What do you think?
Rate this book
Psalms #2
Slogging Along in the Paths of Righteousness: Psalms 13–24
Dale Ralph Davis plunges right into the middle of King David's hard times with a study that is resonant for our lives. King David's faith brought him through the muddy parts of life. Will we find that depression is our final response to a hard path? Will faith carry us across? Find the encouragement that Psalms 13-24 hold for the Scripture-filled life.
189 pages, Paperback
First published February 17, 2014
39 people are currently reading
130 people want to read
About the author
Dale Ralph Davis
30 books53 followersDale Ralph Davis is Minister in Residence, First Presbyterian Church, Columbia, South Carolina. Prior to that he was pastor of Woodland Presbyterian Church, Hattiesburg, Mississippi and Professor of Old Testament at Reformed Theological Seminary, Jackson, Mississippi.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
February 12, 2019
"He doesn’t carry a club for nothing."
Dale Ralph Davis is my all-time-favorite Old Testament commentary writer.
His books are a perfectly delightful concoction of pungent wordsmithing, scholarly erudition, homespun storytelling, and warm-hearted piety. They are how devotional-level commentaries ought to be written.
Felicitously, this year, I’m slowly working through the Psalms each day, and I had not yet read Slogging Along in the Paths of Righteousness which tracks the second twelve Psalms in the Psalter. [Tell me that he’s writing on the next twelve!] So Davis has been my close companion for Psalms 13-24.
I don’t have time to write a full review, but here’s a taste from Psalm 23–a psalm that could easily be too familiar and overexposed to really hear. But Davis, while not introducing novelty is always fresh. He offers his own translation:
"'Your club and your staff–they comfort me.' In part, the club and staff comfort because they are tokens of the shepherd’s presence–much as a hammer, saw, and tape measure imply a carpenter is near. But the shepherd also uses the club and staff; the staff to guide or control the flock, the club to beat the daylights out of the sheep’s enemies.
We may need a corrective here; we need to remember that a shepherd’s work was hard and dangerous, and shepherds had to be ‘tough hombres.’ In his encyclopedic Treasury of David, C. H. Spurgeon includes a quotation from J. M. Porter, who described some nineteenth-century shepherds he observed, apparently in northern Transjordan:
The shepherds themselves had none of that peaceful and placid aspect which is generally associated with pastoral life and habit. They looked like warriors marching to the battlefield–a long gun slung from the shoulder, a dagger and heavy pistols in the belt, a light battle-axe or ironheaded club in the hand. Such were the equipments; and their fierce flashing eyes and scowling countenances showed but too plainly that they were prepared to use their weapons at any moment.
Let this percolate in your gray matter. Let us realize that Jesus Christ, our Shepherd, is no emaciated weakling. Our shepherd is a warrior, as shepherds had to be. No one can snatch His sheep out of his hand. The muscles of Jesus’ arm are flexed to defend His flock; He doesn’t carry a club for nothing. He is obviously enough for whatever the valley throws at us."
Amen!
Dale Ralph Davis is my all-time-favorite Old Testament commentary writer.
His books are a perfectly delightful concoction of pungent wordsmithing, scholarly erudition, homespun storytelling, and warm-hearted piety. They are how devotional-level commentaries ought to be written.
Felicitously, this year, I’m slowly working through the Psalms each day, and I had not yet read Slogging Along in the Paths of Righteousness which tracks the second twelve Psalms in the Psalter. [Tell me that he’s writing on the next twelve!] So Davis has been my close companion for Psalms 13-24.
I don’t have time to write a full review, but here’s a taste from Psalm 23–a psalm that could easily be too familiar and overexposed to really hear. But Davis, while not introducing novelty is always fresh. He offers his own translation:
"'Your club and your staff–they comfort me.' In part, the club and staff comfort because they are tokens of the shepherd’s presence–much as a hammer, saw, and tape measure imply a carpenter is near. But the shepherd also uses the club and staff; the staff to guide or control the flock, the club to beat the daylights out of the sheep’s enemies.
We may need a corrective here; we need to remember that a shepherd’s work was hard and dangerous, and shepherds had to be ‘tough hombres.’ In his encyclopedic Treasury of David, C. H. Spurgeon includes a quotation from J. M. Porter, who described some nineteenth-century shepherds he observed, apparently in northern Transjordan:
The shepherds themselves had none of that peaceful and placid aspect which is generally associated with pastoral life and habit. They looked like warriors marching to the battlefield–a long gun slung from the shoulder, a dagger and heavy pistols in the belt, a light battle-axe or ironheaded club in the hand. Such were the equipments; and their fierce flashing eyes and scowling countenances showed but too plainly that they were prepared to use their weapons at any moment.
Let this percolate in your gray matter. Let us realize that Jesus Christ, our Shepherd, is no emaciated weakling. Our shepherd is a warrior, as shepherds had to be. No one can snatch His sheep out of his hand. The muscles of Jesus’ arm are flexed to defend His flock; He doesn’t carry a club for nothing. He is obviously enough for whatever the valley throws at us."
Amen!
December 29, 2022
He's done it again! Dr. Dale Ralph Davis, who is now retired after doing a stint as Minister in Residence at First Presbyterian Church in Columbia, S.C., has succumbed to the temptation of putting forth another book on a portion of the Psalms. This 189 page paperback, fittingly titled "Slogging Along in the Paths of Righteousness: Psalms 13-24," takes readers further down the trail the author began in his previous work, "The Way of the Righteous." Davis guides the reader, step by step, along the path of Psalms 13-24, pointing out the easy-to-spot scenery, but also describing the beautiful intricacies that color in the backdrop. Academic technicalities are rare, and when they do surface, they are easily handled.
As the title of the book puts it, the paths of righteousness are often a sloshing and slogging through muck. Davis doesn't soft-pedal the muck, but neither does he leave the reader to suffocate in the stilted atmosphere of gloom.There is much to lift the heart, and plenty to cause one's face to be turned upwards in tearful joy and gratitude.
"Slogging Along in the Paths of Righteousness" is a delightful remedy to the Pollyanna-ish sentimentalism that seems to have captured much of the North American Evangelicalism. The theology is solid, the explanations are sane, and the substance is stimulating. For pastors about to launch into a series in the Psalms, this book and its predecessor, would be a manageable guide. It would also be a valuable tool for any adult Bible study groups looking to hear a good word from the Lord. But also if you are perplexed by the present period we live in; pondering how to hold the line in the face of the pressure to cave in, this little book will add some titanium to your soul. I gladly recommend this book.
I wrote the above review in 2014. Now, on the doorstep of 2023, I affirm my review is still valid. Get the book!
As the title of the book puts it, the paths of righteousness are often a sloshing and slogging through muck. Davis doesn't soft-pedal the muck, but neither does he leave the reader to suffocate in the stilted atmosphere of gloom.There is much to lift the heart, and plenty to cause one's face to be turned upwards in tearful joy and gratitude.
"Slogging Along in the Paths of Righteousness" is a delightful remedy to the Pollyanna-ish sentimentalism that seems to have captured much of the North American Evangelicalism. The theology is solid, the explanations are sane, and the substance is stimulating. For pastors about to launch into a series in the Psalms, this book and its predecessor, would be a manageable guide. It would also be a valuable tool for any adult Bible study groups looking to hear a good word from the Lord. But also if you are perplexed by the present period we live in; pondering how to hold the line in the face of the pressure to cave in, this little book will add some titanium to your soul. I gladly recommend this book.
I wrote the above review in 2014. Now, on the doorstep of 2023, I affirm my review is still valid. Get the book!
July 4, 2020
I am a huge fan of Dale Ralph Davis’s commentaries. This was no exception. He writes brilliantly and makes the Old Testament come alive. It’s a joy to read his books.
I would always recommend Dave Ralph Davis’ commentary to anyone.
Here is a more detailed review from my friend
https://jesvinjose.home.blog/2020/05/...
I would always recommend Dave Ralph Davis’ commentary to anyone.
Here is a more detailed review from my friend
https://jesvinjose.home.blog/2020/05/...
October 31, 2021
Audiobook Review
The Psalms are often one of my go to’s when I need the healing of the Word. They’ve always had such a tenderness about them. They’ve always been one of those areas where I have been able to draw closer to the Lord.
So, I enjoyed the depth, that Mr Davis exposed here.
The Psalms are often one of my go to’s when I need the healing of the Word. They’ve always had such a tenderness about them. They’ve always been one of those areas where I have been able to draw closer to the Lord.
So, I enjoyed the depth, that Mr Davis exposed here.
Read
September 7, 2022I've run out of superlatives for any commentary written by Dr. Davis. Masterful expositions. Used for sermon preparation on Psalms 13-20 during summer 2022. Warning: Do your own work and study before reading Dr. Davis. He wouldn't want it any other way.
April 6, 2024
These commentaries by DRD stand next to Spurgeon's Treasury of David as my favorites on the Psalms.
June 30, 2025
I've enjoyed everything this man has written.
December 12, 2014
Great to dig into the Psalms, a trove of truth which DRD brings forth simply and clearly.
January 13, 2020
Are you looking for a devotional commentary on selected Psalms? Here is a work covering Psalm 13 through 24 written by Dale Ralph Davis, a Pastor and Professor of the Old Testament with Reformed Theological Seminary at Jackson, Mississippi. The book is under two hundred pages covering twelves Psalms which makes it manageable in size in terms of one chapter per Psalm that can be read in one sitting.
Davis is insightful with what individual Psalm is about and I particularly like the way he outlines each Psalm. This commentary is ideal for personal devotional study as it is not too heavy with the original language or other exegetical details though he does refer to them when it is appropriate. The book is easy to understand for general readers while providing applications for one’s life based upon his study of the Psalms. Davis also draws stories from history and the author’s own life that illustrates the truths taught from the Psalms.
I learned something new in every chapter in the book. My favorite chapters in the book are the chapters covering Psalm 22 and Psalm 23. Those are rich Messianic prophecies and it’s helpful to see Davis going over them and also noting the Messianic character of these two Psalms. Overall the book was a delightful and edifying read and I do recommend it to others to purchase it today.
Davis is insightful with what individual Psalm is about and I particularly like the way he outlines each Psalm. This commentary is ideal for personal devotional study as it is not too heavy with the original language or other exegetical details though he does refer to them when it is appropriate. The book is easy to understand for general readers while providing applications for one’s life based upon his study of the Psalms. Davis also draws stories from history and the author’s own life that illustrates the truths taught from the Psalms.
I learned something new in every chapter in the book. My favorite chapters in the book are the chapters covering Psalm 22 and Psalm 23. Those are rich Messianic prophecies and it’s helpful to see Davis going over them and also noting the Messianic character of these two Psalms. Overall the book was a delightful and edifying read and I do recommend it to others to purchase it today.
March 15, 2020
While I did not find this book to be nearly as good as the first in the series (which was excellent), it was still a solid commentary of Scripture for a lay person. It was accessible, filled with good biblical insights, and very adaptable for group bible study material. The reason I did not find this book to be as good as the first was: less line-by-line exegesis substituted for more anecdotes - which made for long chapters. Additionally -and this is not new to this book, but shares it with the first- he is hesitant to make redemptive-historical connections. Not that he doesn't - but if you read the chapter on Psalm 22 in this book, you will see what I mean.
August 8, 2017
Dale Ralph Davis has written another thoughtful, yet concise and pastoral, explanation of the Psalms. Within the book you find a mixture of token phraseologies, pithy statements, and scholarly summaries that flesh out the substance of each Psalm. This is an extremely helpful pastoral commentary to add to the collection.
September 15, 2017
Once again, Dale Ralph Davis provides an entertaining, stimulating and stirring commentary on the Psalms and the way they help us through life. Slogging along may be a good description of life; his writing certainly helps us keep going.
October 20, 2020
As always, Dale Ralph Davis brings passages to with his usual ability to make simple the complicated and illustrate everything from American Civil War history!
My only frustration was that he was not always as Christocentric as I would have liked.
My only frustration was that he was not always as Christocentric as I would have liked.
February 5, 2021
So this geezer takes the second set of twelve Psalms and bangs on about them in an engaging if light manner, devotional in quality and again with a lot of parabolic examples, but foe me, not enough tackling and wrestling with the text.
Still. helpful, just not as helpful as I would like.
Still. helpful, just not as helpful as I would like.
Read
June 22, 2023The author uses Psalms 13-24 as examples for us in everyday life to live holy and godly existances. Combined with useful examples and Biblical verses and quotations the book helps to set an example to us as G-d's people in how to do this
April 6, 2022
Several great deep dives on these psalms. I often got bogged down on the grammar lessons. But Davis’ winsome humor was frequent enough to help me slog through it.
January 27, 2024
The Psalms provide believers with an amazing resource for how to face the challenges of living in a fallen world. Dale Ralph Davis explains the Psalms with down to earth grace, wisdom, and humor. My wife and I read through Slogging Along in the Paths of Righteousness together — about half of each psalm for each day we read together aloud. We came away from our reading feeling like we had bonded with David and with Davis. Don't miss out on the blessings — allow this volume (and others in the same series) the privilege of guiding you through the biblical Psalms.
September 13, 2025
Excellent as always are Mr. Davis's commentaries!!
July 10, 2022
This book accompanied my personal Bible reading of Psalms and it was of great benefit. Davis is easy to understand yet stretches you in your understanding. His commentaries are always valuable to me and this one is no different! Can’t wait to for him to release all the Psalms.
August 23, 2020
Another of Davis's popular expositions of the Psalms. Unfortunately it doesn't look as though he's written any more beyond Psalm 24.
As always full of good stories that clarify and deepen our understanding of the Psalms being discussed, as always the gentle wit, and as always re-readable. I already re-read a good deal of this one as I went along.
I rejoice in the day I was introduced to this author, many years ago. He never fails to 'bring light to the eyes!'
26.3.20 Read again. As good as ever.
Aug. 20 Read again.
As always full of good stories that clarify and deepen our understanding of the Psalms being discussed, as always the gentle wit, and as always re-readable. I already re-read a good deal of this one as I went along.
I rejoice in the day I was introduced to this author, many years ago. He never fails to 'bring light to the eyes!'
26.3.20 Read again. As good as ever.
Aug. 20 Read again.
April 3, 2014
Dale Ralph Davis is slowly becoming my favorite commentator. He has taken 12 Psalms and masterfully exposed the text in less than 200 pages. When I read the chapter on Psalm 23 I sat back at my table and said to my wife, :I've never heard the 23rd Psalm explained so well and in so few words. His commentary on Judges is of equal value!
April 6, 2016
Dale Ralph Davis does it again!! Comfort and encouragement from the Psalms- It is shown clearly through this section of the Psalter that Christ is not only King, he is also warrior... Always has been.
November 12, 2014
Like the first volume, opens up Psalms 13-24 in an accessible, devotional and memorable way; roll on Ps 25-36!
January 2, 2015
I love Davis' commentaries! I hope he continues on through the rest of Psalms. My wife and I have been greatly blessed by the first two commentaries in this series.
Read
December 24, 2015Now I sing the psalms!
May 3, 2019
I loved this. Very devotional and helpful.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews