--- title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible" author: "Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown" languages: [en] shelf: "Commentaries" section: 204 of 927 url: https://scriptura.si/works/jamieson-fausset-brown-commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/204/ cite: "Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, section 204. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/jamieson-fausset-brown-commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/204/" --- # Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible *Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown* The Victorian standard commentary, critical and practical, from Genesis to Revelation. ## 204. Psalms · 11 of 57 Source: https://scriptura.si/works/jamieson-fausset-brown-commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/204/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/jamieson-fausset-brown-commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/204/#p-N ### Psalm 23 ### Psa 23:1-6. Under a metaphor borrowed from scenes of pastoral life, with which David was familiar, he describes God's providential care in providing refreshment, guidance, protection, and abundance, and so affording grounds of confidence in His perpetual favor [¶2] 1. Christ's relation to His people is often represented by the figure of a shepherd ([Joh 10:14]; [He 13:20]; [1Pe 2:25]; ), and therefore the opinion that He is the Lord here so described, and in [Ge 48:15]; [Psa 80:1]; [Is 40:11], is not without some good reason. [¶3] 2. green pastures--or, "pastures of tender grass," are mentioned, not in respect to food, but as places of cool and refreshing rest. [¶4] the still waters--are, literally, "waters of "stillness," whose quiet flow invites to repose. They are contrasted with boisterous streams on the one hand, and stagnant, offensive pools on the other. [¶5] 3. To restore the soul is to revive or quicken it ([Psa 19:7]), or relieve it ([La 1:11], ). [¶6] paths of righteousness--those of safety, as directed by God, and pleasing to Him. [¶7] for his name's sake--or, regard for His perfections, pledged for His people's welfare. [¶8] 4. In the darkest and most trying hour God is near. [¶9] the valley of the shadow of death--is a ravine overhung by high precipitous cliffs, filled with dense forests, and well calculated to inspire dread to the timid, and afford a covert to beasts of prey. While expressive of any great danger or cause of terror, it does not exclude the greatest of all, to which it is most popularly applied, and which its terms suggest. [¶10] thy rod and thy staff--are symbols of a shepherd's office. By them he guides his sheep. [¶11] 5-6. Another figure expresses God's provided care. [¶12] a table--or, "food," anointing [¶13] oil--the symbol of gladness, and the overflowing [¶14] cup--which represents abundance--are prepared for the child of God, who may feast in spite of his enemies, confident that this favor will ever attend him. This beautiful Psalm most admirably sets before us, in its chief figure, that of a shepherd, the gentle, kind, and sure care extended to God's people, who, as a shepherd, both rules and feeds them. The closing verse shows that the blessings mentioned are spiritual. ### Psalm 24 ### Psa 24:1-10. God's supreme sovereignty requires a befitting holiness of life and heart in His worshippers; a sentiment sublimely illustrated by describing His entrance into the sanctuary, by the symbol of His worship--the ark, as requiring the most profound homage to the glory of His Majesty [¶17] 1. fulness--everything. [¶18] world--the habitable globe, with [¶19] they that dwell--forming a parallel expression to the first clause. [¶20] 2. Poetically represents the facts of [Ge 1:9]. [¶21] 3-4. The form of a question gives vivacity. Hands, tongue, and heart are organs of action, speech, and feeling, which compose character. [¶22] hill of the Lord--(compare [Psa 2:6], &c.). His Church--the true or invisible, as typified by the earthly sanctuary. [¶23] 5. righteousness--the rewards which God bestows on His people, or the grace to secure those rewards as well as the result. [¶24] 6. Jacob--By "Jacob," we may understand God's people (compare [Is 43:22]; , &c.), corresponding to "the generation," as if he had said, "those who seek Thy face are Thy chosen people." [¶25] 7-10. The entrance of the ark, with the attending procession, into the holy sanctuary is pictured to us. The repetition of the terms gives emphasis. ### Psalm 25 ### Psa 25:1-22. The general tone of this Psalm is that of prayer for help from enemies. Distress, however, exciting a sense of sin, humble confession, supplication for pardon, preservation from sin, and divine guidance, are prominent topics [¶28] 1. lift up my soul--([Psa 24:4]; ), set my affections (compare [Col 3:2]). [¶29] 2. not be ashamed--by disappointment of hopes of relief. [¶30] 3. The prayer generalized as to all who wait on God--that is, who expect His favor. On the other hand, the disappointment of the perfidious, who, unprovoked, have done evil, is invoked (compare [2Sa 22:9]). [¶31] 4-5. On the ground of former favor, he invokes divine guidance, according to God's gracious ways of dealing and faithfulness. [¶32] 6-7. Confessing past and present sins, he pleads for mercy, not on palliations of sin, but on God's well-known benevolence. [¶33] 8-9. upright--acting according to His promise. [¶34] sinners--the general term, limited by the [¶35] meek--who are penitent. [¶36] the way--and his way--God's way of providence. [¶37] 10. paths--similar sense--His modes of dealing (compare [Psa 25:4]). [¶38] mercy and truth--([Job 14:1-22]), God's grace in promising and faithfulness in performing. [¶39] 11. God's perfections of love, mercy, goodness, and truth are manifested (his name, compare [Psa 9:10]) in pardoning sin, and the greatness of sin renders pardon more needed. [¶40] 12-13. What he asks for himself is the common lot of all the pious. [¶41] 14. The reason of the blessing explained--the pious enjoy communion with God (compare [Pr 3:21], ), and, of course, learn His gracious terms of pardon. [¶42] 15. His trust in God is fixed. [¶43] net--is frequently used as a figure for dangers by enemies ([Psa 9:15]; ). [¶44] 16-19. A series of earnest appeals for aid because God had seemed to desert him (compare [Psa 13:1]; , &c.), his sins oppressed him, his enemies had enlarged his troubles and were multiplied, increasing in hate and violence ([Psa 9:8]; ). [¶45] 20. keep my soul--([Psa 16:1]). [¶46] put my trust--flee for refuge ([Psa 2:12]).