Psalms Chapter 19 For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David.
1 The heavens declare the glory of God. The expanse shows his handiwork.
2 Day after day they pour out speech, and night after night they display knowledge.
3 There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.
4 Their voice has gone out through all the earth, their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun,
5 which is as a bridegroom coming out of his room, like a strong man rejoicing to run his course.
6 His going out is from the end of the heavens, his circuit to its ends. There is nothing hidden from its heat.
7 The LORD's law is perfect, restoring the soul. The LORD's covenant is sure, making wise the simple.
8 The LORD's precepts are right, rejoicing the heart. The LORD's commandment is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever. The LORD's ordinances are true, and righteous altogether.
10 They are more to be desired than gold, yes, than much fine gold, sweeter also than honey and the extract of the honeycomb.
11 Moreover your servant is warned by them. In keeping them there is great reward.
12 Who can discern his errors? Forgive me from hidden errors.
13 Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins. Let them not have dominion over me. Then I will be upright. I will be blameless and innocent of great transgression.
14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, LORD, my rock, and my redeemer.
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Psalms Chapter 19 For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. Guide
The burden of this psalm is the twofold revelation of Jehovah. He is revealed in Nature and in law. Yet in Nature Jehovah is revealed as God and not by those especial qualities suggested by the great name Jehovah. Moreover, it is in the law that God is revealed as Jehovah rather than by the facts of His wonder-working power. This differentiation is justified by the names as used. In the first six verses, which deal with the Nature revelation, the name "God" appears once and "Jehovah" not at all. In the last eight verses, which speak of the law revelation, the name "Jehovah" appears seven times and God not at all.
It is one Sovereign Ruler who is revealed and He is referred to by name eight times in all. Nature speaks to Nature. Day has its message to itself and night to itself. Without articulation the message is constantly delivered in the circuit of the sun. To man, higher than all Nature (see Psalms 8:1-9), an articulate message is given. A word is spoken. It is the great law of Jehovah, "perfect," "sure," "right," "pure," "clean," "true," "righteous." Mark well the sevenfold description and how perfectly all the needs of man are met. Great and wondrous, God is known in Nature by Nature through the speech of a great silence, and is revealed to man in messages which answer all his questioning and govern all his ways.
From "An Exposition of the Whole Bible" by G. Campbell Morgan.
Psalms Chapter 19 Commentary
Chapter Outline
- The glory of God's works. -- (1-6)
- His holiness and grace as shown in his word. -- (7-10)
- Prayer for the benefit of them. -- (11-14)
Verses 1-6
The heavens so declare the glory of God, and proclaim his wisdom, power, and goodness, that all ungodly men are left without excuse. They speak themselves to be works of God's hands; for they must have a Creator who is eternal, infinitely wise, powerful, and good. The counter-changing of day and night is a great proof of the power of God, and calls us to observe, that, as in the kingdom of nature, so in that of providence, he forms the light, and creates the darkness, Isa 45:7, and sets the one against the other. The sun in the firmament is an emblem of the Sun of righteousness, the Bridegroom of the church, and the Light of the world, diffusing Divine light and salvation by his gospel to the nations of the earth. He delights to bless his church, which he has espoused to himself; and his course will be unwearied as that of the sun, till the whole earth is filled with his light and salvation. Let us pray for the time when he shall enlighten, cheer, and make fruitful every nation on earth, with the blessed salvation. They have no speech or language, so some read it, and yet their voice is heard. All people may hear these preachers speak in their own tongue the wonderful works of God. Let us give God the glory of all the comfort and benefit we have by the lights of heaven, still looking above and beyond them to the Sun of righteousness.
Verses 7-10
The Holy Scripture is of much greater benefit to us than day or night, than the air we breathe, or the light of the sun. To recover man out of his fallen state, there is need of the word of God. The word translated "law," may be rendered doctrine, and be understood as meaning all that teaches us true religion. The whole is perfect; its tendency is to convert or turn the soul from sin and the world, to God and holiness. It shows our sinfulness and misery in departing from God, and the necessity of our return to him. This testimony is sure, to be fully depended on: the ignorant and unlearned believing what God saith, become wise unto salvation. It is a sure direction in the way of duty. It is a sure fountain of living comforts, and a sure foundation of lasting hopes. The statues of the Lord are right, just as they should be; and, because they are right, they rejoice the heart. The commandments of the Lord are pure, holy, just, and good. By them we discover our need of a Saviour; and then learn how to adorn his gospel. They are the means which the Holy Spirit uses in enlightening the eyes; they bring us to a sight and sense of our sin and misery, and direct us in the way of duty. The fear of the Lord, that is, true religion and godliness, is clean, it will cleanse our way; and it endureth for ever. The ceremonial law is long since done away, but the law concerning the fear of God is ever the same. The judgments of the Lord, his precepts, are true; they are righteous, and they are so altogether; there is no unrighteousness in any of them. Gold is only for the body, and the concerns of time; but grace is for the soul, and the concerns of eternity. The word of God, received by faith, is more precious than gold; it is sweet to the soul, sweeter than honey. The pleasure of sense soon surfeit, yet never satisfy; but those of religion are substantial and satisfying; there is no danger of excess.
Verses 11-14
God's word warns the wicked not to go on in his wicked way, and warns the righteous not to turn from his good way. There is a reward, not only after keeping, but in keeping God's commandments. Religion makes our comforts sweet, and our crosses easy, life truly valuable, and death itself truly desirable. David not only desired to be pardoned and cleansed from the sins he had discovered and confessed, but from those he had forgotten or overlooked. All discoveries of sin made to us by the law, should drive us to the throne of grace, there to pray. His dependence was the same with that of every Christian who says, Surely in the Lord Jesus have I righteousness and strength. No prayer can be acceptable before God which is not offered in the strength of our Redeemer or Divine Kinsman, through Him who took our nature upon him, that he might redeem us unto God, and restore the long-lost inheritance. May our hearts be much affected with the excellence of the word of God; and much affected with the evil of sin, and the danger we are in of it, and the danger we are in by it.
From the "Concise Commentary on the Bible" by Matthew Henry.