Charles Spurgeon

I will bless the LORD who counsels me; even at night my conscience instructs me.

“"I will bless the Lord, who hath given me counsel." Praise as well as prayer was presented to the Father by our Lord Jesus, and we are not truly his followers unless our resolve be, "I will bless the Lord."”

I have set the LORD always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

“The fear of death at one time cast its dark shadow over the soul of the Redeemer, and we read that, "he was heard in that he feared."”

Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will dwell securely.

“He clearly foresaw that he must die, for he speaks of his flesh resting, and of his soul in the abode of separate spirits; death was full before his face, or he would not have mentioned corruption; but such was his devout reliance upon his…”

For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol, nor will You let Your Holy One see decay.

“Our Lord Jesus was not disappointed in his hope. He declared his Father's faithfulness in the words, "thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, " and that faithfulness was proven on the resurrection morning.”

You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.

“"Thou wilt shew me the path of life." To Jesus first this way was shown, for he is the first begotten from the dead, the first-born of every creature.”

Hear, O LORD, my righteous plea; listen to my cry. Give ear to my prayer— it comes from lips free of deceit.

“" Hear the right, O Lord." He that has the worst cause makes the most noise; hence the oppressed soul is apprehensive that its voice may be drowned, and therefore pleads in this one verse for a hearing no less than three times.”

You have tried my heart; You have visited me in the night. You have tested me and found no evil; I have resolved not to sin with my mouth.

“"Thou hast proved mine heart." Like Peter, David uses the argument, "Thou knowest all things, thou knowest that I love thee."”

As for the deeds of men— by the word of Your lips I have avoided the ways of the violent.

“"Concerning the works of men." While we are in the midst of men we shall have their works thrust under our notice, and we shall be compelled to keep a corner of our diary headed "concerning the works of men."”

My steps have held to Your paths; my feet have not slipped.

“Under trial it is not easy to behave ourselves aright; a candle is not easily kept alight when many envious mouths are puffing at it. In evil times prayer is peculiarly needful, and wise men resort to it at once.”

I call on You, O God, for You will answer me. Incline Your ear to me; hear my words.

“"I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God." Thou hast always heard me, O my Lord, and therefore I have the utmost confidence in again approaching thine altar. Experience is a blessed teacher.”

Show the wonders of Your loving devotion, You who save by Your right hand those who seek refuge from their foes.

“"Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness." Marvellous in its antiquity, its distinguishing character, its faithfulness, its immutability, and above all, marvellous in the wonders which it works.”

Keep me as the apple of Your eye; hide me in the shadow of Your wings

“"Keep me as the apple of the eye." No part of the body more precious, more tender, and more carefully guarded than the eye; and of the eye, no portion more peculiarly to be protected than the central apple, the pupil, or as the Hebrew…”

from the wicked who assail me, from my mortal enemies who surround me.

“"From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about." The foes from whom David sought to be rescued were wicked men. It is hopeful for us when our enemies are God's enemies.”

They have closed their callous hearts; their mouths speak with arrogance.

“"They are inclosed in their own fat." Luxury and gluttony beget vainglorious fatness of heart, which shuts up its gates against all compassionate emotions and reasonable judgments.”

They have tracked us down, and now surround us; their eyes are set to cast us to the ground,

“"They have now compassed us in our steps." The fury of the ungodly is aimed not at one believer alone, but at all the band; they have compassed us.”

like a lion greedy for prey, like a young lion lurking in ambush.

“Lions are not more greedy, nor their ways more cunning than are Satan and his helpers when engaged against the children of God.”

Arise, O LORD, confront them! Bring them to their knees; deliver me from the wicked by Your sword,

“"Arise, O Lord." The more furious the attack, the more fervent the Psalmist's prayer. His eye rests singly upon the Almighty, and he feels that God has but to rise from the seat of his patience, and the work will be performed at once.”

from such men, O LORD, by Your hand— from men of the world whose portion is in this life.

“Almost every word of this verse has furnished matter for discussion to scholars, for it is very obscure. We will, therefore, rest content with the common version, rather than distract the reader with divers translations. "From men which are thy hand."”

As for me, I will behold Your face in righteousness; when I awake, I will be satisfied in Your presence.

“"As for me." "I neither envy nor covet these men's happiness, but partly have and partly hope for a far better."”

I love You, O LORD, my strength.

“"I will love thee, O Lord." With strong, hearty affection will I cling to thee; as a child to its parent, or a spouse to her husband. The word is intensely forcible, the love is of the deepest kind.”

The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer. My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

“"The Lord is my rock and my fortress." Dwelling among the crags and mountain fastnesses of Judea David had escaped the malice of Saul, and here he compares his God to such a place of concealment and security.”

I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies.

“In this verse the happy poet resolves to invoke the Lord in joyful song, believing that in all future conflicts his God would deal as well with him as in the past.”

The cords of death encompassed me; the torrents of chaos overwhelmed me.

“"The sorrows of death compassed me." Death like a cruel conqueror seemed to twist round about him the cords of pain. He was environed and hemmed in with threatening deaths of the most appalling sort.”

The cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me.

“"The sorrows of hell compassed me about." From all sides the hell-hounds barked furiously. A cordon of devils hemmed in the hunted man of God; every way of escape was closed up.”

In my distress I called upon the LORD; I cried to my God for help.

“"In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God." Prayer is that postern gate which is left open even when the city is straitly besieged by the enemy; it is that way upward from the pit of despair to which the…”