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Expanded Comments |
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| 1 [[David's.]] Yahweh, is my light and my salvation, Of whom shall I be afraid? Yahweh, is the refuge of my life, Of whom shall I be in dread? |
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 there drew near against me evil-doers to devour my flesh, mine adversaries, and mine enemies–mine!–they, stumbled and fell! |
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| 3 Though there pitch against me–a camp, my heart shall not fear,–Though there come up against me–a battle, still, am I confident. |
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 Yahweh, That, will I seek to secure,–That I may dwell in the house of Yahweh, all the days of my life, To view the delightfulness of Yahweh, And to contemplate in his temple. |
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 he will hide me in his pavilion, in the day of calamity,–He will conceal me, in the secrecy of his tent, Within a rock, will he set me on high. |
The time of trouble – Rendered "evil" in "I create evil." (Isa. 45:7) A125; R1351:2*
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| 6 Now, therefore, shall my head be raised high above my foes round about me, and I will sacrifice in his tent the sacrifices of triumphant joy, I will sing and touch the strings, to Yahweh. |
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| 7 Hear, O Yahweh, With my voice, do I cry, Oh then show me favour and answer me. |
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| 8 To thee, said my heart–[When thou saidst] Seek ye my face–Thy face, O Yahweh, will I seek! |
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| 9 Do not hide thy face from me, Do not repulse, in thine anger, thine own servant,–My help, thou hast been, Do not send me away nor forsake me, O my saving God! |
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| 10 When, my own father and mother, had forsaken me, Then, Yahweh, took me up! |
Father and my mother – My most trusted human friends. R1788:4
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| 11 Point out to me, O Yahweh, thy way,–And guide me in a level path, because of mine adversaries. |
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 Do not give me up unto the desire of mine adversaries, for there have risen up against me witnesses that are false, and he that fanneth up violence. |
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 believe that I shall see–The goodness of Yahweh in the land of the living, |
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| 14 Wait thou for Yahweh,–Be strong, and let thy heart be bold, Wait, then, for Yahweh! |
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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