Psalm 19 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.
The chief musician was most likely Asaph.
Verse 1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
The Heavens with their sun, moon, and stars used to be watched and studied by people in past centuries, but with the advent of technology and entertainment, most people have their eyes glued to a screen indoors, be it their phone, iPad, computer, or television, and rarely take the time to go outside and look up and see what God has created. But King David, having been a shepherd, spent many nights alone looking up at the sky while he tended his sheep. He therefore could appreciate all that the LORD had made.
Application: The majesty and intricacy of the stars and the mystery of the clouds, the water cycle of rain and evaporation, and the precision of the phases of the moon and the movement of the sun prove the existence of a Creator. There is nothing random or accidental in the Heavens. There is only order and design. Only a superior being could have created what mankind is able to observe and discover and claim as science.
Verse 2 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. 3 There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.
The Hebrew word translated as “uttereth” is “naba” and it means to flow, pour out, gush forth, and emit. The “eth” ending means ongoing. The Hebrew word translated as “speech” is “omer” and it means word, saying, utterance, promise, and command. So David is saying that during the day, the heavens pour out the glory of Creator God continually, and at night the heavens show or declare knowledge of God. It is impossible to see the heavens and not know there is One who formed all that is declared under the firmament. It does not matter what language mankind communicates in as the heavens transcend language barriers and all can see and understand the glory of God.
Verses 4-5 Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, 5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.
The Hebrew word translated as “line” is “qav” and it means cord or measuring line. The Hebrew word translated as “earth” is “erets” and it means land, earth, whole earth, and soil. The Hebrew word translated as “end” is “qatseh” and it means end, extremity, border or outskirts. King David knew from his observations that the Earth was not shaped like a ball as is taught today, but that the Earth was flat or all on one plane or God would have had him write something else in this verse. God’s Word is truth. A line cannot be a line if it is curved around something. It can only be a line if it is straight. See Genesis for an in-depth discussion of the shape of the Earth according to Scripture and according to real science. Notice also that David states that there is an end or extremity (the furthest point or limit of something) to the world which cannot be said if the shape of the Earth is a round or spherical ball or globe. So the day and the night measure time throughout the world and communicates with mankind the times and the seasons.
A tabernacle is a tent or a dwelling place. King David describes the sun as being set (placed, ordained, established, and fixed) in the day. Remember that light was created on the first day of creation and that the sun, moon and stars were created later on day four. So the day and the night are not dependent upon the sun. He uses metaphor or word pictures to describe the rising of the sun each day, a joyous occasion and one looked forward to by all who are living on the Earth. The sun is representative of strength and power like an athlete, and beauty and the hope of a new day like a bridegroom coming to a wedding which is the beginning of a new life for the man and woman getting married.
Verse 6 His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.
As can be proven scientifically, the sun travels in a specific path or circuit across the sky and provides heat to the surface of the Earth. So the sun has a dwelling place which is limited by the expanse of the heaven under the firmament.
Verse 7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
What converts or changes sinful man to a righteous man? Only the knowledge and understanding of the law of God (the 10 commandments). It is through the truth of the law that man learns he has a sinful nature and needs to be obedient to the lawgiver. It is in obeying the law of God that one becomes wise.
Application: Remember that King David was living before Christ Jesus and not able in his flesh to relate to the shed blood of Jesus which washes away sin, but he was filled with the Holy Spirit and through the Spirit was able to prophesy and write about the LORD Jesus Christ looking forward to the cross, whereas we today understand conversion looking backward to the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. Jesus fullfilled the law and so made the required payment for sin for all of mankind.
Verse 8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
Application: When living righteously and obeying the commandments of the LORD, there is a peace that comes regardless of life’s troubles and temptations. But when living sinfully, there is constant aggravation and anxiety. Obeying the ten commandments and the common sense statutes of the LORD is for our benefit. God did not provide rules to live by to make us miserable, but to keep us safe in this wicked world.
Verses 9-10 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
King David knew the LORD so well that he desired to be closer to the LORD and he wanted to receive His judgments as he trusted the LORD to correct anything that was amiss in his life that might interfere with his relationship with God Almighty. Judgment can also be positive, and David wanted to please the LORD and be judged for those things that he did that would be pleasing to God. He wanted to hear the words, “Well done my good and faithful servant. Enter now into my rest.” David had plenty of physical gold and honey as he was king, but all the good things of this life did not come close to the pleasure he experienced when pleasing his LORD.
Application: “The fear of the LORD” does not mean to actually be afraid of the One who loves and provides for us every day, but means to have a healthy respect for Him. Yes, He is the One who decides who will be in Heaven and who will be in Hell, but that decision by Him is a result of the choices people make. He is judge and He has every right to pass condemning judgement on those who spurn His law and His love and to pass judgement of affirmation on those who follow after Him.
Verse 11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.
King David had so many enemies, that he never had a time when one of them was not plotting against him or raising an army to fight with him. So he learned to lean on the LORD who did warn him of impending danger and who did bring him through his life safely. As a result, he could pen the words above with confidence and first hand knowledge.
Application: The Bible has been said to be an acronym for Basic Instruction Before Leaving this Earth. This is very true. When the converted, Christian believer lives their life from and in the pages of the Bible, they are guided and guarded from the evil of this world. Satan and his fallen angels cannot get to the Christian believer as long as they stay true to the Word. And the great reward is not only the assurance that nothing can come against them that they cannot handle with the help of the Holy Ghost/Spirit, but that they have the assurance of salvation from sin, death, and Hell and life eternal in Heaven at the end of their journey through this physical life.
Verses 12-13 Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. 13 Keep back thy 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.
King David is not asking “who can understand God’s errors” as God does not make errors, and David is talking about God’s statutes and commandments and judgements which he has already declared are right and pure and true. So David is asking who can understand their own errors, those things that are sinful and which occasionally drag the follower of the LORD down the wrong path. Often it is difficult to know why one lies or thinks evil thoughts for example. They just happen. So King David, understanding the nature of man, asks the LORD to cleanse or hold him innocent and make him free of those faults that are usually secret and which are the result of the flesh, the world, or the enemy.
The Hebrew word translated as “presumptuous” is “zed” and it means arrogant, proud, insolent and presumptuous. King David asks for the LORD to keep him from engaging in those sins that are a result of pride and arrogance and he does not want to be controlled by them. As a king, there would always be the temptation to take credit for his position, his power, and his accomplishments rather than give the glory to God. But David knew that this type of sin could lead him to commit greater sin and rebellion against the LORD if left unchecked.
Application: The truly Christian pastors that this writer has sat under have all stated that the one thing they are afraid of more than any other thing about being in the ministry of the Gospel is becoming proud and arrogant and beginning to believe that they are great pastors because of their own talents, achievements, and work. They did not like to receive praise from members of the congregation because of this fear of falling into presumptuous sins. They, like King David, knew that anything they did well or that they accomplished was because of the LORD working through them and not because of their own efforts. This knowledge kept them humble and faithful in their service for the LORD, and as a result, they were wonderful pastors and preachers of the Word.
Verse 14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
Verse 14 is a prayer that all converted, Christian believers should adopt as their own and pray on a regular basis. Our words can cause more mischief and more harm than anything else that we may do. Scripture teaches that all will be held accountable for the things that they say, both to the LORD and to others. “Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.” Proverbs 21:23 A Christian believer’s words and what he/she thinks in his/her heart must be pure and Christ-like if they are to be acceptable to the LORD. And they can be if the believer is focused on the LORD who is the believer’s strength or the rock upon which faith is built and who is the believer’s redeemer or the One who has paid the price for sin.