Praising the God Who Communicates (Psalm 19)
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.—Psalm 19 (ESV)
In this post, we’re going to look at Psalm 19, another psalm in Book 1. This hymn of praise focuses on a key feature of our God. He is is one who communicates: through his general revelation in creation as well as his special revelation in Scripture.
Interestingly, this psalm of praise is purposefully placed in the middle of Book 1 (the first book in the psalter), just as its big brother, Psalm 119 (also a psalm focused on the Word of God) is placed in the middle of Book 5, the last book within the psalter. Symmetry like this suggests importance. And as the psalms are about the blessed life, how do we respond to the Word of God, that we might experience the blessings God intends for us through it?
Studying Psalm 19
Read the psalm (included in its entirety above) several times. As you do, take note of several things:
Observations
What is the emotional tone of the psalm? What different feelings are expressed?
List the descriptions of creation in verses 1-6, then list the descriptions of God’s law in verses 7-11.
What characteristics of God are highlighted in this psalm? What do you discover about Him?
What are similes and metaphors used in the psalm? Take some time to ponder the unique characteristics of these comparisons. How do they enrich your understanding?
What does David pray for in vv. 12-14? How does it relate to the rest of the psalm?
Interpretation
Understanding the text
How might the two themes of the psalm (creation, in vv. 1-6, and God’s Word, in vv. 7-12) be connected? What links them together? Note any connection words to help you track the train of thought.
Understanding its place in Scripture
Based on these observations, how might this psalm be important to the nation of Israel as God’s people? What might David be teaching his people?
How might this psalm point to Christ? Reflect on John 1:1; Col. 1:16-17, Heb. 1:2.
How might Jesus have understood this psalm?
Word study
There are many words used in this psalm. Instead of defining them all, I chose some that may be harder to differentiate. Select a few that are particularly intriguing to you and look up the word in a Bible dictionary (links will take you to the page) or do a word study. How might these definitions help enrich your understanding of the psalm?
“The law of the LORD”= “tôrâ”
“perfect”= “tāmîm”
“reviving”= “šûḇ”
“testimony”= “ʿēḏûṯ”
“simple” = “pᵊṯî”
“precepts” = “piqqûḏîm”
“right” = “yāšār”
“commandment” = “miṣvâ”
“pure” = “bar”
“fear” = “yir'â”
“clean” = “ṭâôr”
“rules” = “mišpāṭ”
Cross-references/other studies:
You may wish to study Psalm 119. It too has a prominent place as the longest book in Scripture. Written in acrostic form in the Hebrew, almost every verse (except two) mention some form of the Law. What similarities and differences do you note?
Study the royal psalms on either side of Psalm 19 (Psalms 18, 20, and 21). How might these be connected to Psalm 19?
Study other psalms that mention God’s creative works (Pss. 8, 33, 74, 89, 90, 100, 102, 104, 135, 136, 147 or 148)
Application
Fill your mind with wonder and awe by seriously reflecting on creation. Whether it be a night sky full of stars, the pounding of ocean waves, or even observing the ways of a butterfly, take time to stop and look at the natural world around you. Let creation remind you of His transcendent grandeur.
Reflect on the great gift we have in the Word of God—even more than the Pentateuch that David had. Thank God that now, through Christ, He has written His law upon our hearts (Heb. 8:10b).
Consider your attitude towards the Word of God. Do you see it as valuable as gold or sweeter than honey? Why or why not? What are things you can begin to do in order to grow in appreciating its value and goodness?
Evaluate your thoughts and words this week. Ask God to show you any “hidden faults.”
How might your words and meditations overflow into the lives of others this week, that they might hear the Lord’s voice more clearly?
Reflection: What’s Most Important
One thing about ancient literature, particularly in poetry, is its form. Though it is lost in translation, the use of commentaries can help unearth this little detail to us, which enriches our study.
Such is the case with Psalm 19. I do not want to spend space on this blog teaching on chiastic structure (you can read more here, if you wish), but in short, this structure emphasizes importance through its symmetry. Ideas that are most important are in the center, with the “bookends” (beginning and end) being a close second.
Such is the case with Psalm 19. It is chock-full of this structure pattern. Not only is its placement within the psalter showcase its importance, the chiastic structure within the psalm, even in its verses, give us hints to what is most important.
So what are some of the important things we learn from this structure?
Importance in Theme
First, as I was listening to The Bible Project’s introduction on the Psalms, I learned that Psalm 19 not only was in the midst of the royal psalms of Book 1 (Pss. 16-23), it was the central psalm in Book 1 itself.
When a psalm is in the center of a book, it highlights its importance. In this case, Psalm 19 binds together the important themes introduced in Psalm 1 (the Word) with Psalm 2 (the King).
So why is this psalm so important that it deserves such an honored position?
One of the important things is that it highlights the theme of God as communicator. The first part of the psalm, if you have noticed, is the idea of God communicating to us through creation. This is often referred to as God’s general revelation. It is voiceless, “without words” and is available for all humankind.
The second part of the psalm focuses on the idea of God communicating to us through His Word. This is often referred to as God’s special revelation. Here, He uses words to communicate His message through Scripture. The Holy Spirit explains His Word to those who are God’s chosen people—which is what makes it special, as not everyone will respond to His Word.
Think of it: We belong to a God who desires to communicate with us! This is unlike any other god. He wants us to know Him, even as He wants to know our hearts through prayer.
However, because of sin, it is easy for us to ignore Him. We are blind to His hand in creation; we are hardened of heart to His Word.
Which is what makes David’s response in vv. 12-14 an appropriate example for us. He responds to God’s Word with very active verbs:
“Declare me innocent” (v. 12) asks God to help him to see the error of his ways and seek His forgiveness, that he may declared innocent—especially from hidden faults that are hidden from him.
“Keep back your servant” (v. 13a) asks God to prevent him from overt sin
“Let them not have dominion” (v. 13b) asks God to keep these sins from ruling his life, that he might be blameless and innocent before the Lord.
And then finally, in v. 14, he asks God to not only keep him from sin but use him to be another voice that joins creation and speaks forth the Word stored in his heart to others.
Because God is a God who communicates, He invites us to speak in response to His revelation. This is David’s response to the God who speaks and what makes our faith different than any other religion.
Will you respond to Him?
Importance in Priority
Not only does this psalm occupy a key place in Book 1, verses 7-9 are central in the psalm itself. Psalm 19’s focus on Scripture (as opposed to creation in vv. 1-6) is important both in its position within book 1 and these verses in Psalm 19 internally.
Though general revelation certainly is important, it has its limits. Though it is available to everyone and though it is enough to convict every person of sin (Rom. 1:18-20), it does not save them from the penalty of judgment. In other words, creation only shows us that we need a savior but it does not provide the solution.
This is why we need the special revelation of Scripture. This is what saves us, by revealing God’s law, our debt, and God’s solution. It not only details our wrong, but it also shows God’s means of rescuing us from the judgment we justly deserve. This message reinforces the Bible’s many injunctions to meditate on the Word. We simply cannot rely on creation alone.
In order to find the life of Psalm 1, we must follow Christ’s example and spend time with the Father through His Word. We memorize it so that we might abide in Christ for the life we deserve. His Word helps us to breathe: taking in His Word and then speaking it out in prayer.
This is our priority: soaking in the Word of God so that it reorients, reshapes, and changes us. Again, like David, we want to be people who use the Word as our measuring stick against sin as well as our vision for godly living.
Here are some questions to ask yourself:
In what way are you spiritually sluggish and in need of God’s reviving? What area in your life needs repentance, returning to His ways?
What truth about Himself is God revealing to you today? How would it make a difference if you leaned your whole weight and trust in that truth? How would it change the way you live today?
How are you doing in applying God's Word to your life?
What are some commandments you know God wants you to obey, for our benefit?
What are some warnings He intends for us to heed, for our protection? How have you responded to them? Why might He draw these lines or lay down these expectations?
How do you respond to commandments--rebel? view them as rules to follow? or appreciate them, hard as they may be, as God's direction of love for you?
How do you approach God and His Word? Do you have a "meh" attitude, like we talked about in the opening illustration of our lesson this week?
How does the fact that the Lord’s rules are completely true and righteous bring you peace and comfort? Does this impact your confidence and trust in it?
How do you show you value God's Word? Where does it fit in your value system? Ask God to help you to value it even more than you do today.
If God's Word is our nourishment, do you view it as a pleasurable meal or a supplement to give you an extra boost or dry like toast?
Are there warnings from God's Word that you need to heed? Ask God for His help to avoid them. What would that mean for you?
Are there commands that you need to obey? Imagine a little--what might be the great reward ahead when you do?
Are there hidden sins that can fester and become presumptuous sins in your life?
Importance in Our Communications
This psalm is about God's revelation and communication. The first verse of the psalm describes nature’s public declaration (v. 1) while the last verse emphasizes our private declaration and words (v. 14). The middle of the psalm highlights God’s revelatory Word to us.
So how do we put this together? What does this mean for us as we speak?
As people, we are the pinnacle of His creation. As those who are redeemed by Christ personally, we, of all people have a story to tell. We alone of all His creation have the capacity to understand His special revelation—and with this privilege comes the great opportunity we have to testify of His greatness and salvation.
This is one of our chief privileges and responsibilities, to go and make disciples, carrying the Good News of Christ to those who have not heard (Rom. 10:14-18), who may see the wonder of creation but do not know His name, may know the guilt of their transgression but not have a way out.
As His ambassadors, we have been given the charge to go and tell others of this personal God who has revealed Himself in the Word and explain to them how they might stand forgiven, redeemed by the blood of Christ.
Perhaps one of the ways this psalm can prompt us to pray is by first reminding us of our own salvation--and then as we thank Him for His grace extended towards us, ask God to show us how we might join the chorus of creation in taking the Word we have been so generously given to share with others.
Counseling the Word
With the last point in mind, this helps us to consider how we might use our words to speak truth to others.
For the unbeliever:
Point to creation as God’s “voiceless testimony” about Himself. Romans 1:18-20 reminds us that visible creation points to the invisible God and his attributes, particularly his eternal power and divine nature. This psalm urges them to heed that voice.
For the believer:
This psalm also gives us a call to get into God’s Word. The questions in the previous section can be good ones to discuss together as we examine our lives in light of Scripture.
The last few verses can help us to challenge one another with those hidden sins that can keep us from fellowship with God. They also help us to encourage each other to speak words that are fitting for those who profess to be followers of Christ.
Praying the Word
Praise: As this is a hymn of praise, let this psalm encourage you to do so!
Praise God for His wondrous works as you sit in creation, that He reveals His presence to us in it. You may wish to spend some time in nature or take a look at Louie Schwartzberg's Moving Art collection and enjoy the different spheres of God’s creation. How does what I see declare the glory of God? What does it proclaim about Him? What knowledge does it reveal? Take time to praise Him for the attributes of God that creation “speaks” to you.
Praise Him that He goes beyond that to give us His Word, His special revelation, to communicate and instruct us in His ways. Praise Him for being our Redeemer.
There are many hymns and songs written based on Psalm 19: "The Heavens Declare Thy Glory, Lord" by Isaac Watts and "The Spacious Firmament on High" by Joseph Addison are a couple. Reflect on the words in these hymns to further expand your praise.
Finally, praise Christ, who is the living Word (John 1:1), the agent of creation, through whom all things are made and upheld (Col. 1:16-17). Praise Him for being God’s final Word (Heb. 1:2). Praise Him for being our Redeemer, who has taken that burden of guilt that creation reveals to us on himself.
Thanksgiving: Thank Him that He has clearly shown us through Scripture—not just telling us about our guilt—how to deal with our sin issue through Christ.
Thank Him for His Word that protects you from sinning, so that you shall be blameless, innocent of great transgression.
Confession: Admit when you are deaf and blind to the voice of God in your life, intentionally closing your heart or just simply being too busy to pay attention.
Confess the ways you have exchanged the glory of the immortal God for mortal or temporary substitutes. If you have a “meh” attitude towards Scripture, be honest about it with the Lord. Ask Him to help you value it and enjoy it.
Ask God to use His Word to give you insight on those errors (mistakes) and those hidden faults that we cannot see in ourselves. Confess these sins before Him and thank Him for revealing them to you.
Petitions: There are many ways this psalm can prompt us to pray for our own hearts.
Ask that the Lord will help you grow in appropriate reverence and awe, both of Him and His Word, that you will not be separated from Him.
Ask that He would make His Word come alive to you, whether through this text or another, to address this area and bring back your soul to life.
Ask Him to show you how what you learn intersects with your life today: your schedule, your interactions with others, your thoughts and your emotions.
Ask God to reveal to you its true benefits as you open it each day in faith.
Ask the Lord to help you approach Him with the humility of a servant, as David does, with fear and reverence (v. 9).
Ask God to keep hidden sins from having dominion over us and leading us away from Him.
Ask God to help keep you back from sins before you commit them.
Ask God to deepen your understanding and appreciation of the Gospel, reveal to us people that we may share with, and help you to boldly proclaim, overflow, and explain the way to salvation
Again, sometimes music can help us to pray. Try Tim Hughes' "May the Words of My Mouth," based on verse 14 or Shane Barnard’s version of the same verse.
Intercession: As you are renewed by His Word, join creation to use our words to pour forth and reveal the knowledge of the Lord to those around us, who need to hear the gospel.
Pray they may come to a saving knowledge of the Lord, perhaps through their love of nature or through nature.
Pray that God might become their Rock and Redeemer as they grasp His truth through Scripture.
Ask God to use you as His agent to speak His truth to them.
For believers, you may pray that they may:
Respond humbly to the Lord in fear and reverence
Seek to walk in His righteous ways as outlined and defined in His Word
Be salt and light through their words, to join in testifying of God's glory and goodness
