Bible Commentaries
Psalms 19

Verses 1-14

Psalms 19:0

Historical Background - Psalms 19:0 shows the two ways that God reveals Himself to mankind: through creation, and through His Word. Creation gives us a general, or natural, revelation of God while the Scriptures give us specific, or special, revelation about Him. Psalms 19:1-6 deals with natural revelation while using the name El ( לא ) for God. This is a contracted form of the Hebrew word Elohim ( םיהלא ). Unfortunately, because of man’s depravity, natural revelation is insufficient to redeem mankind. Therefore, Psalms 19:7-10 deals with special revelation through God’s Word, and these verses use the proper Hebrew name for God YHWH ( הוהי ), which has been revealed only to God’s people Israel. E. W. Bullinger says that Psalms 19:1-6 reveals the Creator through His works, while Psalms 19:7-10 reveals Israel’s Covenant God Jehovah through His Word. [21] He believes that the stars of the Zodiac were used before the time of Moses as a testimony of God to the children of man. When the Scriptures were recorded beginning with the Pentateuch around 1500 B.C., there was no longer any need to look to the stars for insight. For the divine revelation of God could now be found in the Holy Scriptures. Finally, Psalms 19:11-14 reveal man’s proper response to his revelation to God.

[21] E. W. Bullinger, The Witness of the Stars (London: E. W. Bullinger, c1893), 2.

Theme - John 1:1-5 reveals to us the divine attributes of the Word of God. The Word is (1) eternal, (2) God Himself, (3) the medium of creation, and (4) the source of Life. Benny Hinn says that the “Word” within the context of this passage of Scripture means, “the Revelation of God.” [22] In other words, since the beginning of time, God has revealed Himself to mankind through His creation by the means of “the light,” or the revelation of Himself, that shines in the darkness of every man’s soul. Hebrew Psalms 3:1 tells us that there are two aspects to God’s being; His essence and His glory. John 1:1-5 tells us that the Word is an attribute of His essence, and Psalms 19:1 says creation reveals His glory. God’s glory is revealed to mankind through His creation, while His essence is revealed through the Word of God. God’s creation reveals to mankind a general revelation of Himself (Psalms 19:1-6), while the Word reveals specific details of God’s divine nature or essence (Psalms 19:7-10).

[22] Benny Hinn, “Fire Conference,” Miracle Center Cathedral, Kampala, Uganda, 5-6 June 2009.

Hebrews 1:3, “Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;”

Psalms 19:1, To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.”

Outline Here is a proposed outline of Psalms 19:0:

1. Natural Revelation of God Psalms 19:1-6

2. Special Revelation of God Psalms 19:7-10

3. The Redemptive Purpose of Natural and Special Revelation Psalms 19:11-14

Psalms 19:1-6 Natural Revelation of God - Psalms 19:1-6 deals with the theme of the natural revelation of God. We find a parallel passage to natural revelation in Romans 1:19-32, which teaches us that creation reveals to mankind the two-fold attributes of God. First, it reveals that there is an all-powerful and eternal God. Secondly, it reveals that this God is overseeing His creation as the Godhead. The amazing intricacies of nature tell us that creation has a purpose and a divine Creator who is intervening in His creation to insure that it fulfills its purpose.

Psalms 19:1 (To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.) The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

Psalms 19:2 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.

Psalms 19:3 There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.

Psalms 19:4-6 The Tabernacle for the Sun - Note that the greatest spectacle of God’s creation and glory in the heaven is the sun.

In the book of Revelation, Jesus Christ is likened to the sun shining in its strength.

Revelation 1:16, “And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength .”

Psalms 19:4 Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,

Psalms 19:4 Word Study on “line” Strong says the Hebrew word “line” ( קַו ) (H6957) literally means, “a cord, especially for measuring.” Figuratively, Strong says this word means, “a rule, a rim, or a musical string or accord.” Holladay says it means, “a call.” In Isaiah 28:10; Isaiah 28:13, the word “line” refers to a syllable imitating a prophetic speech, thus “line upon line.”

Isaiah 28:10, “For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:”

Isaiah 28:13, “But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.”

Psalms 19:5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.

Psalms 19:6 His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.

Psalms 19:6 Comments - Psalms 19:6 describes an amazing fact that the sun has a circuit. In other words, it does not just stand stationary in space. Scientists have discovered that the sun rotates along with all of the stars in the Milky Way galaxy in a full rotation. It takes the sun 220 million years to complete one galactic rotation. [23]

[23] Hartmut Frommert and Christine Kronberg, “The Milky Way Galaxy,” [on-line]; accessed 1 September 2009; available from http://www.maths.tcd.ie/~powersr/New/notes/3rd year misc/3013 galaxies/The Milky Way Galaxy.htm; Internet.

Psalms 19:7-10 Special Revelation of God Psalms 19:7-10 deals with special revelation through God’s magnificent Word. Note in Psalms 19:1-6 the Psalmist begins by recognizing natural revelation through God's glorious handiwork, then turns to recognize special revelation through God's glorious Word.

Psalms 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.

Psalms 19:7 “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul” - Word Study on “converting” The TWOT says the Hebrew word שׁוּב (H7725) is the twelfth most frequently used verb in the Old Testament, and is found seventy-one times in the book of Psalms. The TWOT says it basically means, “to (re)turn.” Gesenius says its basic meaning is “movement back to the point of departure.”

Comments The Word of God is His “instrument” that restores man’s soul, his inner make-up, his thoughts and mindset, back to the original state that God created man to be. Each person enters life with the innocence of a child, but as he grows up, the difficulties of life can defile and embitter the soul of man. God’s Word is the only thing that is capable of restoring man’s mind back to its original state of purity.

“the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple” - Comments The Word of God gives wisdom to the person who lacks any sense. It takes the carnal mind of man, depraved and darkened from sin, and restores it to the mindset that God intended it to be, a mind full of the wisdom of God, creating a person who understands the ways of God. If a person is not bright and intelligent, the Word of God will restore the mind and make it sharp and able to learn and understand.

Psalms 19:8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.

Psalms 19:8 “The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart” - Comments The heart of the new believer hungers for and delights in the Word of God.

Psalms 19:9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.

Psalms 19:10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

Psalms 19:10 Comments Nothing in the ancient world had more value than fine gold, and nothing in the ancient world tasted sweeter than honey.

Psalms 19:11-14 The Redemptive Purpose of Natural and Special Revelation The purpose of natural and special revelation is redemptive. Overwhelmed by the revelation of God's glorious creation and His wondrous Word, the psalmist pleas to God in response to the revelation of Almighty God. In Psalms 19:11-14 the Psalmist is praying that sin will not have dominion over him (Psalms 19:12), so that he might be found accepted by God (Psalms 19:14). Note that David was the first person in the Holy Bible to call God his Father. In other words, he understood forgiveness of sins and fellowship with God, which revealed to him the fatherly attributes of God. Prior to David, no man understood this divine attribute of almighty God.

Psalms 19:11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.

Psalms 19:11 Comments The Word of God will gives those who serve the Word warnings so that he avoids unnecessary problems in life.

Psalms 19:12 Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.

Psalms 19:12 Comments - The psalmist repents of any hidden sins of the heart that he cannot specifically identify.

Psalms 19:13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.

Psalms 19:13 “Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins” Comments - Not only did the psalmist ask forgiveness for unknown sins, he also repents of willful, known sins. Presumptuous sins are those that man commits while knowing they are wrong.

Psalms 19:13 “let them not have dominion over me” - Comments - In Genesis 4:7 God explained to Cain that his sacrifice was not accepted because of sin, and warns him not to let sin have dominion over him.

Genesis 4:7, “If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.”

Psalms 19:13 “then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression” Comments - The psalmist has tasted the joy of being upright with God as his conscience bears witness of his forgiveness of sins and pureness of heart. Perhaps the phrase “the great transgression” refers to the final day of judgment.

Psalms 19:14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

Psalms 19:14 “O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer” Comments - Here we see the Trinity of the godhead. “O Lord” - The Hebrew word “Lord” used here is “YHWH”. “my strength” - David knew that strength that comes from the anointing of the Holy Spirit. “and my redeemer” - He knew that the Messiah would one day come as a Redeemer, Jesus Christ.