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 A Dynamite Masterful Commentary on Psalms September 3, 2008
In his observation of the organizing principle of the Tanakh, whereby Westerman concludes (Elements of an Old Testament Theology, 1982) that the general theme of Torah being the deeds of God, and Nevi'im (The Prophets) being the words of God, he rightly describes Ketuvim (The Writings) under which Psalms fall, as the people's responses, or I should say, God-inspired people responses; covering the entire range of expressions of human emotions; fear, desperation, faith, hope, compassion, love, submission, indignation, repentance, sorrow, joy, and praise; the reality of life in a fallen world. Spurgeon laboriously and masterfully unearths these jewels from the rich treasure chests of David that the readers may enjoy, adore, cherish, worship, and love God in the display of his grace, power and glory through these expressions with solid theology, Christology and soteriology in mind because in some of the Psalms; Psalms 2, 8, 22, 45, 102, and 110, for examples, they undoubtedly speak of vision about the Lord Jesus Christ. If the readers are familiar with the format JC Ryle used in "Expository Thoughts on the Gospel," Spurgeon implements a similar one. He begins with introducing the theme of each Psalms, then continues with verse-by-verse exposition that attempts to bring the readers as close as possible to the affections, the state of mind and the vision of the Psalmist when he wrote that particular verse. In the next section called "Explanatory notes and quaint sayings", he includes commentary for each verse, though may not be exhaustive but definitely extensive, from other theologians; mostly the Reformers and the Puritans. The last part called "Hints to Preachers" consists of outlines to aid ministers for preaching purposes. Here are some samples to show the style of exposition the readers would be benefited from, intended to wet their appetite and to support my recommendation:
"Proud hearts breed proud looks and stiff knees. It is an admirable arrangement that the heart is often written on the countenance...A brazen face and a broken heart never go together... there is much more to be learned from the motions of the muscles of the face than from the words of the lips. Honesty shines in the face, but villainy peeps out at the eyes. See the effect of pride; it kept the man from seeking God. It is hard to pray with a stiff neck and an unbending knee. `God is not in all his thoughts' he thought much but he had no thoughts for God. Amid heaps of chaff there was not a grain of wheat. The only place where God is not is in the thoughts of the wicked. This is a damning accusation; for where the God of heaven is not, the Lord of hell is reigning and raging; and if God be not in our thoughts, our thoughts will bring us to perdition" (on Ps 10:4).
"This prayer evinces a humble sense of personal ignorance, great teachableness of spirit, and cheerful obedience of heart... A path is here desired which shall be open, honest, straightforward, in opposition to the way of the cunning which is intricate, tortuous, dangerous. Good men seldom succeed in fine speculations and doubtful courses; plain simplicity is the best spirit for an heir of heaven: let us leave shifty tricks and political expediences to the citizens of the world, the New Jerusalem owns plain men for its citizens" (on Ps 27:11).
"The unusual strength which overleaps the bound of threescore and ten only lands the aged man in a region where life is a weariness and a woe. The strength of old age, its very prime and pride, are but labor and sorrow; what must its weakness be? What panting for breath! What toiling to move! What a failing of the senses! What a crushing sense of weakness!... Such as is old age. Yet mellowed by hallowed experience, and solaced by immortal hopes, the latter days of aged Christians are not so much to be pitied as envied. The sun is setting and the heat of the day is over, but sweet is the calm and cool of the eventide; and the fair day melts away, not into a dark and dreary night, but into a glorious, unclouded eternal day. The mortal fades to make room for the immortal; the old man falls asleep to wake up in the region of perennial youth" (on Ps 90:10).
"It is impossible that any ill should happen to the man who is beloved of the Lord; the most crushing calamities can only shorten his journey and hasten him to his reward. Ill to him is no ill, but only good in a mysterious form. Losses enrich him, sickness is his medicine, reproach is his honor, death is his gain. No evil in the strict sense of the word can happen to him, for everything is overruled for good" (on Ps 91:10).
"A survey of the solar system has a tendency has a tendency to moderate the pride of man and to promote humility. Pride is one of the distinguishing characteristics of puny man and has been one of the chief causes of all the contentions, wars, devastations, systems of slavery, and ambitious projects which have desolated and demoralized our sinful world. Yet there is no disposition more incongruous to the character and circumstance of man. Perhaps there are no rational beings throughout the universe among whom pride would appear more unseemly or incompatible than in man, considering the situation in which he is placed. He is exposed to numerous degradations and calamities, to the rage of storms and tempests, the devastations of earthquakes and volcanoes, the fury of whirlwinds, and the tempestuous billows of the ocean, to the ravages of the sword, famine, pestilence, and numerous diseases; and at length he must sink into the grave and his body must become the companion of worms! The most dignified and haughty of the sons of men are liable to these and similar degradations as well as the meanest of the human family. Yet, in such circumstances, man, that puny worm of the dust, whose knowledge is so limited, and whose follies as so numerous and glaring, has the effrontery to strut in all the haughtiness of pride, and to glory in his shame.
When other arguments and motives produce little effect on certain minds, no considerations seem likely to have a more powerful tendency to counteract this deplorable propensity in human beings, than those which are borrowed from the objects connected with astronomy. They show us what an insignificant being, what a mere atom, indeed, man appears amidst the immensity of creation!
Though he is an object of the paternal care and mercy of the Most High, yet he is but as a grain of sand to the whole earth, when compared to the countless myriads of beings [in the universe]" (on Ps 8:3-4, quoting Dr. Dick).
"Communion with God in secret is a heaven upon earth. What food can compare with the hidden manna? Some persons have excellent banquet in their closets. That bread which the saints eat in secret, how pleasant is it! Ah! What stranger can imagine the joy, the melody, which even the secret tears of the saints cause! Believers find rich mines of silver and gold in solitary places; they fetch up precious jewels out of secret holes, out of the bottom of the ocean, where are no inhabitants... Saints have often sweet joy and refreshment in secret; they have meat to eat, which the world knows not of... They that know what it is to enjoy God in secret, would not leave it or lose it, to be kings or commanders over the whole world" (on Ps 63:6, quoting George Swinnock).
The man... February 13, 2008
Can't go wrong with Spurgeon. I bought these volumes for a deeper study of the Psalms, and so far they have been amazing. There's more for each psalm that I can really get in to, but that which I do has been all that I could hope for: reinforcing lower view of self next to high view of God; the only kind of perspective that brings any real sense of hope and encouragement.
Charles H Spurgeon's "The Treasury of David" is a must for the serious Bible Student November 27, 2007
Spurgeon is still the best. This 3 volume set is essential for a deep and meaningful study of the Psalms. Great for teaching and preaching research. I'm happy to have purchased it and I recommend it highly.
 Is review needed? July 20, 2006
While Spurgeon's magnum opus is neither technical nor devotional it can meet either of those needs. It is inconceivable that anyone would have an interest in the Psalms and not have these volumes on the shelves.
Great work... April 29, 2006
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
This is a great commentary series on the Psalms and has the same feel as Spurgeon's sermons. Great resource for any teacher and pastor to prepare in study for the Psalms. Very detailed, which I can't say the same for other commentaries done during this same time period.
The price once again shows how many people have lost interest in both commentaries and our past church saints.
If you are going to be going through the Psalms in your own study or teaching you should definitely have this at your disposal.
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