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Expanded Comments | Additional Comments |
A Psalm of Fearless Trust in God.
A Psalm of David. |
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1 Jehovah is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
Jehovah is the strength of my life;
Of whom shall I be afraid?
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The LORD is my light – Guiding the heart. R3248:2
An encouragement when facing the finger of scorn or the lip of sarcasm and slander. R4857:5
And my salvation – Overruling our affairs for good. R3248:2
The more fierce the conflict with the powers of darkness, the more glorious the deliverance. R1915:1
Whom shall I fear? – The proper frame of mind for all the Lord's people who are fighting the good fight of faith. R2016:4
Courage, born of faith and strengthened by endurance, cries with humble boldness in the midst of the deepest darkness of the most perplexing difficulties. R1915:4
Our consciousness of loyalty to God and of divine guidance should keep us without fear. R4922:4
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2 When evil-doers came upon me to eat up my flesh,
Even mine adversaries and my foes, they stumbled and fell.
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3 Though a host should encamp against me,
My heart shall not fear:
Though war should rise against me,
Even then will I be confident.
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Encamp against me – Let us not be of those who draw back, or those that faint by the way, for glorious will be the victory of faith and zeal. R1876:4
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4 One thing have I asked of Jehovah, that will I seek after;
That I may dwell in the house of Jehovah all the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of Jehovah,
And to inquire in his temple.
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That I may dwell – Be counted worthy to be recognized by him as a member of his Church. R1915:1
In the house – "Whose house are we." (Heb. 3:6) R1915:2
Beauty of the LORD – The beauty of holiness; our pattern and chief joy. R1915:2
And to inquire – As students, of his holy law and testimony. R1915:4
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5 For in the day of trouble he will keep me secretly in his pavilion:
In the covert of his tent will he hide me;
He will lift me up upon a rock.
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The time of trouble – Rendered "evil" in "I create evil." (Isa. 45:7) A125; R1351:2*
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6 And now shall my head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me;
And I will offer in his tent sacrifices of joy;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises unto Jehovah.
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7 Hear, O Jehovah, when I cry with my voice:
Have mercy also upon me, and answer me.
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8 When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee,
Thy face, Jehovah, will I seek.
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9 Hide not thy face from me;
Put not thy servant away in anger:
Thou hast been my help;
Cast me not off, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.
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10 When my father and my mother forsake me,
Then Jehovah will take me up.
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Father and my mother – My most trusted human friends. R1788:4
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11 Teach me thy way, O Jehovah;
And lead me in a plain path,
Because of mine enemies.
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Teach me – We know that the Lord can direct our course in whatever way he chooses, if we put ourselves under his care. R5212:2
Thy way, O LORD – We should study the scriptures bearing on any subject, trying to find the underlying principle of God's teachings; then commit all to the Father in prayer, asking him to guide both reason and judgment; then use that reason and judgment to the best of our ability. R5212:5
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12 Deliver me not over unto the soul of mine adversaries:
For false witnesses are risen up against me,
And such as breathe out cruelty.
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False witnesses – Foretelling the painful circumstances of the sacrificial death of the Messiah as the Lamb of slaughter. R1205:2
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13 I have believed that I shall see the goodness of Jehovah
In the land of the living.
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14 Wait for Jehovah:
Be strong, and let thy heart take courage;
Yes, wait thou for Jehovah. |
Wait on the LORD – Not a ministering to the Lord, but a patient watching and waiting until we learn what our Lord would have us to do. R5711:3, R5712:1
Be of good courage – Courage, fortitude, persistency, in the service of the Lord are very necessary to the child of God. R5712:2
Courage, born of faith in God and in his exceeding great and precious promises, is required to surmount difficulties. R5712:3
Shall strengthen – So that we will not be overwhelmed. R5712:3
Thine heart – The soul, the being, especially the intelligent portion of man. R5712:2
Wait – We are to have faith and hope even though the way is rough. R5331:4
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