The Law of the Lord

The Structure

The first six verses focus on creation. Specifically, what creation does.

Verses 7-14 focus on the law of God.

In the Fundamentals of the Faith Sunday School class this morning, we spent some time talking about revelation. We noted, and this is something that many of us have heard before, that there are two types of revelation that God has put forth to man to make Himself known: general revelation (creation) and special revelation (God’s Word).

The Question

In order to understand Psalm 19, we must answer the question, how do the two sections relate to one another? How does verses 1-6 of the Psalm relate to verses 7-14? To ask the question another way, how does the creation of God relate to the Word of God? It’s an important question. Historically, this question has led some to conclude that Psalm 19 was originally two psalms, but we will take up this question for just a few moments.

The Purpose of Creation (1-6)

Creation’s purpose is made clear in the first line of verse one: The heavens declare the glory of God.

What becomes clear as we consider these first six verses is that this Psalm is about God. We have an inclination to assume everything is about us in some way. But the creation of God was created to declare the glory of God.

Verse three says something unexpected about this declaration: no speech, no words. This declaration is a wordless declaration, but the end of verse three, which says, whose voice is not heard, seems to say that while the declaration is wordless, everyone hears it.

It’s like what Romans one makes clear:

Romans 1:20 ESV

20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

And the imagery of the sun that is seen from the end of verse four through verse six. Verse six tells us that the course of the sun is from the end of the heavens. It rises in the east and sets in the west and there is nothing hidden from its heat.

And connected to the glory of God is joy. Joy of a bridegroom coming out of his tent walking towards his wedding. Joy like a runner who loves to run.

The Perfection of the Scriptures (7-11)

The psalmist celebrates the Scriptures in verses 7-11.

The way he does this is to

Name the Scriptures: law, testimony, precepts, commandment, fear (the aim of the scriptures), rules

Describes the Scriptures: perfect, sure, right, clean, true, righteous, more to be desired than gold, sweeter then honey

Affect: reviving the soul, making wise the simple, rejoicing the heart, enlightening the eyes, enduring forever, it warns, obedience to them yields reward

The many names and descriptions and affects of the Scriptures point to the completeness of the God’s Word. It is not lacking, it is true, it provides the way of life.

The truth is the nourishment our souls need.

So we have the glory of God proclaimed and the truth of God described. What’s the connection?

The Connection between glory and truth

God is glorious and everything that has and everyone who have even existed were created to display that fact.

The truth of God, that is the Scriptures provide the soul-reviving and soul-nourishing sustenance needed for us to see this ultimate truth.

God is glorious and all of creation declares it and all are meant to celebrate it. And God uses His Word to see this ultimate reality.

Our Sin is Overcome

The last word of this psalm is redeemer.

We all know that people reject the glory of God and seek glory for themselves.

In verse twelve, the errors and faults of man are mentioned

In verse thirteen, the presumptuous sins and transgressions are referenced.

In light of the fact that people are unable to see the ultimate reality of the universe, which has been made plain to us, the psalmist prays for something supernatural:

Psalm 19:14 ESV

14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight….

And on what basis could the Psalmist expect this prayer to be answered. On what basis can we expect that we can see the glory of God? He gave us His Word, and His word centers on the Redeemer. Jesus is our Redeemer. He is the only one who could purchase sinners out of their enslavement to sin. Glory be to God.

Psalm 19 ESV

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.