[The following post first appeared on the Elder Blog at gbcaz.org.]
W. S. Plumer’s commentary on the Psalms has been a tremendous blessing to me in preparing to read Scripture each week during our Sunday morning gatherings. In each psalm, his verse by verse exposition is followed by several “Doctrinal and Practical Remarks” that are worth the price of the book. I am sharing some of Plumer’s devotional thoughts by which, I am sure, many of you will be greatly encouraged.
“It is better not to exist than to exist without God’s favor. It is better to die enjoying his lovingkindness than to live without it.”
“This is a reason why the saints of all ages have so uniformly found it good to give their earliest thoughts to sacred things, v. 1. Was there ever a truly devout man, whose devotions uniformly began not till hours after he had been awake? Horne: ‘The Christian dedicates to God “the sweet hour of prime;” he opens the eyes of his understanding, together with those of his body, and awakes each morning to righteousness.’”
“Gracious souls look down upon the world with a holy disdain, and look up to God with a holy desire.”
“If men are surprised at the conduct of consistent Christians, their wonder would cease if they saw things with the same eyes as God’s people do, v. 2. The saints have some just sight of eternal things. They have seen God’s power and glory.”
“God’s people give up much, but they gain more. Sometimes they yield up life itself, and get eternal life.”
“Whatever be our circumstances let us not forget that our duty continually calls us to bless and praise the Lord with joyful lips, vv. 3, 4, 5.”
“Blessed is the man, who has learned the art of not wasting precious hours in the night-watches, although he may be denied the repose, which his weary nature demands!”
“Some men sadly err by living on from month to month in barrenness and darkness relying entirely on exercises and experiences of former days; but those also err, who in the day of their trial never recur to what God has done for them in former straits, v. 7.”
“There is no hope that any man will be able to behave wisely, to keep his good resolutions, or even to seek salvation, except as he is inclined and strengthened thereunto by God, who upholdeth him, v. 8. The best of us is as a rag. But with help from on high we can do wonders, Heb. xi. 33-38. Arnd: ‘God holds heaven and earth with his hand, he will therefore be able both to hold up and to bear such a little atom of dust as thou art.’”