Psalm 19/Commentary

Psalm 19

“The Skies, The Scriptures”

“The very sound of the two movements of the psalm tells something of their two concerns: the broad sweep of God’s wordless revelation in the universe, expressed in the exuberant lines of verses 1-6, and the clarity of His written word, reflected in the quiet conciseness of verses 7-10, to which the heartsearching of 11-14 is the worshipper’s response” (Kidner p. 97).

The Eloquence Of Nature 19:1 “Different ages need this reminder—for such it is (Romans 1:20)” (Kidner p. 97). Note that the heavens “are telling”, i.e., are continually telling. And every culture, every man and woman can observe the heavens, therefore man is without excuse for not believing in God and for not seeking after Him (Romans 1:20; Acts 17:27). The creation doesn’t tell us what to do to be saved, but the creation certainly testifies to God’s existence and His power. “This is the meaning of glory in Psalm 19---a revelation of God’s existence and power so great that it should lead every human being on the face of the earth to seek God out, to thank Him for bringing him or her into existence, and to worship Him” (Boice p. 162). “Not even the hardest of hearts can see a blazing sunset over the Pacific without some sense of awe. I live near the beach, and every evening as the sun goes down I see a stream of people head for the water’s edge to watch the spectacle. As they stand in transfixed silence, they are a continual witness to the heavens declaring ‘the glory of God’” (Williams p. 150).

19:1 The word “expanse”, is the same word rendered “expanse” or “firmament” in Genesis 1. The basic concept in the Hebrew word rendered “expanse”, is stamping, as with the foot, and what results, i.e., a spreading out or stretching forth. The idea that the heavens are “spreading out” has also been confirmed by scientific investigation. In 1913 astronomer Vesto Melvin Slipher discovered that about a dozen galaxies relatively close to the earth were moving away from us at high speeds, up to two million miles per hour. During the next decade a younger astronomer named Edwin Hubble, measured the velocities of scores of galaxies and formulated the laws for an expanding universe. “The verbs ‘declare’ and ‘proclaim’ are participial forms, expressive of the continuous revelation of the heavens, and could be translated ‘keep on declaring’…’keep on proclaiming’” (Gaebelein p. 179).

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Points To Note: 1. In addition, every part of nature testifies to its Creator, so that whatever part you happen to be looking at will pour forth knowledge. “If you look at the stars, they testify to a God of great power who made them. If you study the human body, who will find that the body testifies to an all-wise Creator (Psalm 139:14). The petals of a flower, a blade of grass, a snowflake, the intricacies of the atom, the nature of light, physical laws like gravitational attraction, the second law of thermodynamics, or relativity---all testify abundantly to a divine mind that lies behind them. Moreover, this is quite plain. We should almost say self-evident. The witness lies on the surface. It does not require extensive technical investigation to see it (Romans 1:20)” (Boice p. 163). 2.

Hence, the knowledge of God is not far from anyone (Acts 17:27). 3. In addition, when we really dig into the creation and study it carefully, we soon find that the testimony of nature is even stronger than we at first surmised.

“In other words, the existence of a Creator is not a facile (childish) but erroneous judgment naively made by the uneducated, a judgment quickly disproved as soon as one looks into the evidence carefully. On the contrary, the more one looks, the more the heavens gush forth knowledge” (Boice p.

164). “Like an artist, God signs His work” (Williams p. 150).

19:2 “The expression ‘pours forth’ suggests the irrepressible bubbling up of a spring” (Kidner p. 97). “Day to day, creation effervesces with God’s speech” (Williams p. 151). This is a sermon that creation, all of creation preaches every day and every night. While God’s speech in creation is not verbal, it is nevertheless very real and very powerful. Unfortunately, some people don’t like what the creation says, and they have tried to muffle this daily sermon by arguing that the creation is just a product of chance or an accident (Romans 1:18). The “knowledge” revealed includes the idea that: 1. There is a God, this wonderful, complicated, beautiful and well organized universe have never happened by accident. 2. The God who made it is extremely powerful! 3. The God who made it is extremely wise—therefore we should try to find out what He has said!

19:3-4 Even though the creation doesn’t speak literal words, it’s message is still clear and universal. Williams notes that often foreign preachers have documented that many tribal groups have simply been waiting the arrival of evangelists to tell them about the God who created the universe. The message from nature about the glory of God reaches all nations, and is equally intelligible to them all. This is one reason why it is just for God to condemn the person who “doesn’t know God” (2 Thess. 1:8), because such ignorance is a chosen and deliberate ignorance. “Natural revelation is without words and is universal, being unrestricted by the division of languages” (Gaebelein p. 180). The power and wisdom of God displayed in the creation is preparing people everyday for the gospel message.

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Many have observed that true science and true theology will always agree, because God is the author of the creation and the Bible. Robert Jastrow, the founder and director of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies, wrote a book entitled God and the Astronomers. “The book concludes wittily, ‘For the (unbelieving) scientist who has lived by his faith in the power of reason, the story ends like a bad dream. He has scaled the mountains of ignorance; he is about to conquer the highest peak; as he pulls himself over the rock, he is greeted by a band of theologians (Christians) who have been sitting there for centuries” (p.

116).

19:5-6 The “tent for the sun” is probably to be understood as the darkness into which the sun retreats each night and from which it emerges boldly each new day. David here compares the sun to a vigorous young man in two aspects: 1.

Each morning the sun is like a bridegroom, adorned for his bride, as he emerges from his wedding chamber. He is radiant and glowing with light. “When the bridegroom, splendidly arrayed, sets forth to the house of the bride to claim her.

Such is the radiance and festive mood of the journey” (Kidner p. 99). 2. As a warrior or athlete, plunging into a race with joy. “Rejoicing in his strength as he sets out to run his course, represents the power of the sun, as it seems to move through ‘its circuit’” (Gaebelein p. 180). The idea seems to be that everyday, the sun manifests the glory and wisdom of God, and everybody hears this sermon on a daily basis.

Point To Note: C.S. Lewis notes that these verses (19:5-6), mark a transition from the works of God to the word of God. As the sun rules the day, so God’s Law rules us. Both the sun and the Law radiate the light of the God who is light. Nothing is hidden before the sun and before the God who made the sun.

Be impressed that this chapter makes it clear that there is no conflict between the message being preached by nature and the message found in the Word of God. Unbelievers and skeptics often suggest that no scientific mind can honestly accept the Bible’s teachings. Actually, the opposite is true, no truly scientific mind can reject what the Bible teaches.

Believers see the glory of God in creation, but we don’t worship the creation.

For the heavens are pointing to God, not themselves, and the sun, while glorious, only fulfills a function and follows a course prescribed for it by its divine maker.

“If we value creation, as many in our day obviously do—witness the environmental lobby groups and others who work to purify and preserve our water, air, and wild lands—we should cherish the written revelation of God in Scripture even more” (Boice p. 166).

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The Clarity Of Scripture 19:7 After all has been said, Scripture is still God’s law to mankind. Even the New Testament is a law (Jeremiah 31:31-34; James 1:25). Jesus brought tremendous grace, and He also brought laws to be obeyed (Matthew 7:21; John 14:15). “’Law’ is the comprehensive term for God’s revealed will” (Kidner p. 99).

So many people, even some professed Christians, either complain, contradict or are embarrassed about what the Old Testament teaches. But what did David say about this Law? Paul makes it clear that the Old Testament Law was holy, righteous, spiritual and good (Romans 7:12,14). Therefore, anyone who says that the Old Testament was unspiritual has just labeled themselves as such.

Boice notes that there are many terms in this section (law, precepts, commands, statues, ordinances), he says, “What is the one characteristic that these terms have in common..? The answer is that they all portray the Bible as words to be obeyed. That is how David viewed the Bible, as the Word of God to be obeyed” (p. 171).

19:7 Paul also called the word of God “perfect” in Romans 12:2. Scripture is “complete, sound, and whole”. “God has given us everything in His word necessary for our salvation” (Williams p. 153). (2 Peter 1:3). The Bible covers every aspect of life. The Bible is not deficient in any way. “It is an all-sufficient revelation. Therefore, no matter what our sins have been or our problems are, the Bible is able to turn us from our sins, lead us through our problems, and both feed and enrich us so that we are able to enjoy the full benefits of spiritual life” (Boice p. 172). Compare with Matthew 4:4 and 2 Timothy 3:16-17.

Point To Note: Yet, often we are told that there are sinful addictions which are not addressed by the Scriptures, or sins which a person cannot overcome with the help of the Scriptures. In addition, Calvinists argue that man is so depraved that the Scriptures by themselves cannot convert the soul. David and Paul (Romans 1:16) knew otherwise. If the Scriptures are perfectly suited to reach the sinner, then can’t we all understand the Bible alike, seeing that we are all sinners? I am confused by the accusation that we can’t all understand the Word of God alike, and yet in practice man demonstrates that he can understand human opinion, tradition and false doctrine alike!

19:7 The word “testimony” suggests that the Scriptures are God’s witness, His testimony as what is the truth. Including what is the truth about creation, man, right and wrong, etc…Since the Scriptures are God’s testimony, who is man to argue with God, seeing that God was there at the beginning!

19:7 The word “sure”, means that which is firm, dependable, certain, steadfast and faithful. “We can throw our weight on God’s testimony, and it will hold us up”

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(Williams p. 153). Jesus said, “Thy word is truth” (John 17:17). So what are we to think when people, even some professed Christians, argue that the Bible is filled with historical, scientific, and geographical mistakes? Is God ignorant about history, did He get a “D” in geography, is He kind of slow when it comes to grasping certain scientific concepts? How can the Bible be wrong about any scientific concept, seeing that the same God who wrote the Bible, created science! (Colossians 1:16-17).

19:7 The “simple” are those who are open-minded or open to instruction. The Scriptures are so clear and understandable that even a very naïve or simpleminded person can grasp what they are teaching. This point is also driven home in 1 Corinthians 1:26-27. It is interesting to note that the type of person who argues that we can’t all understand the Bible alike, is often someone whom the world views as “wise”. People filled with a desire for preeminence, status and sinful pride resent that the Bible is written for everyone and that everyone must submit to it’s teachings. They don’t like a revelation that can make the simplewise, because they want people to worship them and their “wisdom”. They want the common man to be dependent upon their books, seminars and guidance, rather than upon God’s book. They want truth that is only accessible to the few.

In reality, they want a salvation based on ability and pure natural talent, rather than humble submission to the Creator. They want a salvation based on works, and a heaven in which they get to be a part of some elite inner circle.

19:8 Kidner notes that the words “precept” and “commandment”, “indicate the precision and authority with which God addresses us” (Kidner p. 99). Contrary to the claims of some, the Bible is a book of precepts. Such precepts are “right”, that is morally right, for how could God be wrong about anything?

(Romans 3:4). But such precepts do not cause the hearts of everyone to rejoice.

The good and honest heart rejoices in the law of God (Romans 7:22). The word “right” also infers that the Bible contains the “right way” (Matthew 7:13-14). The honest person doesn’t resent a narrow way, for they want to avoid sin and things that would hurt other people. People who hunger for righteousness want to live in the light, rather than in the darkness of human ignorance, speculation and moral confusion. Williams notes, “In the context of modern relativism and our rebellious quest for ‘freedom’, the thought that statutes bring joy and light seems foreign” (p. 154).

19:8 The word “pure” suggests that there is nothing harmful in Scripture. The Bible is given by a holy God, in Whom is no darkness (1 John 1:5), and Who cannot lie or tempt man to sin (Titus 1:2; James 1:13). “Corrupt things decay.

That which is pure endures. Since the Word of God is entirely pure, being without any deficiency, error, fault, or inadequacy, it along with the God who spoke it is the most enduring of all things (Matthew 24:35; 1 Peter 1:23-25) ….People have a relative idea of truth today, believing that truth changes from generation to generation and from one individual’s perception to another individual’s perception. Nothing is certain. But by contrast, the Bible teaches that truth is absolute and unchanging and that it is grounded in the character of

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God” (Boice p. 173). will only improve.

In addition, the person who applies Scripture to their life

19:8 Yes, some claim that following the Bible leads to ignorance, but God says that His word enlightens the eyes, i.e., brings us out of darkness and ignorance (Psalm 119:105). In addition, “the passage probably also carries the idea of purging darkness out of us and thus enabling us to see clearly and without distortion” (Boice p. 173). See Hebrews 5:14; 4:12-13. The truly “enlightened” people are those people who follow the Bible. The darkness and ignorance among worldly people who claim to be enlightened is obvious. They can’t see that a baby is a human being before it is born. The elite in our society have come up with such contradictory statements as, “Pro-choice/Pro-child”, “No absolute truth”, and “Drink (alcoholic beverages) with judgment”.

19:9 Wow! Fear can be a good thing! The fear of man corrupts (John 12:4243), but a healthy fear of God has a purifying element. The connection between “fear of God” and “Scripture” is that the Creator, this awesome God has spoken, and the Scriptures reveal His will. Therefore, how should I act when Scripture is cited? The righteous man or woman trembles and stands in awe of the Word (Isaiah 66:2). Kidner notes, “Together, these terms show the practical purpose of revelation, to bring God’s will to bear on the hearer and evoke intelligent reverence, well-founded trust, detailed obedience” (p. 99).

19:9 The “judgments” here are those judgments and judicial decisions which God has recorded in the Bible concerning various human situations. Every act of judgment recorded in the Bible (the flood, plagues against Egypt, wars against the Canaanites, deaths of Nadab, Abihu, Uzzah, etc….) was a righteous verdict!

Righteous people do not argue that God was cruel in the Old Testament. How different is this entire section from the world in which we live which flourishes and endorses relativity, pluralism, compromise, unity in diversity, doctrine doesn’t matter, truth cannot be known, and sincerity turns all falsehood into something which is neither harmless or true.

19:10 Here is David’s personal reaction to the Scriptures. He found them more important and desirable than gold and sweeter than honey. David found the Word of God enjoyable, pleasurable, a real treasure and a real treat! Is this the way that we view Scripture and Bible study? Gold was the most valuable commodity in the ancient world and honey was the sweetest substance. In modern terms, “I love the Bible more than I love chocolate!”

19:11 The one who knows the law is warned by it. Scripture warns us against sin, its harmful effects, deception, falsehood, error, and false doctrine. “We need such warnings, because the world about us is clever and pervasive, and there is nothing except the Bible to stand against its deception” (Boice p. 174).

Did you feel the impact of this last quote! Without the Bible, all of us would end up falling into some type of deception! Note, God isn’t going to keep us magically from error and neither is He going to miraculously provide some sort of warning. God warns us through His word, and everyone gets the same warning.

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Compare this verse with 2 Timothy 3:16-17. Note there is a great reward in obeying what the Bible says! Godly people have never ruled out the necessity to obey. But how many today ridicule the idea that the Bible contains commands which must be obeyed? Or, how many are trying to confuse the issue, and argue that we can’t even understand the commands themselves, but, that is all right, because God is going to save sincere people who don’t comply with His will (Matthew 7:21-23)? Salvation is grounded in grace, but it is also conditioned on our obedience.

19:12 David realizes that he isn’t a perfect man! Apart from God’s revelation he is blind to a good number of sins. “He is aware of sin’s subtle nature and complexity” (Boice p. 174). Kidner notes, “Verse 12 recognizes that a fault may be hidden not because it is too small to see, but because it is too characteristic to register” (p. 100). One of the great benefits of Scripture is that is clearly defines what is sin (Galatians 5:19-21). But apart from the Bible, no one could ever see his errors. “In God’s law we see our true condition and crisis. Our rationalizations are exposed” (Williams p. 156).

Point To Note: David is not praying that God would forgive him of sins that he can never detect in his life and of which he will never repent. One can only be acquitted of hidden faults, when such faults of exposed by the Word (Hebrews 4:12-13), and then forsaken by the individual (1 John 1:8-10). The very fact that atonement was offered in the Law for “inadvertent” sins or sins of ignorance, is proof that such sins do eventually come to light (Leviticus 4:2-35; Numbers 15:22-31).

Unfortunately, many are teaching a cheap grace, i.e., “there are probably many things that I am doing right now that are sinful, but God is automatically forgiving me”.

19:13 David also knew that he could sin defiantly. A “presumptuous” sin is a sin of self-will, a willful sin, the person who arrogantly sins and then refuses to admit wrong. David realizes that his salvation is conditional, and that he could fall away from God if he allowed himself to become arrogant or self-confident. It is the Word of God that keeps us from such deliberate and willful sins (which are rooted in arrogance). In addition, such deliberate sins lead to great transgression. This did happen in David’s life. Of his own freewill David committed adultery with Bathsheba. In the life of King Uzziah, arrogance moved him to defiantly challenge God’s law concerning who could offer incense (2 Chronicles 26:16ff).

19:14 David concluded in praying that his words and thoughts would be acceptable to God. He desired to be pure in heart and action. “Sometimes we treat forgiveness lightly, asking God to forgive us but not really thinking that we are sinners, at least not serious sinners, and treating forgiveness almost as a basic human right. It is clear that David does not do this” (Boice p. 174). David

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realizes that if he is truly loving God and is honestly trying to do His will, then he will find mercy and help from God.

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