Some Reflections on Psalm 19

For the past few months, my wife and I have been slowly making our way through the Bible, taking time whenever we can to read it aloud to each other and discuss the passages. We’re not following any specific reading or study plan, but rather, alternating between the Old and New Testaments. We recently began venturing into the Book of Psalms, which brought us to what is probably my favorite chapter in the entire Bible: Psalm 19.

It’s fraught to pick one portion of Scripture over any other. Not just theologically speaking, since all of it’s “breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16), but also in terms of personal study and significance. That said, I’ve frequently meditated on Psalm 19 over the years and have always found it inspiring, poetic, and convicting.

Psalm 19 can be roughly divided into three sections. The first section (vv. 1 – 6) begins the chapter with one of the Bible’s most dazzling statements: “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.” As a longtime space nerd, this resonates deep within me. Staring up at the night sky, contemplating the vastness of the universe, or looking at the mind-blowing images we’ve gathered over the years, I simply can’t deny the truth of David’s words. For Christians, the glory of the cosmos should always point us to the glorious One who created and upholds such amazing sights and phenomena. As Paul Tripp writes:

All the glorious things in creation have been intentionally designed by God to reveal the glory of the One who created them. And so, that sunset, the lumbering gait of an elephant, the inexhaustible wings of a hummingbird, the power of a storm, the beautiful fragrance of a flower, the unbelievably beautiful coat of a tiger — all of those things were meant to remind us that there is One who sits on the throne of the universe who created and controls all that is.

The next five verses drive home the totality and expanse of nature’s declaration: “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” (vv 3 – 4). David’s vivid imagery returns in verse 5, likening the sun to “a bridegroom leaving his chamber” and “a strong man” that “runs its course with joy” — all phrases that evoke a sense of pride and celebration, as if nature itself delights in what it has been created to do, and by extension, the Creator himself.

The second section (vv. 7 – 11) turns from the natural to the spiritual. (Or, as some commentators have put it, from God’s “general” revelation of Himself in nature to His “special” revelation through His Word.) After considering the glories of creation, David now seems compelled to consider the worth of a deity capable of creating such a wondrous world. Or to put it another away, the God who has created such a majestic display in the world around us must surely possess an equally majestic wisdom, holiness, and character — all of which are best understood through His law.

David runs down a list of various items (e.g., the law of the Lord, the commandment of the Lord, the fear of the Lord), evaluates each one of them, and finds them all desirable and beneficial. The law of the Lord “is perfect, reviving the soul,” for example, while the testimony of the Lord “is sure, making wise the simple” and the commandment of the Lord “is pure, enlightening the eyes.” Each one of these stirring phrases could be broken down even further, but David’s main point seems to be this: all of these things are trustworthy and are therefore more desirable than gold and sweeter than honey (v. 10).

David’s observations here feel strikingly similar to Solomon’s nuggets of wisdom in the Book of Proverbs. But David isn’t writing a step-by-step guide for being a better person or living a better, more prosperous life. He doesn’t go into the specifics as to what, exactly, comprises the testimony or precepts of the Lord. Instead, he suggests that the God who created and upholds all things can be trusted with defining how best to live within His creation, with the result being revival, wisdom, joy, enlightenment, and truth.

The chapter’s third and final section (vv. 12 – 14) turns inward, as David reflects on his own response to everything he’s considered in the preceding verses, from God’s creation to God’s laws and commandments. Although the entire chapter is characterized by awe and humility, David’s response in this final section seems more like a challenge.

He implores God to “declare me innocent from hidden faults” and “keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins.” At the risk of sounding sacrilegious, David almost seems to be asking God — whose glory and majesty are beyond any doubt — to prove that He’s actually good for something. To deliver on His promises. To step up to the plate and put His majesty to use for David’s benefit, keeping him “innocent of great transgression.” (This sort of directness is precisely why I enjoy the Psalms so much.)

Psalm 19 concludes with what I’d consider my “life verse.” (Former youth group kids will know exactly what I mean by that.) In verse 14, David writes, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” Here, David obviously wants his behavior to be worthy of the God that he’s described to date, a God powerful enough to create the cosmos but also mindful enough to reveal His innermost character to humanity.

I feel the same, and so I often pray and repeat those words to myself.

I certainly want to be mindful of what I say and think concerning those who are closest to me, starting with my wife and children, and extending to my friends, co-workers, and fellow churchgoers. But I find this verse has a special relevance given the amount of time I spend online. In this highly divisive and social media-saturated age of ours, divine intervention often seems necessary to keep us from indulging in rude and callous behavior that we would never countenance offline.

It’s all too easy to be snarky and dismissive in virtual spaces. However, I want my words on both Opus and social media to be salt and light. What’s more, I want to ensure that even my thoughts and intentions are godly and honorable. And if anyone can help me with that, then it’s certainly the One whom the very heavens sing about.