This is the first Spurgeon book I've read and it did not disappoint. The book is basically a commentary on Psalm 119, with each section of the psalm corresponding to a chapter in the book. Spurgeon expounds on each phrase of the psalm, relating it to corresponding verses in other parts of Scripture and using short, pithy illustrations. He's very quotable and I highlighted many key statements I thought were noteworthy.

It helps going into this book knowing the reformed teaching of law versus gospel. Law is "do this and live," while the gospel is the good news of what God has done for us. In addition, knowing the Heidelberg Catechism's divisions of guilt, grace, gratitude were even more helpful before beginning this book. Not that Spurgeon talks about these topics, but rather because the psalm is reflective of a believer who recognizes his shortcomings, but also knows of God's love, mercies, and help, and is thankful for God's Word, his very source of knowledge about God, which guides, instructs, and provides comfort despite life's circumstances. Often writing from this place of gratitude, the psalmist describes his devotion to reading, studying, and meditating upon the Word, and even praying throughout the night for God's help. Periodically, Spurgeon would pause to "speak" to the reader in response to the psalmist's declarations. For example, verse 164 says, "Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous laws." Spurgeon writes, "Do we praise God seven times a day? Sadly, the question we should probably ask is: do we praise him once in seven days? O shameful fraud that deprives the Ever Blessed One of the music of this lower sphere!" (p. 253). I completely agree with him and feel the burden of not measuring up to what the psalmist states in verse 164. However, because I know the process of guilt, grace, and gratitude, I recognize my unworthiness in not measuring up, but thank God that Jesus Christ was my perfect sacrifice and in him, I am clean, sinless, and worthy. In other words, I understand and sympathize with the psalmist and I join him in praising God for his forgiveness, mercies, understanding, love, and wisdom found in his Son, the Word. Two or three years ago, I would have felt the burden of verse 164 and Spurgeon's words, realized my guilt, and would have made a mental note to do better. Should I should set alarms in my phone to remind me to praise God seven times a day, so I can be like the psalmist? Thankfully, I have made progress in my understanding and the reformed faith has been tremendous in this. Finally, it should be understood that this has not been a complaint against Spurgeon's writing. It is more of a caution to those who don't have a good understanding of guilt, grace, and gratitude. This book could be misunderstood as "law" to many in the broader evangelical church, but a closer look shows that it is actually gratitude for the gospel. ( )