As part of the interlude at this point in my chronological Bible study, here is another psalm of David:
(Psalm 19:1) (To the chief musician, a psalm of David) The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows His handiwork.
The visible heavens, the entire expanse of the sky, declare the glory of God. That first view of a starry night strikes awe in everyone who beholds it. We are instantly made aware of something and Someone much greater than ourselves. As the apostle Paul said in Romans 1:20, the invisible things of God are clearly seen by the things He has made. The vastness of the universe and all within it that could not create itself, points to a most awesome all-powerful Creator God. The heavens declare the glory of God!
(2) Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night shows knowledge. (3) No speech nor language; their voice is not heard.
Every day and every night repeat the demonstrations of God's glory, thus declaring it daily and giving us a clear knowledge that there is a Creator God. Even though the heavens use no speech or language, their message is heard by all nations of people of all languages.
(4) Their line has gone out through all the earth and their words to the end of the world. In them He has set a tabernacle for the sun, (5) Which as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber rejoices as a strong man to run a race.
The heavens' message has gone out through the entire world. In the heavens, the Lord set a place for the sun which is gloriously adorned with light like a bridegroom in a beautiful garment who comes forth from his bed chamber, having rested all night. As a strong man or champion cheerfully enters a race with confidence, so the sun speeds forward regularly with no effort as in a race or a game.
(6) Its going forth is from the end of the heaven and its circuit to the ends of it, and there is nothing hid from its heat.
The sun's course is constant from one end of the heaven to the other, and no part of the earth is ever hidden completely from its light and heat. All parts of the earth benefit from its heat at one time or another.
(7) The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul. The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
The law of the Lord is perfect, the law of nature, which teaches the knowledge of God, and the law given to Moses and the prophets, which teaches more perfectly the knowledge of God and our duty to Him. This law of the Lord converts the soul of man, from the fallen man as he was born, bringing him back to Him. The word of the Lord is sure, faithful and true, making even the most simple-minded of men wise. The laws of man are often so convoluted so as to make something appear right that is simply wrong, such as with abortion. The law of man creates a right for women to kill their unborn babies; it creates all sorts of scenarios in which to weigh on the sympathies of the people. However, God's law is so simple that all people can understand it--do not kill, period. The law of man creates a right for those of the same sex to marry, again creating scenarios to elicit sympathy, whereas God said it was an abomination, period.
8) The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart. The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
The statutes of the Lord are right, and they rejoice our hearts because they guide us to eternal happiness. The commandment of the Lord is pure with no imperfection or corrupt tendency, and it enlightens the eyes, another way of saying that it brings wisdom.
(9) The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever. The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
Having reverential fear of the Lord because He holds one's life and the world and the universe in His hands, is clean or pure, and there is nothing in it that would corrupt the soul ever. The judgments of the Lord are completely true and righteous, so that in what seems to be irony, he who fears the Lord need not ever fear. One who trusts in the Lord need not worry about what God will do, as He is always just and right and perfect. He who fears the Lord need not fear anything else.
(10) More to be desired than gold, yea, than much fine gold, sweeter also, than honey and the honeycomb.
God's judgments are more valuable than gold, certainly to one's soul and eternal life. They are sweeter than honey. God's law gives more pleasure to the soul than whatever brings the greatest pleasure to the palate.
(11) Moreover by them is your servant warned, in keeping of them is great reward.
God's law and His judgments keep His servants on the right moral path. There is great reward in them because they are designed for our good, for our best life, and for eternal life in God's kingdom, which is our greatest reward.
(12) Who can understand errors? Cleanse me from hidden faults.
I believe the sense is who can ever know all the ways he wanders astray from the law of God. Some sins are quite obvious, but others may not be so obvious. David asked to be cleansed from those hidden faults he did not realize he had.
(13) Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me. Then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.
He asked the Lord to restrain him from deliberate arrogant sins, as well as from those secret sins. He asked that sin not have dominion over his life. With the Lord's guidance and judgments, then he would be upright and innocent from great or much transgression because he would not commit it.
(14) Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer.
He asked that his words and his thoughts always be acceptable to the Lord, that they not stray from the law and judgments of the Lord, Whom he recognized was his very strength and the redeemer and salvation of his soul.
The early commentators I study divide this psalm into three parts. First, there is the revelation of God in His works; then there is the deeper revelation of Him and His grace in His word; and finally, a prayer for that understanding and grace. The psalm in its entirety is a beautiful model of a song of praise and prayer.
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