Psalm 19
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they reveal knowledge.
3 They have no speech, they use no words;
no sound is heard from them.
4 Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.
5 It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,
like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
6 It rises at one end of the heavens
and makes its circuit to the other;
nothing is deprived of its warmth.
7 The law of the Lord is perfect,
refreshing the soul.
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the Lord are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
9 The fear of the Lord is pure,
enduring forever.
The decrees of the Lord are firm,
and all of them are righteous.
10 They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the honeycomb.
11 By them your servant is warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
12 But who can discern their own errors?
Forgive my hidden faults.
13 Keep your servant also from willful sins;
may they not rule over me.
Then I will be blameless,
innocent of great transgression.
14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
If I have a life scripture, it is this. Naturally, being a “director of music,” I feel it’s written to me, but beyond that, I love the dual themes of the “beauty of God reflected in creation” and the “beauty of God’s law.”
David has a heart that’s open to “God on display” and “God speaking.” As an artist who has spent a lifetime thinking about beauty, what it is, and what it means, I’m always moved by creation.
One of my favorite things is to go running at sunset. I find God so often showing off in the evening sky.
But David doesn’t stop with God impersonal, but rather God personal. God who cares. Cares enough for his creation—his children—that he gives them good laws to live by. Laws that are perfect, trustworthy, right, radiant, pure, firm, righteous.
More precious than gold, sweeter than honey.
In them is warning, exposing of errors.
And he ends with this benediction: “May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.”
Here are two posts one on each section:
Psalm 19:7-14
Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.