Summary Statement for Psalm 19
The one and only true God is not silent! God speaks to us through nature (general revelation in creation) and He also speaks to us in His written Word (specific revelation in the Scriptures).
Outline
l. God Reveals Himself in Nature (v.1-6)
ll. God Reveals Himself in His Word (v.7-10)
lll. Response to God’s Revelation (v.11-14)
Genre
This Psalm is classified as a Wisdom Psalm, or more specifically a Torah Psalm.
Torah, in the generic sense of the Hebrew word literally means ‘direction’ or ‘instruction’. Originally, it meant ‘to point’, ‘to throw’, or ‘to shoot an arrow’. Specific to the Bible in a narrow sense, Torah means the first five books of the Hebrew Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy). In a broader sense, it also refers to any of the written or oral laws and traditions of the Jewish people.
(To point… See Genesis 46:28 – Judah points the way to Goshen).
When Jewish people use the word ‘torah’, they are likely referring to the Five Books of Moses, which are the foundation of all Jewish learning and guidance.
A Psalm categorized as being a Torah Psalm is a poem/song that is instructive in areas concerning the nature of the inspired Scriptures.
God Reveals Himself in Nature (v.1-6)
Natural revelation declares much about the power and majesty of God.
Natural Revelation is Continuous
Day to day (v.4)
Night to night (v.4)
Natural Revelation is Abundant
Pours forth speech (v.2) – means a gushing forth; pouring forth of knowledge in abundance. There is no shortage of testimony of God’s revelation in nature (stars, flowers, snowflakes, a blade of grass, the clouds, human body).
Natural Revelation is Universal
Throughout all the earth; to the end of the world (v.4)
From one end of the heavens to the other (v.6)
Nothing hidden from the heat of the sun (v.6)
See Romans 1 – people are without excuse
God Reveals Himself in His Word (v.7-10)
“The Bible is God’s Word to man, not man’s word about God”. – H.B. Charles
Law – an individual teaching, the Law given at Mt. Sinai or all of Scripture.
Perfect – flawless; without error; consistent; unimpaired; genuine; nothing misleading or unnecessary.
Restore – “bring back”; return; provision for forgiveness and restoration with God!
Testimony – covenant; references all the commandments that make up the covenant with Israel
Sure – reliable and trustworthy
Wise – a naive person who has had no training; no knowledge or discipline; wanders into danger – what he needs is skill to live a disciplined life to bring honor to his community, family and God
This word is related to the same sort of practical ‘skill’ to describe a sailor’s skill during a storm – or the same skill the people had who built the tabernacle (see Exodus 31:6).
Precepts and commandments (closely associated) – regulations for the righteous;
Right – appropriately clear and direct
Rejoicing the heart – living in obedience to God’s commands brings joy vs. insecurity of rebellion
Commandments – the entire law with its commands and provisions
Pure – without any imperfection or pollution
Enlightening the eyes – God’s Word not only enables us to see where we’re going, but how we should get there!
Fear – term used to describe the reverential effects of the law
Clean – not contaminated; not corrupted; not defiled
Enduring forever – corrupted things do not last (Heaven and earth will pass away but not the Word of the Lord (Matt. 24:35).
Judgments – decisions; in a legal case, the goal is to get to the truth
True – reality; what is reliable; what is faithful
Righteous – corresponds to the standard; justice
God’s Words are desirable: better than riches; more satisfying than anything physical
Job 23:12 – “I have not failed the command of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food”.
Establish my footsteps in Your Word ~ Psalm 119:133 