Psalm 19 - The Law of the Lord Is Perfect

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
2 Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.
3 There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard.
4 Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun,
5 which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.
6 Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat.

7 The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;
8 the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes;
9 the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.
11 Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

12 Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults.
13 Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall 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, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

 This is perhaps one of the better known of David’s Psalms, and one of this blogger’s favorites. I love the way David has designed this Psalm:

(1)   He begins by saying the God has in fact spoken to each and every one of us. …He HAS? …How? Just look up…look down…look all around.  First of all He has spoken to us through His creation. Creation “declares” the glory of God. This is not for an elite few to see and comprehend; ALL of us can understand the glory of God thru what He has made. Creation shows us God’s infinite knowledge and power. Just think for a moment about the ecological systems that God has created. How can it all be just chance…that plants produce oxygen for us to breathe, and when we breathe we produce carbon dioxide which is what plants need to live? And that’s not the only relationship that God has created in order to sustain life on this planet!  It’s just incredible when you think about it.  

Verses 1-6 come together to illustrate that point for us. But that’s not where the Psalmist stops. Notice also that there is more to it than simply appreciating God’s strength, wisdom, and love of beauty…

(2)   Verse 7 shifts our attention to Law. As great as the wonders of the heavens and the earth are…they do not tell us right from wrong. God’s LAW does that for us. It is interesting to me that it is HERE that God does his most speaking to us and  yet this is where we listen the very least! It has the ability to make the humble in spirit wise. It is more precious than gold. Do you really believe that? What do you hold to be the most valuable thing you have? Your money? Your time? The word of God?

Finally, let me say a word about David’s request to be found acceptable in God’s eyes. Shouldn’t that always be our prayer before God? David describes two areas that God will judge us on: Our actions, and our motives. It’s not enough that we have good intention…but that those good intentions are coupled with RIGHT actions. For example, remember what Jesus said about the Scribes and Pharisees? They had all the right actions: They looked right, acted right, and everyone thought they were right. Jesus said, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.” (Matthew 23:27-28) Or what did Jesus say on the Sermon on the Mount, about those who in the end did many things “in your name Lord”? We are told, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’” (Matthew 7:21-23).  Do you understand? Doing the right actions but with the wrong heart is worthless, but a good heart is not all that God has required of us. God demands that a good heart bring forth right actions. Our actions AND our motives matter and are judged by God. God has revealed His will and laws to show us the way we ought to go. It is now time for each of us to obey God. Will you? What do your motives and actions say about your commitment to God?