Today’s post is part of our Psalm Saturdays series from guest blogger Robert Chamberlain. You can contact him by sending a message to bobjc88 @ gmail.com. You can also find him at his new blog at www.roberlain.blogspot.com .
Psalm 19:7–14 (ESV)
7 The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple;
8 the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes;
9 the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.
11 Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.
12 Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults.
13 Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression.
14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
If the first half of Psalm 19 is about how creation testifies to God’s glory, this second half is about how God’s Word testifies to His glory too. Most of what the Psalmist would have of the Scriptures would be the Law of God revealed to Moses, which we know as the first five books in the old testament.
God’s Law is perfect. Just because we don’t perfectly keep it doesn’t mean to say that His Law is imperfect, just us. We can’t blame God’s Law for our failures.
God’s Word tells us the way we should go. But even though we go astray, we’re assured that if we believe in God, He will credit it to us as righteousness. The righteous live not by Law-keeping: impossible! The righteous live by faith in the Lord our salvation.
The Bible is invaluable, priceless. Gold may perish, but God’s Word endures forever. Too much sweet food can sicken you, but you can never plumb the depths of the riches of Holy Scripture.
The Scriptures are practical- they warn us. If we keep them, we gain eternal life. The Psalm closes with a prayer for forgiveness and acceptance. Knowing God’s character, we can have confidence that He’ll answer that kind of prayer.
“Our Lord, we ask that You would forgive and accept us eternally, in Christ Jesus, in whose name we pray, amen.”
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