Spurgeon On Psalms

The spirit is in the word. The spirit gives life to the word. God grace’s some people with the ability to infuse His spirit into what they write. Charles Spurgeon, the 19^th century pastor and theologian was such a man. I’ve given a snippet of his beautiful and powerful writings below.

Spurgeon was known as the, “Prince of Preachers”. He was the Billy Graham of his time and then some. Although he could draw up to 25,000 people at a time for one of his sermons (remember this was before microphones and speakers), Charles Spurgeon is best known for his prolific and heaven-sent writings. One such example is his publication, “The Treasury of David”, which is a line by line commentary of all 150 Psalms. Not only is it an example of his work, but he surveyed the great expositors of all times for their comments on the Psalms as well.

I have made it a habit to read several Psalms each day. One of the Psalms I read this morning was Psalm 32. I must confess, often Spurgeon’s comments are more moving and insightful than the Psalm itself, but that’s just how the spirit works sometimes. Below is a small sample of some of Spurgeon’s comments and as he calls it, “Explanatory Notes and Quaint Sayings”.

“When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long.” (Psalm 32:3)

“Horror at his great guilt, drove David to incessant laments, until his voice was no longer like the articulate speech of man, but so full of sighing and groaning, that it resembled to hoarse roaring of a wounded beast. None knows the pangs of conviction but those who have endured them. The rack, the wheel, the flaming fagot are ease compared with the Tophet which a guilty conscience kindles within the breast: better suffer all the diseases which flesh is heir to, than lie under the crushing sense of the wrath of almighty God. The Spanish inquisition with all its tortures was nothing to the inquest which conscience holds within the heart.”

“I acknowledge my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.” (Psalm 32:5)

“We must confess the guilt as well as the fact of sin. It is useless to conceal it, for it is well known to God; it is beneficial to us to own it, for a full confession softens and humbles the heart. We must as far as possible unveil the secrets of the soul, dig up the hidden treasure of Achan, and by weight and measure bring out our sins….When the soul determines to lay low and plead guilty, absolution is near at hand; hence we read, And thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Not only was the sin itself pardoned, but the iniquity of it; the virus of its guilt was put away, and that at once, so soon as the acknowledgment was made. God's pardons are deep and thorough: the knife of mercy cuts at the roots of the ill weed of sin.”

“For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.” (Psalm 32:6)

“There is, however, a set time for prayer, beyond which it will be unavailing; between the time of sin and the day of punishment mercy rules the hour, and God may be found, but when once the sentence has gone forth pleading will be useless, for the Lord will not be found by the condemned soul. O dear reader, slight not the accepted time, waste not the day of salvation. The godly pray while the Lord has promised to answer, the ungodly postpone their petitions till the Master of the house has risen up and shut to the door, and then their knocking is too late. What a blessing to be led to seek the Lord before the great devouring floods leap forth from their lairs, for then when they do appear we shall be safe. Surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him. The floods shall come, and the waves shall rage, and toss themselves like Atlantic billows; whirlpools and waterspouts shall be on every hand, but the praying man shall be at a safe distance, most surely secured from every ill.”

“Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.” (Psalm 32:11)

“Happiness is not only our privilege, but our duty. Truly we serve a generous God, since he makes it a part of our obedience to be joyful. How sinful are our rebellious murmurings! How natural does it seem that a man blest with forgiveness should be glad.”

This has been a very small sample taken from Charles Spurgeon’s commentary on the Book of Psalms titled, “The Treasury of David”. This is truly a work blessed by God. You can access the Treasury free online at, “The Spurgeon Archive”.  The web address is listed below.

http://archive.spurgeon.org/treasury/treasury.php

Bill Hitchcock