Psalm 19
It's always a good thing for the people of God to be increasing in their awareness of Who and What God is and therefore of the kind of response they should have to Him. David's purpose in this song is to bring the people to an increased awareness and an appropriate response.
He begins by singing about God's Self revelation in nature. He says, "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork." The "voice" of this revelation, he says, "has gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world." In other words, there is no place in this world where the handiwork of God is not manifest, where the creation does not, as it were, shout forth His creating power and wisdom. Even the sun's daily journey from one end of the heaven to the other clearly and powerfully demonstrates it.
But while all of nature certainly declares God's glory, it's even more plain in His written revelation. Of course in David's day, that revelation was limited to the Torah (the first five books of the Law) and bits of the historical books. But for David, if he could have been acquainted with the rest of the Bible, he would still have thought of it all as "the Law" (covenant). For us too, then, the entire Bible, Old and New covenants alike, should be in view when David sings, "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul ("converting" = setting it back on track each and every time it strays). The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple . . ."
So the written revelation is precious - because it reveals our God to us! Speaking of its words, David sings, "More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold; sweeter are they than honey and the honeycomb." And it should be just as precious to us as well! The whole race of humanity has fallen away from God, and in fact even our minds are clouded by sin. We therefore need the written Word, says David, because, without it, "Who can understand his errors?" In other words, without the Bible we can't really know God, and we can't really even know ourselves!
Our response to all this should be great thankfulness for all of God's revelation, both natural and written. It reveals Him, and it reveals our errors. Oh how we therefore need it! In view of that revelation, we should sing with David, "Cleanse me from secret faults. Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins (the ones that aren't "secret"). Let them not have dominion over me!" When God answers this prayer, then - and then only - can we go on to sing, "Then I shall be blameless, and I shall be innocent of great transgression (great because it is against a great God)."
Along with David, our ultimate response to God's Book should be, "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer!"
Al, I found this short study a blessing today as I was admiring a photo that Chris took and is posted in the
"Photos with a Scriptural Message" (http://christianphotographers.com/yabbse/index.php?board=32;action=display;threadid=970) here.
I thought I'd also repeat them here if I might...
Isn't that really a wonderful verse in Psalm 19:10?
QuoteMore to be desired are they than gold,
Yea, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
Having been raised in a beekeeping family I understand how very sweet the honey is right out of the honeycombs. Sometimes we'd take a spoonful as Dad was uncapping the wax caps that the bees had put on to seal each little cavity and it would almost catch at the back of our throat it was so sweet and yet this verse tells us that the judgments of the Lord are far sweeter than honey, more desired than fine gold! This is hardly imaginable to me with my finite mind.
I went over to the littly devotional that Al Moak wrote on
Psalm 19 (//http://) and was blessed further by his quote there...
QuoteWhy is it so precious? Because we are a fallen race of people, and because sin has clouded our minds. We need it, says David, because, "Who can understand his errors?" Without the Bible we can't really know God, and we can't really even know ourselves!
Thanks
Chris for this reminder today.
I went through Psalm 19 just now and found a few points that are so precious to me...
- The law of the Lord is perfect
- The testimony of the Lord is sure~vs.7
- The statutes of the Lord are right
- The commandment of the Lord is pure~vs. 8
- The fear of the Lord is clean
- The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous~vs. 9
- More to be desired are they than gold~vs. 10
and finally...
- Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.~vs. 11
How wonderful our God is!
I am so very glad that you are enjoying this psalm, Pat. What a wonderful thing it must have been to awaken each morning in Israel, to hear the ram's horn calling the people to Mt. Zion, and to hear them beginning to sing! God was central to their lives at times. So He should be for us.
2.50p.m.
Dear Pastor Al.
I am so upset this day at some news events...
I turned again to the Psalms and this Psalm reminds me of the glory of God in a fallen world.
I read your words and thought of Romans 1:19-22.
Rom 1:19 "for the truth about God is known to them instinctively, God has put this knowledge in their hearts. Since earliest times men have seen the earth and sky and all God made,. and have known of His existence and great eternal power. So they will have no excuse when they stand before God at Judgment Day".
"Without a sound or word their message reaches out to all the world" Ps 19:3-4.
I am keeping looking upwards and onwards...We can behold His glory in the heavens and the works of His hands...
Jenny.
The coming of our Lord is fast approaching, Jenny, for the fullness of sin is almost here. We'll see much more evil being manifested, I am sure, before His coming, but it is accelerating.
DEAR PASTOR AL..
MAY OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST BLESS YOU FOR YOUR MINISTRY HERE ON THIS SITE.
I LOVE YOU AND SEND LOVE TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AND PLEASE SEND MY LOVE TO YOUR CHURCH FOLK.
"MARANATHA......even so come Lord Jesus".
Amen to all that has been written here by you Brother Al, Pat and Jenny. Thank you for bringing it forwrd for me. There is song with the words "More to be desired are they than gold, ye much finer than gold" But I can't remember the rest of the words. we sang it int he church down south.