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Song Page for Psalm 19 |
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Lyrics |
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1 The heavens declare the glory of
God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork.
2 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge.
3 There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.
4 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.
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.
7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
8 The statutes 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 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.
11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.
12 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.
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.1 |
Bible Commentary
1 A glimpse at the open sky with the naked eye is sufficient to impress upon the beholder a sense of the glory of God. Wisdom, power, skill and benevolence are the things that constitute God's glory. By their splendour and order the heavens disprove evolution. They are not the work of chance, but the creation of God. Their beauty and arrangement argue God's existence.2
2 As if one day took up the story where the other left it, and each night passed over the wondrous tale to the next. The original has in it the thought of pouring out or welling over, with speech; as though days and nights were but as a fountain flowing evermore with Jehovah's praise. The witnesses above cannot be slain or silenced; from their elevated seats they constantly preach the knowledge of God, unawed and unbiased by the judgment of men.2
3 Despite the fact that the heavens have a language of their own, their voice is inaudible (see vs, 1, 2), it does not speak to the ear, but is pictorial and directed to the eye and heart.2
4 Although the heavenly bodies move in solemn silence, they speak by
their significant actions and operations. By their line is
probably meant the measure of their domain which, together with
their testimony, has gone out to the utmost end of the habitable
earth. In the heavens the sun encamps, and marches like a mighty
monarch on his glorious way. As the royal pavilion stood in the
centre of the host, so the sun in his place appears like a king
in the midst of attendant stars.2
5 A bridegroom comes forth sumptuously apparelled, his face beaming with a joy which he imparts to all around. The sun comes out of his chamber (beneath the horizon), where he spends the night, and bursts forth at dawn, lighting up his glorious "tabernacle". As a champion girt for running cheerfully addresses himself to the race, so does the sun speed onward with matchless regularity and unwearying swiftness in his appointed orbit. It is but mere play to him; there are no signs of effort, flagging, or exhaustion.2 |
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6 He bears his light to the boundaries of the solar heavens, traversing the zodiac with steady motion, denying his light to none who dwell within his range. Above, beneath, around, the heat of the sun exercises an influence. Although many things may be concealed from the light of the sun, its heat (the vital force from which the earth gets its life and energy) penetrates everywhere.2
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7 At this point David turns from his contemplation of nature, revealing
in its grandeur, permanence, and purpose the glory of God, to
the contemplation of the even clearer revelation of God in the
law. As the sun illuminates and gives life to the material
earth, so the law lights and energises the spiritual world. The
law refreshes and invigorates. The revelation of God is God's
witness or testimony, because it is His own affirmation
concerning His nature, attributes, and consequent commands.2
The testimony of the Lord is faithful, lasting and firmly established. The childlike spirit is the first essential to gaining wisdom. Humble, candid, teachable minds receive the word, and are made wise unto salvation.2 |
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8 God's precepts and decrees are founded in righteousness. As a physician gives the right medicine, and a counsellor the right advice, so does the Book of God. Mark the progress; he who was converted was next made wise and is now made happy; that truth which makes the heart right then gives joy to the right heart. The commandment of the Lord is not defiled by any mixture of error nor polluted by stain of sin. As the sun gives light to the world, so God's commandments light man's pathway in his search for truth.2
9 The fear of the Lord is the "instruction of wisdom" (Prov. 15:33). The man who fears God will also respect and observe His precepts. He will display a holy fear or reverence in service and worship. The worship of God is free from the defiling rites that characterised the Canaanite religions. The revealed will of God is constant and unchangeable. The judicial decisions of Jehovah, as revealed in the law, or illustrated in the history of his providence, are truth itself, and commend themselves to every truthful mind; not only is their power invincible, but their justice is unimpeachable.2
10 Gold is regarded as an article of great value among men, but spiritual riches gained through following God's precepts are far superior to material wealth. Honey is one of the sweetest of all natural substances and a delight to the taste. To the Hebrew it was a symbol of all that was pleasant to the palate. Even sweeter to the soul are God's commandments. "O taste and see that the Lord is good" (Ps. 34:8). One could become sated with honey, but never with the joyful results of obedience to the will of God. To the psalmist God's law was not burdensome, it was not a yoke.2
11 We are warned by the Word both of our duty, our danger, and our remedy. On the sea of life there would be many more wrecks, if it were not for the divine storm signals, which give to the watchful a timely warning.
Saints may be losers for a time, but they shall be glorious gainers in the long run, and even now a quiet conscience is in itself no slender reward for obedience. However, the main reward is yet to come, at the end of life when the work is done. Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us (Rom. 8:18).2
12 In view of the far-reaching demands of God's law, we are likely to make many mistakes of which we are unaware. These are the secret (literally, "hidden") faults of the second half of the parallelism. They may be hidden both from the one who sins and from the world. The psalmist prays for deliverance from "secret faults" (Ps. 19:12), "presumptious sins" (v. 13), and sins of word and thought (v. 14).2
13 Presumptuous sins are the sins committed when we know that we are doing wrong. They are contrasted with "errors" and "secret faults". It is remarkable that though an atonement was provided under the Jewish law for every kind of sin, there was this one exception: "But the soul that sinneth
presumptuously shall have no atonement; it shall be cut off from
the midst of the people." And now under the Christian
dispensation, through the sacrifice of our blessed Lord there is
a great and precious atonement for presumptuous sins, whereby
sinners who have erred in this manner are made clean. However
the presumptuous sinner who dies without pardon, must expect to
receive a double portion of the wrath of God.
David is assured that, providing the presumptuous sins have not dominion over
him, then he will be upright and innocent of the unpardonable sin.2 |
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14 Having prayed that God would keep him from sinful actions, the psalmist now prays that God would govern, and sanctify his words and thoughts: and this was necessary to preserve him from presumptuous sins, which have their first rise in the thoughts. The psalmist's prayer is directed to God who is his strength and Redeemer, and who is able to deliver him from the power and guilt of sin.2
References and notes
1. King James Authorized Version
2. SDA Bible
Commentary Vol 3 pgs. 675-678
3. Charles H. Spurgeon, "The
Treasury of David" -
http://bible.crosswalk.com/Commentaries
4. Walking Thru the Bible: Psalms -
http://fly.hiwaay.net/~wgann/walk_ot/psalms.htm
5. Bible Study - King David -
www.execulink.com/~wblank/20000130.htm
6.
Easton Bible
Dictionary - www.hyperdictionary.com/dictionary/David
7. Scientific Facts In The Bible By Living Water Publications -
www.inplainsite.org/html/scientific_facts_in_the_bible.html
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About Psalm 19 |
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Easyfind |
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Bible
Author |
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The
heading, "To the Chief Musician, a Psalm of David,"
informs us that David wrote it, and that it was
committed to the Master of the service of song in the
sanctuary for the use of the assembled worshippers.
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Music
Composed |
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The music was composed in 2003
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Music for
Psalm 19 |
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Quotes on
Psalm 19 |
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The Bible Quotes
pages provide
counsel, direction, encouragement and help from God's word
to life's questions.
These pages include Bible Quotes & Promises, Inspirational Quotations
and audio clips. Psalm 19 is featured on the following
pages: |
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Nature Psalm |
This psalm is perhaps the best
known and most popular of the nature psalms. It is a
grateful meditation on God's revelation of Himself in the
world of nature and in His law. 2
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Division of Psalm |
In the first six verses of the
psalm David speaks of God's glory as seen in His created
works; in vs. 7-10 he speaks of God's glory as shown in the
law; in vs. 11-13 he discusses the bearing of these truths
on character and conduct; and in v. 14 he prays to be kept
free from sin. 2
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Music
Inspired by Ps. 19 |
Joseph Addison's Creation
Hymn, "The Spacious Firmament", is a free expanded
paraphrase of the ideas of Ps. 19. The first verses of
the psalm are the theme of the chorus, "The Heavens Are
Telling", of Haydn's inspired oratorio "The Creation",
at the close of Part One.2
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Did Ps. 19 inspire
Kant? |
The German
philosopher Immanuel Kant may have been thinking of Ps.
19 when he wrote: "There are two things that fill my
soul with holy reverence and ever-growing wonder - the
spectacle of the starry sky that virtually annihilates
us as physical beings, and the moral law which raises us
to infinite dignity as intelligent agents." 2
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Psalm 19
ahead of science |
Psalm
19:4-6: "In them has He set a
tabernacle for the sun, which is as a bridegroom coming
out of his chamber, and rejoices as a strong man to run
a race. His [the sun's] 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." Bible critics have scoffed
at these verses, saying that they teach that the sun
revolves around the earth. Science told them that the
sun was stationary. Then they discovered that the sun is
in fact moving through space at approximately 600,000
miles per hour. It is traveling through the heavens and
has a "circuit" just as the Bible says. It is estimated
that its circuit is so large, it would take 200 million
years to complete one orbit.7
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Biography of
David - Part 1 |
Short
Biography of David is spread over 4 song pages.
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Who was David? |
David was
the son of Jesse of Bethlehem of the tribe of Judah and is a direct physical ancestor
of Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:1-17). He was born about 1040
B.C., he had seven brothers and two sisters (1 Sam.
16:10, 1 Chron. 2:13-16).
Little is recorded of David's parents - Jesse was
apparently of modest means, and there is no record of
David's mother's name. David's appearance is not known
in great detail, however we do know that he was
described as handsome, had red hair (i.e. "ruddy"), and
was relatively short in stature (1 Samuel 16:12, 17:42).5,6
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David's
Early Occupation |
David was a
Shepherd, which out of necessity at the time also taught
him fighting skills when defending the flocks from
predatory wild animals, including lions and bears (1
Samuel 17:34-35). In quieter times, he also developed
his musical skills with the flute and harp. After God
rejected Saul, Israel's first king, He sent Samuel to
Bethlehem to anoint David as the successor (1 Samuel
16:1-13). The transition would be gradual however. David
returned to caring for the sheep, but "the Spirit of The
Lord came upon David from that day forward," (1 Samuel
16:13).5,6
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David and
Goliath |
David served King Saul from
time to time as a musician and armor bearer (1 Samuel
16:21-23). Then followed one of the most famous
incidents of the Bible - David and Goliath (1 Samuel
17:1-58) in the valley of Elah, about 15 miles / 24
kilometers southwest of Bethlehem. David's defeat of
Goliath put the Philistines to flight and resulted in a
great victory for Israel. The heroic act made David a
favorite of the people, much to the disfavor and
jealousy of Saul (1 Samuel 18:6-16). From then on, Saul
wanted David killed, and personally made a number of
attempts (1 Samuel chapters 18-30).5,6
Short Biography
of David - Part 2
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