first coming and appearance amongst the sons of men. Turn to the Gospel according to Matthew, at the third chapter
This exposition consisted of readings from Psalms 2, and Matthew 3.
03 Psalm 3
Verses 1-8
These may be called very properly morning and evening Psalms. The third Psalm is the morning Psalm. A psalm of David when he fled from Absalom, his son. A dark hour that for David, preceded by the shadows of his own sin, and now deepened by the horrible hatred of his own favorite child, who conspired to take his kingdom and his life.
Psalms 2:1. LORD how are they increased that trouble me!
As if he could not measure his troubles. He stands amazed. He makes his appeal to God.
Psalms 2:2-3. Many are they that rise up against me. Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.
That is the worst of all, when they begin to ridicule his religion. He was a man who had said much of his faith in God; and in former days he had done great marvels by trusting in the living God; and now one and another dared to say openly that God had cast him off.
Psalms 2:3. But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.
The word in the Hebrew is a bigger word than the word shield. It is a buckler — a kind of guard above, around, beneath, an all-surrounding defense. “Thou, Lord, art a shield for me. They cannot harm me. They cannot kill me. I am still guarded by God; and, what is more, thou art my glory. Though my glory is taken away, yet I glory in thee. Whatever else I have not, I have a God, a God that I dare glory in too, for there is no such God as he is. And thou art the lifter up of my head.” My head is still above water. I do not yet sink, and my head shall rise again. Though I bow it down like a bulrush now, I shall one day praise him. I know that I shall, for he is the health of my countenance.
Psalms 2:4. I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.
He means that he loved to pray alone, but to use his voice in prayer. I have heard many Christians say that they can pray better when they can hear their own voices; they are better able to collect their thoughts. The voice is not necessary to prayer. It is the mere body of prayer. Still, a right healthy body may help the soul, and sometimes the use of the voice may help the spirit. David says that he cried to God; and then it happened to him, as it always happens to us: “He heard me out of his holy hill.”
Psalms 2:5. I laid me down and slept;
Far from the palace, and from the place of worship where he loved to meet with God.
Psalms 2:5. I awaked; for the LORD sustained me.
I was kept through the night watches; through restless anxiety I slept. Now God sustains our hearts, even when we are asleep, for else we should not sleep. We should be restless and wakeful. But God gives us a peace ere we fall asleep, which abides with us as a blessed balm of rest, and so we sleep.
Psalms 2:6-7. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about. Arise, O LORD save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.
They were like fierce lions threatening to devour him. They had already rent him in malice. God came and smote them on the jaw, so that they lost their strength to injure him.
Psalms 2:8. Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah.
That is a sweet morning hymn. Sound Calvinistic doctrine that. “Salvation belongeth unto the Lord.” It is he that saves man. It is he that delivers those that are saved. And here is the speciality and peculiarity of his grace.
“Thy blessing is upon thy people.” Oh! to be remembered with them! Then, even if an Absalom should persecute us, the blessing is not withdrawn, for this is entailed upon the children of God.
“Thy blessing is upon thy people.”
Now for the evening hymn.
This exposition consisted of readings from Psalms 3 and Psalms 4:1-6.
04 Psalm 4
Verses 1-6
Psalms 4:1. Hear me, when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.
Past experience is a sweet solace in the hour of trouble. “Thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress.” Think of what God has been to you, you tried ones, for he will be the same still. And can he have taught you to trust in his name, And thus far have brought you to put you to shame? Is this God’s way — to be gracious to his people, and then to turn against them? God forbid. Pray, then, with the grateful memory of all his loving-kindness. “Thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress. Have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.”
Psalms 4:2. O ye sons of men, how, long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah.
How long will ye take to lies? How long will you abuse a character which deserves not your censure? How long will you pour contempt upon God, whom you ought to serve? But know He talks to them as if they did not know, while they thought themselves the most knowing people in the world.
Psalms 4:3. That the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself:
He has marked him out to be his own peculiar treasure. “The Lord’s portion is his people. Jacob is the lot of his inheritance.” Now if God has marked out his people to be his own, he will defend them. He will guard them against every adversary. They shall not be destroyed.
Psalms 4:3. The LORD will hear when I call unto him.
The sweet assurance that prayer will prevail is one of the best comforts in the cloudy and dark day.
Psalms 4:4. Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.
Tremble and sin not. Unhappily, there are many that sin and tremble not. They reverse the text. A trembling saint is often all the more saint because he trembles. Tremble and sin not. If there is not a mixture of prayer with our hope and our confidence, it is like meat without salt in it. It is apt to grow corrupt in prosperous sunny weather. Oh! for the fear of God in our hearts! Stand in awe, and sin not. Commune with your own heart. A man ought to be the best of company to himself. It is one reason why we should be well acquainted with the Word of God — that if ever we are left alone, we may be good companions to ourselves. “Commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still.” Hush that babel. Let God speak. Get to your bed, away from the noise of the streets and the roll of the traffic. “Commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still.” Some men cannot bear stillness. The quiet of their own hearts disturbs them. There must be something very rotten in the state of the man’s life who loves not some seasons of solitude. Some of us are less alone when we are alone, and most at home even when others count themselves abroad. “Commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still.”
Psalms 4:5. Offer the sacrifices of righteousness,
Bring your prayers, your praises. Present to God your hearts, your love, your trust.
Psalms 4:5-6. And put your trust in the LORD. There be many that say, Who will shew us any good?
Gaping about for some good thing; thirsting — they know not what they are thirsting for. “Who will show us any good?” Come from the east, or the west, or the north, or the south; only bring us something that promises pleasure, and we are your men. There be many that say, “Who will show us any good?” But we say not so. Our saying is another sort.
Psalms 4:6. LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.
Is not that what many of you are saying tonight? You know what you want. You know that there is nothing else that will satisfy you. “Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.” We are not well. Lord, we ask thee that it may be well between our souls and thee.
This exposition consisted of readings from Psalms 3 and Psalms 4:1-6.
Verses 1-8
Psalms 4:1. Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.
Good men want to be heard when they pray, they are not satisfied with merely praying, they must have God’s answers to their supplications. See how David pleads the past mercy received from God: “ Thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress.” Cannot my own heart look back to God’s lovingkindness to me in days gone by .’ Oh, yes! Then, as he is the same God, what he has done in the past is an argument for what he will do in the future. There are some of us here who can adopt the psalmist’s language, and say, “Thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.”
Psalms 4:2. O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame?
How long will you slander me, how long will you slander God, how long will you turn the gospel into ridicule, how long will you resist the Spirit of God?
Psalms 4:2. How long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing?
That is, after falsehood, after lying? Why do men seek after falsehood?
What attraction can it have for them? Why, only this attraction, that it suits a fool’s heart to feed on falsehood.
Psalms 4:3. But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself:
You cannot hurt him, for God has hedged him about. You may say what you please against him, but God loves him, and will take care of him.
Psalms 4:3. The LORD will hear when I call unto him.
What a sweet assurance! O brethren, the mercy-seat is always open to us! It will be a blessed thing if every one of us can say, with David, “The Lord will hear when I call unto him.”
Psalms 4:4. Stand in awe, and sin not:
This is good advice to ungodly men; let them feel aright the awe of God presence, and they must turn from sin. Holy reverence is a great preservative from sin.
Psalms 4:4. Commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still.
Hold private communion with yourself, in a private place, at a private hour. “Be still.” We are far too noisy, most of us talk too much. It would often make men wiser if they were stiller. If a still tongue does not make a wise head, yet it tends that way.
Psalms 4:6. Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD.