'the Lord preserveth the simple...'
SIMPLE is the hebrew word pethi meaning open minded. cf. ps. 19.7, 119.30
webster-
latin-simplex (sine- without + plex- doubling, fold
'plain
artless (free from deceit, cunning or craftiness)
not given to design, stratagem or duplicity
sincere
harmless
unaffected
unconstrained
inartificial
unadorned
not complex, complicated
weak in intellect
not wise or sagacious
taken from spurgeon's treasury of david..
those who
have no worldly craft
and subtlety
and guile,
but simply trust in God,
and do the right, may depend upon it that God's care shall be over them. spurgeon
how delightful it is to be able to reflect on the character of God as preserving the soul. the word properly signifies , to defend us at any season of danger. the hebrew word which is translated 'simple', signifies
one who has no control over himself
one that cannot resist the power and influence of those around, and
one, therefore, subject to the greatest peril from which he has naturally no deliverance.
the Lord preserveth: His eye is upon them His hand is over them and they cannot fall. the word 'simple' signifies likewise those that are ignorant of their condition, and not watching over their foes. delightful thought, that though we may be thus ignorant, yet we are blessed with the means of escape! we may be simple to the last extent, and our simplicity may be such as to involve our mind in the greatest doubt: the Lord preserveth us and let us rest in Him. it is delightful to reflect, that it is the simple in whom the Lord delights, whom he loves to bless. we are sometimes especially in the condition in which we may be inclined to make the inquiry, how we may be saved. we suppose there are many truths to be apprehended, many principles to be realized before we can be saved. no; 'the Lord preserveth the simple;'. we may be able to reconcile scarcely any of the doctrines of christianity with each other; we may find ourselves in the greatest perplexity when we examine the evidences on which they rest; we may be exposed to great difficulty when we seek to apply them to practical usefulness; by still we may adopt the language before us: 'the Lord preserveth the simple: i was brought low, and He helped me. return unto thy rest, o my soul'. r.s m'all, 1834
the term simple equals the 'simplicity' of the new testament, namely, that pure mind towards God, which, without looking out for help from any other quarter, and free from all dissimulation, expects salvation from him alone. augustus f. tholuck
'the simple' they are such as honestly keep the plain way of God's commandments, without those lights, or creeks of carnal policy, for which men are in the world esteemed wise; see genesis 25. 27, where jacob is called a plain man. simple or foolish he calls them, because they are generally so esteemed amongst the wise of the world; not that they are so silly as they are esteemed; for if the Lord can judge of wisdom or folly, the only fool is the atheist and profane person (ps. 14.1); the only wise man in the world is the plain, down-right christian (deut. 4.6). , who keeps himself precisely in all states to that plain, honest course the Lord hath prescribed him. to such simple ones,God's fools, who in their misery and affliction keep them only to the means of deliverance and comfort which the Lord hath prescribed them, belongs this blessing of preservation from mischief, or destruction: so solomon (prov. 16.17), 'the highway of the upright is to depart from evil'. 'he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul'. ; see also prov 19.16,23; for exemplification see in asa, II chronicles 14.9-12 and 16.7-9, read the excellent speech of hanani the seer. william slater, 1632
oh Lord make me simple enough to trust and obey..no matter what.
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