nor of reason, but of faith only; even of that faith that sees in darkness,
and beholds things that are invisible.
Martin Luther.
Verse 6. "The righteous." They that endeavour righteous living in
themselves and have Christ's righteousness imputed to them.
Thomas Wilcocks, 1586.
HINTS TO THE VILLAGE PREACHER
Verse 1. May furnish an excellent text upon "Progress in Sin," or "The
Purity of the Christian," or "The Blessedness of the Righteous." Upon the
last subject speak of the believer as BLESSED—
1. By God;
2. In Christ;
3. With all blessings;
4. In all circumstances;
5. Through time and eternity;
6. To the highest degree.
Verse 1. Teaches a godly man to beware, (1) of the opinions, (2) of the
practical life, and (3) of the company and association of sinful men. Show
how meditation upon the Word will assist us in keeping aloof from these
three evils.
The insinuating and progressive nature of sin.
J. Morrison.
Verse 1. in connection with the whole Psalm. The wide difference between the righteous and the wicked.
Verse 2. THE WORD OF GOD.
1. The believer's delight in it.
2. The believer's acquaintance with it.
We long to be in the company of those we love.
Verse 2. I. What is meant by "the law of the Lord."
II. What there is in it for the believer to delight in.
III. How he shows his delight, thinks of it,
reads much, speaks of it, obeys it, does not delight in evil.
Verse 2. (last clause ). The benefits, helps, and hindrances of
meditation.
Verse 3. "The fruitful tree."
I. Where it grows.
II. How it came there.
III. What it yields.
IV. How to be like it.
Verse 3. "Planted by the rivers of water."
I. The origination of Christian life, "planted."
II. The streams which support it.
III. The fruit expected from it.
Verse 3. Influence of religion upon prosperity.— Blair.
The nature, causes, signs, and results of true
prosperity.
"Fruit in his season;" virtues to be exhibited at
certain seasons—
patience in affliction; gratitude in prosperity; zeal in opportunity, etc.
"His leaf also shall not wither;" the blessing of retaining an unwithered profession.
Verses 3, 4. See No. 280 of "Spurgeon's Sermons." "The Chaff Driven Away."
Sin puts a negative on every blessing.
Verse 5. The sinner's double doom.
1. Condemned at the judgment-bar.
2. Separated from the saints.
Reasonableness of these penalties, "therefore," and the way to escape them.
"The congregation of the righteous" viewed as the church of the first-born above. This may furnish a noble topic.
Verse 6. ( first sentence ). A sweet encouragement to the tried people of God. The knowledge here meant.
1. Its character. —It is a knowledge of observation and approbation.
2. Its source. —It is caused by omniscience and infinite love.
3. Its results. —Support, deliverance,
acceptance, and glory at last.
Verse 6. ( last clause ). His way of pleasure, of pride, of unbelief, of profanity, of persecution, of procrastinating, of self-deception, etc.: all these shall come to an end.
WORKS UPON THE FIRST PSALM
The Way to Blessedness: a Commentary on the First Psalm. By PHINEAS FLETCHER. London. 1632
A Discourse about the State of True Happiness , delivered in certain
Sermons in Oxford, and at Paul's Cross. By ROBERT BOLTON. London. 1625
David's Blessed Man; or, a Short Exposition on the First Psalm, directing a Man to True Happiness. By SAMUEL SMITH, preacher of the Word at Prittlewell in Essex. 1635 [Reprinted in Nicol's Series of Commentaries.]
Meditations and Disquisitions upon the First Psalm of David.—Blessed is
the Man. By SIR RICHARD BAKER, Knight. London. 1640 [The same volume
contains Meditations upon "Seven Consolatorie Psalms of David," namely, 23,
27, 30, 84, 103, and 116.]
The Christian on the Mount; or a Treatise concerning Meditation; wherein the necessity, usefulness, and excellency of Meditation are at large
discussed. By THOMAS WATSON. 1660.