54 of 55 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Listen To The Man Who Listens To God, December 22, 2000
Charles Haddon Spurgeon was England's Prince of Preachers in the nineteenth century. Today he is still one of the most well-known and loved authors in the English language - with more of his books and sermons in print (over 100 years) than any other English writer. However, I am not endorsing his works simply because of his popularity or any man's for that matter. I am recommending the works of this man because he is one who listens to God.
The Treasury of David is Spurgeon's Magnum Opus. If he had not written anything else apart from this masterful commentary on the Psalms, he would still be considered among the greatest Christian writers of all history. Students of the life of Spurgeon would know that he was not a strict academician. However, in all sense of the word, he was a man of learning who was acquainted with much of the scholarly issues of his times. Ultimately, he was a man who listen to God and labored for God's honor among men. This Treasury is the supreme monument to his 21 year labor.
In the compiling of this Treasury, Spurgeon read up hundreds of theological texts and commentaries (much of which was quoted among his own notes and comments). In the original edition, Spurgeon also included his "Notes to the Village Preacher" on every Psalm - showing that Spurgeon will always be very important to anyone who wishes to speak from the Pulpit. I believe, however, that the worth of this book is even more for the lay student (Spurgeon's heart beats for them the most throughout his life). He attempted to share with them the best scholarship of his time and to lead them beyond scholarship to the worship of David's God. Reading this volume led me into worship of the same God - and I will never recover from Him! I exult in Him!
We will see, as many other readers have seen that the greatest treasures of the ancient Israelite Kingdom was not the Temple that Solomon built, the gold and harem that the kings acquired nor even the Ark of the Covenant (that so many modern authors are speculating about) but these simple, unassuming songs that came from the worshipping heart of Israel's King David and his fellow worshippers. In this Treasury, we see a prayer for every occasion. We see the entire spectrum of the spiritual man's experience - penitence, courage, humiliation, power, confidence, exultation, doubt, weeping, laughter, awe, dread, fear and ultimately worship. Rightly did Faber exclaimed, "The Thought of Thee is almost prayer". This volume brings together the worship of David to Jehovah and Spurgeon to Jesus showing that they were both ultimately worshipping One same God. "Hear O Israel, the Lord thy God is One Lord".
The volume I'm reviewing here is an update of the original 7 volume set written in Victorian English. What we have here is the result of Roy H. Clarke's 10 year research into the life and writtings of Spurgeon. For those of you who distrust any update of a classic, rest assured that the work done here is exemplary work. Clarke has too much respect for Spurgeon to ever water down his words - every word by Spurgeon is here (only archaic words are replaced with modern English usage of the same). Clarke did not water down Spurgeon's words with the language of commerce but allowed the spaciousness, reverence and expansiveness of Spurgeon's English to be retained - and to speak afresh to us today in language that we can understand. Clarke removed most of the quotations from the other commentators in Spurgeon's original volumes and included only the most significant in this volume side-by-side with Spurgeon's own notes (something only done in this volume for the first time). Finally, the original notes of preachers are now presented in outline form according to the outlines for Spurgeon's own sermons (something that Roy Clarke himself spent his 10 years studying). Reading this volume makes me want to seek out the original 7 volume set (still in print) but I would say that even for those who have already read the original, this volume is still very valuable - for its dynamism, its freshness and as an aid by which we can listen to a man who listens to God.
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34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An Abundance of Counselors, October 16, 2000
The Bible says that in the abundance of [godly] counselors there is safety. Spurgeon has applied this wisdom in the Treasury of David. When you read this commentary, you find scores of Bible teachers and commentators addressing the truths of God's Word in the Psalms. Something very useful is that when commentators disagreed on an interpretation of particular verses, Spurgeon included the opposing views (assuming the views were not expressing cardinal error). With this commentary on your shelf, you eliminate the need to buy a bunch of different commentary sets on the Psalms. Spurgeon has put it together for you. After reading this, the only thing you'll need to do is study the Psalms for yourself (which is what God wants you to do anyway). But we all need help from time to time to think "out of the box." The Treasury of David will provide that opportunity.
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27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the most important works I've ever read., February 24, 2005
I had these three volumes on my shelf for years. I referred to them as reference volumes. They are quite helpful for this, but I found them to be far more valuable when my wife and I began reading through these treasures devotionally.
We were in a particularly down time of our lives. Providentially, I picked up volume one, and we began reading this commentary aloud together. I cannot tell you how much God has comforted and grown us as a result of this devotional practice.
I recommend the Treasury of David, not merely as a commentary for use as a reference volume, but as one of the most beautiful devotionals ever penned. Take your time. Read meditatively, and be refreshed.
And, may I add, read the unabridged version. I have looked at the modern abridgment versions of this masterpiece, and I have been disappointed.
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