Psalms 19

Psalms 19:1-14

the Works and the Word of God Psalms 19:1-14 This is the “ Psalm of the Two Books” -Nature and Scripture. If Psalms 8:1-9 were written at night, Psalms 19:1-14 was surely written by day. In Psalms 19:1, God is called El, “ strong;” in Psalms 19:7-9; Psalms 19:14, the Hebrew Jehovah is translated “ Lord,” as if His glory as Creator is the stepping-stone to loftier conceptions of the Redeemer. Nature’ s silence! No speech nor language! Psalms 19:3. What a picture of the sacred stillness of dawn! Yet the witness-bearing is universal. Line, Psalms 19:4, is “ compass” or “ territory,” but some translate it “ chord.” Nature’ s harp is strung to the glory of God. Jesus is our Sun, Malachi 4:2. Six synonyms for Scripture, and twelve qualities ascribed to it, Psalms 19:7-9. How truly might our Lord have appropriated Psalms 19:10! Let us end with confession and prayer. Errors, Psalms 19:12; see Leviticus 4:2, r.v., margin, Psalms 19:13. Dominion, Psalms 19:13; Romans 6:14. For the seventh time Jehovah, Psalms 19:14, with two loving epithets! Can we all say my, claiming all of God?

The witness of the heavens The Psalm of the Two Books: the Book of nature, and the written Word. If Psalms 8:1-9 were written at night, this must have been penned by day. In the first verse God is called EL, the Strong One; in Psalms 19:7-9; Psalms 19:14, the Hebrew name JEHOVAH is translated LORD, as if his glory as Creator were the stepping-stone to loftier conceptions of Him in redemption.

Psalms 19:1-5 Nature.There is the blue tapestry of the azure and the expanse of the firmament woven by God. What a picture of the sacred silence of the dawn! “No speech, nor language; there voice cannot be heard” (R.V.). There is also the universality of their witness-bearing. “Line” is the compass or territory through which they speak. Some translate it “chord.” There is no tongue in which the works of God do not speak. Does not the picture of the dawn, in which the sun comes forth radiant as a bridegroom, strong as an athlete, make us think of the resurrection? And is not Jesus our Sun? (Malachi 4:2).

Psalms 19:7-10 Revelation.Six synonyms–the law; the testimony; the statutes; the commandment; the fear; the judgments–are used of the Word of God. Twelve qualities are ascribed to it. How truly might our blessed Lord have appropriated Psalms 19:10! The man who lives a simple life is he who appreciates the Bible.

Psalms 19:12-14 Confession and prayer. “Errors”; the same word is used Leviticus 4:2-13. “Errors” will, if not checked, lead on to presumptuous and deliberate sins. The “dominion” which the Psalmist feared is expressly referred to in Romans 6:14. What a claim we have on God when we can say, “Thy servant!” For the seventh time David repeats the covenant name “Jehovah,” with two last, loving epithets, “Rock” and “Redeemer” (R.V.).