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Scott's Reference Library
Psalm 19:1 through Psalm 19:14 (NIV)
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 display knowledge.
3 There is no speech or language
where their voice is not heard.
4 Their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun,
5 which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion,
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 hidden from its heat.
7 The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving 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 ordinances of the LORD are sure
and altogether righteous.
10 They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the comb.
11 By them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
12 Who can discern his errors?
Forgive my hidden faults.
13 Keep your servant also from willful sins;
may they not rule over me.
Then will I be blameless,
innocent of great transgression.
14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
VERSES 1-6
The heavens so declare the glory of God, and proclaim his wisdom, power, and
goodness, that all ungodly men are left without excuse. They speak themselves to
be works of God’s hands; for they must have a Creator who is eternal, infinitely
wise, powerful, and good. The counter-changing of day and night is a great proof
of the power of God, and calls us to observe, that, as in the kingdom of nature,
so in that of providence, he forms the light, and creates the darkness, Isaiah
45:7, and sets the one against the other. The sun in the firmament is an emblem
of the Sun of righteousness, the Bridegroom of the church, and the Light of the
world, diffusing Divine light and salvation by his gospel to the nations of the
earth. He delights to bless his church, which he has espoused to himself; and
his course will be unwearied as that of the sun, till the whole earth is filled
with his light and salvation. Let us pray for the time when he shall enlighten,
cheer, and make fruitful every nation on earth, with the blessed salvation. They
have no speech or language, so some read it, and yet their voice is heard. All
people may hear these preachers speak in their own tongue the wonderful works of
God. Let us give God the glory of all the comfort and benefit we have by the
lights of heaven, still looking above and beyond them to the Sun of
righteousness.
VERSES 7-10
The Holy Scripture is of much greater benefit to us than day or night, than the
air we breathe, or the light of the sun. To recover man out of his fallen state,
there is need of the word of God. The word translated “law,” may be rendered
doctrine, and be understood as meaning all that teaches us true religion. The
whole is perfect; its tendency is to convert or turn the soul from sin and the
world, to God and holiness. It shows our sinfulness and misery in departing from
God, and the necessity of our return to him. This testimony is sure, to be fully
depended on: the ignorant and unlearned believing what God saith, become wise
unto salvation. It is a sure direction in the way of duty. It is a sure fountain
of living comforts, and a sure foundation of lasting hopes. The statues of the
Lord are right, just as they should be; and, because they are right, they
rejoice the heart. The commandments of the Lord are pure, holy, just, and good.
By them we discover our need of a Saviour; and then learn how to adorn his
gospel. They are the means which the Holy Spirit uses in enlightening the eyes;
they bring us to a sight and sense of our sin and misery, and direct us in the
way of duty. The fear of the Lord, that is, true religion and godliness, is
clean, it will cleanse our way; and it endureth for ever. The ceremonial law is
long since done away, but the law concerning the fear of God is ever the same.
The judgments of the Lord, his precepts, are true; they are righteous, and they
are so altogether; there is no unrighteousness in any of them. Gold is only for
the body, and the concerns of time; but grace is for the soul, and the concerns
of eternity. The word of God, received by faith, is more precious than gold; it
is sweet to the soul, sweeter than honey. The pleasure of sense soon surfeit,
yet never satisfy; but those of religion are substantial and satisfying; there
is no danger of excess.
VERSES 11-14
God’s word warns the wicked not to go on in his wicked way, and warns the
righteous not to turn from his good way. There is a reward, not only after
keeping, but in keeping God’s commandments. Religion makes our comforts sweet,
and our crosses easy, life truly valuable, and death itself truly desirable.
David not only desired to be pardoned and cleansed from the sins he had
discovered and confessed, but from those he had forgotten or overlooked. All
discoveries of sin made to us by the law, should drive us to the throne of
grace, there to pray. His dependence was the same with that of every Christian
who says, Surely in the Lord Jesus have I righteousness and strength. No prayer
can be acceptable before God which is not offered in the strength of our
Redeemer or Divine Kinsman, through Him who took our nature upon him, that he
might redeem us unto God, and restore the long-lost inheritance. May our hearts
be much affected with the excellence of the word of God; and much affected with
the evil of sin, and the danger we are in of it, and the danger we are in by it.