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