Psalm 19

David sings the praise of heaven, and then of the law in revealing God

The heavens declare the glory of God and the sky above proclaims His handiwork

• Sky above is Hebrew ‘expanse’ The word means to spread abroad, stretch forth, extend, expand.
•  it is the same as Genesis 1:6-8 “And God said, "Let there be an expanse between the waters to separate water from water." So God made the expanse and separated the water under the expanse from the water above it. And it was so. God called the expanse "sky." And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day.”  The meaning is that looking from earth the entire earth, land and sky are earmarks of Gods power
• Romans 1:19-20 “For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.” 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.
• It is not possible to look at the stars and the skies and think it was chance

Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge

• He moves from saying the heavens demonstrate and proclaim, to the heavens talk to us
• Now looking from the solar system, the cycle of the sun, the rotation of the earth, the dance of gigantic cosmic spheres, they pour out cosmological evidence, shouting praise to their maker they testify to His largeness, His wisdom, and His imagination.

There is no speech, nor are there words whose voice is not heard

• This may be the only time I will say this, the NIV does a fantastic job with this verse.
• Regardless of if you speak French, Chinese, or Hindi, you can look and see God’s glory

Their measuring line goes out through all the earth and their words to the end of the world

• More than they speak in every language now, David states that the whole world is informed
• The word kav means a building, or line, or measuring line is the regularity and control that marks our universe. Here is means more ‘writing’ or ‘blueprint’ something that all men can read
• Paul quotes this to mean that Israel has heard the good news in Romans 10:16-18 “But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our message?" Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. But I ask: Did they not hear? Of course they did: "Their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.”
• God’s plan always includes the whole world. He does not act in secret, but so the whole world is aware. The Gentiles had God preaching to them all along Acts 14:16-17 God had left the Gentiles this witness

In them He has set a tabernacle for the sun which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber and a strong man runs it’s course with joy

• It might seem to us like Ecc 1:5 the sun rises the sun sets, but the sun is NOT doing that.

• The sun delights to serve God in the way it was created

It’s rising is from the end of the heavens and its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat

• David comments on the path the sun takes, the swiftness of it, and the power of heat
• If we cannot escape the suns heat and power, how much less God’s power?

The law of the YHWH is perfect, reviving the soul

• David goes on to talk about the entire revelation of God, not merely the book of Leviticus
• Perfect or blameless. In the Bible there is only full and total truth.  Other books may have some, but only the Bible has it all.
• As water revives the body so too do God’s words revive the soul
• Romans 7:12 “So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good"

The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple

• Testimony - Exodus 25:15 “And you shall put into the ark the testimony that I shall give you”
• 2 Timothy 3:16 “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,”
• Sure - psalm 111:7 “The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy;”
• Make wise- 2 Timothy 3:15 “and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”
• Psalm 119:130 “The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.”
• Simple­- children is a nearer mark to the original word. 

The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart

• Psalm 119:27 “Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wondrous works.”
• When we live with a clear conscience as God intended we will be happy

The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes

• Psalm 12:6 “The words of the LORD are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times.”
• Psalm 13:3 “Consider and answer me, O LORD my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death,”
• Men who ignore God wander as a blind man. Jesus said you blind guides to the Pharisees

The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever

• The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and we learn from Proverbs to search wisdom for it will never depart
• Clean shows us how we are to worship: in spirit and in truth

The rules of the LORD are true and righteous altogether

• Or decrees of the LORD
• Psalm 119:160 “The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.”

More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold

• Fine = paz meaning to strengthen. Denotes purity
• Proverbs 8:10 “Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold,”
• Psalm 119:72 “The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.”
• The law is better than any amount of money, for money is destined to perish. What does it profit a man to gain the world and lose his soul?

Sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb

• Psalm 119:103 “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”
• Revelation and Ezekiel – eat the scroll, and it tasted like honey in my mouth
• Proverbs 16:24 “Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.”

Moreover, by them is your servant warned

• God warned us in Deut 30 to stay away from sin or die, in the strongest terms He says “NO SIN”
• And without them we are left with nothing, no center, no glue, no truth, no guideposts, no signs, nothing.

In keeping them there is great reward

• And He warned us in Deut 30 to keep them and live. For by them we possess eternal life
• Now, if this is the old revelation, if this is the law that brings death and destruction, condemnation and woe, that blinds men’s eyes, and yet is perfect, life giving, right, clean, eternal, true, pure, the essence of wisdom itself, how much greater is Christ Jesus!!!!!!!  John 1:17 && 1 Corinthians 15:56 “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.”

Who can discern his errors?

• We are blind to our own faults, thinking we are decent people, generally sinless. HA! As we come into the light our true selves are exposed. We don’t even acknowledge 1/1000^th of our faults
• 1 Cor 4:4 “For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me.”
• The law is a mirror for ourselves

Declare me innocent from hidden faults

• Leviticus 4:2+ Speak to the people of Israel, saying, If anyone sins unintentionally in any of the LORD’s commandments about things not to be done, and does any one of them

• And how can we be cleansed of our sins? Supplication, asking. Romans 4, we cannot work for our cleansing. It is a prayer for forgiveness

Keep back your servant also form presumptuous sins

• 1 Samuel 25:34 & 39 The Lord held David back from sin
• Our nature is sin, and that means we are slaves to it.  We are slaves to whom we submit to obey, our passions and lusts.  A world without restraint is a Romans 3 world. All good comes from God
• God is continually with His hand on us

let them not have dominion over me

• Psalm 119:133 “Keep steady my steps according to your promise, and let no iniquity get dominion over me.”
• Romans 6:14 “For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.”

Then I shall be blameless and innocent of great transgression

• Turn me and I shall be turned.

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

• David asks for a clean heart and a clean tongue. For whomever has mastered the tongue has mastered himself. 

Or LORD my rock and my redeemer

• Psalm 18:2 “The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”