Evidence
Psalm 19
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.
The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. 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, which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy. 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.
The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.
Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults. 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. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Many of the Psalms we've examined up to this point have exposed the fact that we all have enemies and troubles in this life. Psalm 19 takes a departure from that tone and speaks to the evidence given to us that God is real, powerful, and ours. David lays out three different proofs for the believer.
Today, I am sitting in the Black Hills of South Dakota. This is home for me, the place of my birth and early life; returning here fills my soul with peace. Right now the air is cool, the sky is a perfect blue and the countryside takes my breath away. God has created, with mere words from His mouth, a wondrous place. Creation declares His presence and His power just because its here.
The Word of God, the Law, speaks to my heart every single day about the perfection of God and His plans. When our hearts allow it, the Spirit will use God's Word to bring light to our eyes and joy to our hearts. That's why we read it every day and give this Word the opportunity to inform and transform our lives.
Finally David speaks of relationship with the Father. God is the One who exposes our need for Him and His faithful presence with us. His Word has the power to keep us close to Him if we but allow that to happen. The final verse of this psalm is a brilliant opportunity for prayer for all of us. This is one of those "must commit to memory" verses that we all need to have in our back pocket to recite to ourselves in those quiet moments of reflection, or in those panicked moments of fear when things are not good. Just imagine you are in a conflict with someone and in the back of your mind, these words encompass your thoughts. That moment would be changed forever.
If you don't know this verse, do yourself a solid favor and learn it. It won't take long and it will enhance every moment that you entertain it.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.
The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. 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, which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy. 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.
The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.
Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults. 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. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Many of the Psalms we've examined up to this point have exposed the fact that we all have enemies and troubles in this life. Psalm 19 takes a departure from that tone and speaks to the evidence given to us that God is real, powerful, and ours. David lays out three different proofs for the believer.
Today, I am sitting in the Black Hills of South Dakota. This is home for me, the place of my birth and early life; returning here fills my soul with peace. Right now the air is cool, the sky is a perfect blue and the countryside takes my breath away. God has created, with mere words from His mouth, a wondrous place. Creation declares His presence and His power just because its here.
The Word of God, the Law, speaks to my heart every single day about the perfection of God and His plans. When our hearts allow it, the Spirit will use God's Word to bring light to our eyes and joy to our hearts. That's why we read it every day and give this Word the opportunity to inform and transform our lives.
Finally David speaks of relationship with the Father. God is the One who exposes our need for Him and His faithful presence with us. His Word has the power to keep us close to Him if we but allow that to happen. The final verse of this psalm is a brilliant opportunity for prayer for all of us. This is one of those "must commit to memory" verses that we all need to have in our back pocket to recite to ourselves in those quiet moments of reflection, or in those panicked moments of fear when things are not good. Just imagine you are in a conflict with someone and in the back of your mind, these words encompass your thoughts. That moment would be changed forever.
If you don't know this verse, do yourself a solid favor and learn it. It won't take long and it will enhance every moment that you entertain it.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
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