Bible Commentaries:What does Psalm chapter 19 mean?
Chapter Context
This psalm of David celebrates two separate revelations which God has given human beings. He has revealed Himself in nature and in Scripture. Psalm 8 is a companion psalm because it, too, refers to nature as revealing God's majesty. Romans 1:18–25 also points out that God revealed himself through nature, but the passage indicates that disobedient people rejected this revelation.
What does Psalm chapter 19 mean?
This psalm of David begins by referring to the heavens and the sky as proofs of God's creative work. The first verse uses Hebrew terms similar to those found in the first verses of Genesis. The existence, structure, and details of nature shout the reality of a Creator (Psalm 19:1).
David states this revelation continues both night and day. The point is not merely that nature looks impressive. The function of the universe also announces the incredible design of God. A vivid example of this is how earth is affected by the sun. The sun rises in full strength, traverses the sky, and sets at the opposite end of the horizon. The sun's warmth and rays touch everything on earth (Psalm 19:2–6).
As well as nature, God can be seen in the inspired Word He gives mankind. God's revelation in Scripture is perfect, trustworthy, right, pure, clean, and true. It revives the soul, brings wisdom, creates joy in the heart, gives enlightenment, and endures forever. God's written revelation in Scripture is more valuable than the finest gold and sweeter to the taste than honey. These are framed in a poetic, repeated structure, which echoes some of the book of Proverbs. God's servant finds warning and great reward in His written revelation (Psalm 19:7–11).
David concludes the Psalm with prayer. He asks for deliverance from the grasp of presumptuous sins—meaning the kind of arrogant actions that invite harsh consequences. He asks God to accept his speech and the meditation of his heart. David not only wants to obey God, he seeks to please Him, in words and thoughts, as well. David addresses God as Lord, rock, and redeemer. This final verse has served as a model, not only for prayer, but also for songs of praise for much of Christian history (Psalm 19:12–14).
