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TOPIC: Spurgeon - C.H. - The Golden Alphabet (Other Topics in this Collection)
SUBJECT: 14 Exposition of Psalm 119:105-112
Other Subjects in this Topic:
Exposition of Psa_119:105-112
by Charles Spurgeon
105. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
106. I have sworn, and I wilt perform it, that I will keep thy
righteous judgments.
107. I am afflicted very much: quicken me, O LORD, according
unto thy word.
108. Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth,
O LORD, and teach me thy judgments.
109. My soul is continually in my hand: yet do I not forget thy
law.
110. The wicked have laid a snare for me yet I erred not from
thy precepts.
111. Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for
they are the rejoicing of my heart.
112. I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes always,
even unto the end.
105. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet.” We are walkers through the city of
this world, and we are often called to go out into its darkness; let us never
venture there without the light-giving word, lest we slip with our feet.
Each man should use the word of God personally, practically, and
habitually, that he may see his way, and see What lies in it. When darkness
settles down upon all around me, the word of the Lord, like a flaming
torch, reveals my way. Having no fixed lamps in eastern towns, in old time
each passenger carried a lantern with him, that he might not fall into the
open sewer, or stumble over the heaps of ordure which defiled the road.
This is a true picture of our path through this dark world: we should not
know the way, or how to walk in it, if Scripture, like a blazing flambeau,
did not reveal it. One of the most practical benefits of Holy Writ is guidance
in the acts of daily life: it is not sent to astound us with its brilliance, but to
guide us by its instruction. It is true the head needs illumination, but even
more the feet need direction, else head and feet may both fall into a ditch.
Happy is the man who personally appropriates God’s word, and practically
uses it as his comfort and counselor, — a lamp to his feet. “And a light
unto my path.” It is a lamp by night, a light by day, and a delight at all
times. David guided his own steps by it, and also saw the difficulties of his
road by its beams. He who walks in darkness is sure, sooner or later, to
stumble; while he who walks by the light of day, or by the lamp of night,
stumbleth not, but keeps his uprightness. Ignorance is painful upon
practical subjects; it breeds indecision and suspense, and these are
uncomfortable: the word of God, by imparting heavenly knowledge, leads
to decision, and when that is followed by determined resolution, as in this
case, it brings with it great restfulness of heart.
This verse converses with God in adoring and yet familiar tones. Have we
not something of like tenor to address to our heavenly Father?
Note how much this verse is like the first verse of the first octave, and the
first of the second and other octaves. The seconds also are often in unison.
106. “I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous
judgments.” Under the influence of the clear light of knowledge he had
firmly made up his mind, and solemnly declared his resolve in the sight of
God. Perhaps mistrusting his own fickle mind, he had pledged himself in
sacred form to abide faithful to the determinations and decisions of his
God. Whatever path might open before him, he was sworn to follow that
only upon which the lamp of the word was shining. The Scriptures are
God’s judgments, or verdicts, upon great moral questions; these are all
righteous, and hence righteous men should be resolved to keep them at all
hazards, since it must always be right to do right. Experience shows that
the less of covenanting and swearing men formally enter upon the better,
and the genius of our Savior’s teaching is against all unnecessary pledging
and swearing; and yet under the gospel we ought to feel ourselves as much
bound to obey the word of the Lord as if we had taken an oath so to do.
The bonds of love are not less sacred than the fetters of law. When a man
has vowed, he must be careful to “perform it”; and when a man has not
vowed in so many words to keep the Lord’s judgments, yet is he equally
bound to do so by obligations which exist apart from any promise on our
part — obligations founded in the eternal fitness of things, and confirmed
by the abounding goodness of the Lord our God. Will not every believer
own that he is under bonds to the redeeming Lord to follow his example,
and keep his words? Yes, the vows of the Lord are upon us, especially
upon such as have made profession of discipleship, have been baptized into
the thrice-holy name, have eaten of the consecrated memorials, and have
spoken in the name of the Lord Jesus. We are enlisted, and sworn in, and
are bound to be loyal soldiers all through the war. Thus, having taken the
word into our hearts by a firm resolve to obey it, we have a lamp within
our souls as well as in the Book, and our course will be light unto the end.
107. “I am afflicted very much: quicken me, O Lord, according unto thy
word.”
“I am afflicted very much.” According to the last verse, he had been
sworn in as a soldier of the Lord, and in this next verse he is called to
suffer hardness in that capacity. Our service of’ the Lord does not screen
us from trial, but rather secures it for us. The Psalmist was a consecrated
man, and yet a chastened man; nor were his chastisements light; for it
seemed as if the more he was obedient the more he was afflicted. He
evidently felt the rod to be bruising him very grievously, and he pleads
before the Lord the greatness of his affliction as a reason why he should be
sustained under it by an increase of his inner life. He speaks not by way of
murmuring, but by way of pleading; from the very much affliction he
argues for very much quickening.
“Quicken me, O Lord, according unto thy word.” This is the best remedy
for tribulation; the soul is raised above the thought of present distress, and
is filled with that holy joy which attends all vigorous spiritual life, and so
the affliction grows light. Jehovah alone can quicken: he has life in himself,
and therefore can communicate it readily; he can give us life at any
moment, yea, at this present instant; for it is of the nature of quickening to
be quick in its operation. The Lord has promised, prepared, and provided
this blessing of renewed life for all his waiting servants: it is a covenant:
blessing, and it is as obtainable as it is needful. Frequently the affliction is
made the means of the quickening, even as the stirring of a fire promotes
the heat of the flame. In their affliction some desire death; let us pray for
life. Our forebodings under trial are often very gloomy; let us entreat the
Lord to deal with us, not according to our fears, but according to his own
word. David had but few promises to quote, and many of these had been
recorded in his; own psalms, yet he pleads the word of the Lord; how
much more should we do so, since to us so many holy men have spoken by
the Spirit of the Lord in that wonderful library which is now our Bible!
Seeing we have more promises, let us offer more prayers, and let us exhibit
more of the quickening power of the Word.
108. “Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O Lord,
and teach me thy judgments.”
“Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O Lord.”
The living praise the living God, and therefore the quickened one presents
his sacrifice. He offers prayer, praise, confession, and testimony: these,
presented with his voice in the presence of an audience, were the tribute of
his mouth unto Jehovah. He trembles lest these should be so ill uttered as
to displease the Lord, and therefore he implores acceptance. He pleads that
the homage of his mouth was cheerfully and spontaneously rendered: all his
utterances were freewill offerings. There can be no value in extorted
confessions God’s revenues are not derived from forced taxation, but from
freewill donation. There can be no acceptance where there is no
willingness; there is no work of free grace where there is no fruit of
freewill. Acceptance is a favor to be sought from the Lord with all