Psalm 19 - The Glory Of God In Creation And In His Word Series

THE GLORY OF GOD IN CREATION AND IN HIS WORD

TEXT: Psalm 19:1-14

Psalms 19:1-14 (KJV) To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. [2] Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. [3] There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. [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, [5] Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. [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. [7] The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. [8] The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. [9] The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. [10] More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. [11] Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. [12] Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. [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. [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.

I. INTRODUCTION—A HYMN OF DAVID

-We take note again in the superscription of this psalm because it gives us a clue. This psalm is meant to serve as a hymn. It is to the chief musician and we first saw this identifying mark in Psalm 4.

-The chief musician was the one who directed the music in Israel’s worship services. It was used by the choir leader of the Levitical priests and of the congregational singing that accompanied their worship (1 Chron. 23:5, 30; Neh. 11:17).

-Psalm 19 was a song that encouraged the worship to God for His creation and for His Law. It serves to make us aware that God’s glory is on constant display before man both with all of creation and with the Word of God.

-Psalm 19 serves as a centerpiece of praise to God because it is the middle Psalm falling into a category of Psalms 15-24. Psalm 15 is a portrait of a true worshiper and when you come to Psalm 24, there is much that is very similar because it speaks as well to the character of the one who is involved in worship. So Psalm 15 and Psalm 24 serve as bookends of what comes between them and Psalm 19 is the center of that.

-There is an arrangement of these Psalms that follows a circular pattern of sorts.

• Psalms 15 and 24 make up the outer ring by telling us about the high majesty of God and the moral character of what a true worshiper looks like. My view of God has a direct impact on my quality of worship. A low view of Him, there will be a low view and value of worship and a high view of Him, a corresponding high view and value on worship.

• Then you have Psalms 16 and 23 showing the Lord as a refuge and then as a shepherd.

• This is followed by Psalm 18 paired up with Psalm 21-22 that gives a description of David being attacked by enemies from within and without Israel.

-When we look at Scripture in this way, we suddenly find that we are well served when we take Paul’s command to Timothy seriously to be a student, a learner, and a pupil, even a scholar of the Word (2 Tim. 2:15). We are to be an apprentice, a workman, a laborer who is willing to seek out the treasures that Scripture has.

-Before we move into the heart of this psalm, we also can characterize this psalm as not just a hymn but a wisdom psalm. It is noted with the other wisdom psalms: 1, 19, 32, 37, 49, 73, 112, 119, and 128.

II. PSALM 19—THE GLORY OF GOD IN CREATION AND IN HIS WORD

-As with several other messages in this series already, I am borrowing an outline from Steven J. Lawson from the Holman Old Testament Commentary—Psalms 1-75 (published by Broadman and Holman).