Psalm 19
1. Those who espouse evolution should take careful notice of the tense of the first phrase of this psalm. The NASB (from which the quotes in this series come) translates the verse very accurately: “The heavens are telling of the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands” (emphasis added). There is no “might be” about it, and it is also significant that it is in the present tense. When we look at the heavens, we learn about God.
2. Verse 2 speaks of the amount of knowledge we can learn from just witnessing the creation: “Day to day pours forth speech.”
3. Verse 4 reminds us that everyone everywhere can learn of God simply noticing creation (you might want to read Romans 1:18ff here, as it has similar thoughts).
4. Verse 6 speaks of the “circuit” of the sun. We know that the sun does not move in the way that creates daybreak and dawn, but the sun does move. In fact, our entire solar system moves, and does so rapidly. Whether or not that’s what David had in mind here or not, it does show an awareness of the order (dare I say, “design”?) of the universe.
5. In verse 7 there is an abrupt shift from the world created by God to the Word given by God. While the shift may be odd, the thought process is actually the same: order, design, thought.
6. In verses 7-9, David gives a fascinating list of what the Bible can do for us. It is significant, I think, that he specifically mentions “the law of the Lord,” the precepts of the Lord” and “the commandments of the Lord.” When we think of God’s Word, we cannot just think of the stories or the “love passages,” we need to remember that the commands are there for us, too, to make us better.
7. Verse 11 would make a great devotional for young people (or adults). It gives two very important reasons to follow what God says: “By them Your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward.”
8. Verses 12-13 show us how serious David was about keeping himself pure. In these verses he seeks God’s forgiveness for unintentional sins, and then seeks God’s help in avoiding them. These verses remind me of Job, who sacrificed for his children in case they had sinned.
9. We are reminded in the final verse that God knows even our thoughts (“the meditation of my heart”). Are my thoughts pure? The verse also reminds us of the harmony that needs to exist between our thoughts and our speech.
