Psalms 19

TO THE CHIEF MUSICIAN (CONDUCTOR), A PSALM OF DAVID


[Psalms 19:1] 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.

The very fact of existence is praise of the Almighty.

[Psalms 19:3] THERE IS NO SPEECH NOR LANGUAGE, WHERE THEIR VOICE IS NOT
HEARD.

[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 19:5] WHICH IS AS A BRIDEGROOM COMING OUT OF HIS CHAMBER, AND
REJOICETH AS A  STRONG MAN TO RUN A RACE.

<<A BRIDEGROOM>> On the day of his marriage when he goes forth to meet the bride.
     << A  STRONG MAN>>: Hebrew "gibor" also connoting hero. From the root
"GeBaR" to overcome.  A hero runs towards his goal delighting in the
opportunity to test his mettle.
Radak: <<The hero is happy and delighted on his way to war>>.


[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.

Nowadays we consider the sun to be static and the earth to revolve around
it but the Bible speaks from the perspective of man and as we see it it is
the sun that revolves around us. Even scientifically this is not incorrect
since everything is relative. It  is only more scientific to say that the
earth revolves around the sun and not the sun around it since from an
astronomic point of view it makes the whole process easier to explain.

[Psalms 19:7] THE LAW OF THE LORD IS PERFECT, CONVERTING THE SOUL: THE
TESTIMONY OF THE LORD IS SURE, MAKING WISE THE SIMPLE.

<<CONVERTING THE SOUL>>: Hebrew "meshivat nefesh" reviving the mind,
restoring individuality.
Quite a few people who were once considered "backward" in intelligence and
intellectual pursuits through learning the Bible and related subjects
revealed the opposite. A rather humorous Midrash points out that Moses at
the beginning of his ministry  considered himself "Heavy of speech" but
after receiving the Bible could not stop talking.
At the beginning Moses said:
"AND MOSES SAID UNTO THE LORD, O MY LORD, I AM NOT ELOQUENT, NEITHER
HERETOFORE, NOR SINCE THOU HAST SPOKEN UNTO THY SERVANT: BUT I AM SLOW OF
SPEECH, AND OF  A SLOW TONGUE" [Exodus 4:10] .
Towards the end it was recorded:
"THESE BE THE WORDS WHICH MOSES SPAKE UNTO ALL ISRAEL" [Deuteronomy 1:1]

S.R. Hirsch says that through contemplating Creation man could realize that
there is a Creator but we needed Divine Revelation through the Bible to

understand what is required os us in the here and now.

[Psalms 19:8] THE STATUTES OF THE LORD ARE RIGHT, REJOICING THE HEART: THE
COMMANDMENT  OF THE LORD IS PURE, ENLIGHTENING THE EYES.

A lot of wisdom and useful knoiwledge in encompassed in the Bible which
also sharpens our instincts and intuition.


[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 19:11] MOREOVER BY THEM IS THY SERVANT WARNED: AND IN KEEPING OF
THEM THERE IS GREAT REWARD.

Through learning  the Bible and  acting according to it we receive reward
both in this word and the next. Apart from that  the experience itself  is
exhilarating and uplifting and a reward in its own right.


[Psalms 19:12] WHO CAN UNDERSTAND HIS ERRORS? CLEANSE THOU ME FROM SECRET
FAULTS.

    <<ERRORS>>: Hebrew "shigiyot" denoting (S.R. Hirsch) mistakes made
through lack of knowledge.
<<SECRET FAULTS>>: Hebrew "nistorot" literally hidden things, things I was
not aware of. It sometimes happens that we offend or harm people without
intending to do so.  This is the last thing we need to do. It is enough to
keep from deliberate offences let alone having unintentional transgression to deal with.


[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.

<<PRESUMPTUOUS SINS>>: Hebrew "zadim". S.R. Hirsch says it means "wanton men".
Do not let wicked people influence me or have any control over me. If I
keep away from the wicked and their effects I will be able to walk uprightly.

[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.

If we have good intentions and positive thoughts then we have a very good
chance of not sinning but of doing good and having a strengthening
influence on others.   The things that we say and how we speak often
determine our feelings and actions. If God will help us think correctly and
speak surely then we will be redemed. God will be our strength and our redemption.
"ALL THE LABOUR OF MAN IS FOR HIS MOUTH, AND YET THE APPETITE IS NOT
FILLED"   [The Preacher 6:7].
In Hebrew this verse can also be understand as indicating that all that
happens to a person is determined by what he says and he will not be able
to do so adequately.

 
Psalms Index
HOme