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Psalm Nineteen
New King James Version (NKJV)
INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 19
To the chief Musician
a Psalm of David. This psalm
was penned by David
and inscribed to the chief musician
as others
to be used
in public service
and was designed for Gospel times
as the subject of it
shows; which is first
not an account of the light of nature
and then of the
law of Moses
but of the Gospel of Christ; and especially as ministered in the
times of the apostles
as a citation out of it in Romans 10:18
makes clear.
Psalm 19:1 The
heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork.
YLT
1To the Overseer. -- A Psalm
of David. The heavens [are] recounting the honour of God
And the work of His
hands The expanse [is] declaring.
The heavens declare the glory of God
.... By which
we are to understand not the heavens literally taken
though these with the
firmament are the handiworks of God
and do declare the glory of his
perfections
especially his wisdom and power; these show that there is a God
and that he is a glorious one: but either Gospel churches
often signified by
the kingdom of heaven
in the New Testament; the members of them being
heaven-born souls
and the doctrines and ordinances ministered among them being
from heaven; and there being a very great resemblance between them and heaven
in the company and communion enjoyed in them; and who declare the glory of the
divine perfections
which is very great in the handiwork of their redemption;
and who ascribe the glory of their whole salvation to God: or rather the
apostles and first preachers of the word
as appears from Romans 10:18; who were set in the highest
place in the church; had their commission
doctrine
and success from heaven;
and who may be called by this name
because of the purity and solidity of their
ministry
and their constancy and steadfastness in it
and because of their
heavenly lives and conversations: these declared the glory of the divine
perfections; such as those particularly of grace
goodness
and mercy
which
are not discoverable by the light of nature or law of Moses
as
they are
displayed in the salvation of men by Christ
in the forgiveness of their sins
the justification of their persons
and the gift of eternal life unto them:
they taught men to ascribe the glory of salvation to God alone
Father
Son
and Spirit; they set forth in their ministry the glory of Christ
of his
person
and of his offices and grace; and they showed that redemption was his
handiwork
as follows:
and the firmament showeth his handiwork; for the same
persons may be called the firmament
since they that are wise are said to shine
as the brightness of it
Daniel 12:3. These were like to stars in
it
and were the light of the world
and declared that redemption is the work
which Christ undertook
and came into this world to perform
and which he has
finished; his hands have wrought it
and his own arm has brought salvation to
him. The Targum interprets the heavens and the firmament
of such persons as
contemplate the heavens
and look upon the firmament or air; and so do some
other Jewish writersF23Jarchi & Kimchi in loc. .
Psalm 19:2 2 Day unto day utters
speech
And night unto night reveals knowledge.
YLT
2Day to day uttereth speech
And night to night sheweth knowledge.
Day untoday uttereth speech
.... This
with the
following clause
and night untonight showeth knowledge
some
understand of the constant and continued succession of day and night; which
declares the glory of God
and shows him to be possessed of infinite knowledge
and wisdom; and which brings a new accession of knowledge to men; others
of
the continual declaration of the glory of God
and of the knowledge of him made
by the heavens and the firmament
the ordinances of which always continue; the
sun for a light by day
and the moon and stars for a light by night; and so
night and day constantly and successively proclaim the glory and wisdom of God:
but rather this is to be understood of the constancy of the Gospel ministry
and the continuance of the evangelic revelation. The apostles of Christ
persevered in their work
and laboured in the word and doctrine night and day:
they were in it at all seasons; yea
were instant in season and out of season;
and though they are dead
the Gospel continues
and will do as long as day and
night remain: and these
like overflowing fountains
sent forth in great
abundance
as the wordF24יביע
"eructat"
Musculus
Munster
Vatablus
Junius & Tremellius
Piscator; so Ainsworth; "scaturit"
Muis; "scaturiendo
effundit"
Cocceius; "copiose ac constanter instar foecundae cujusdam
scaturiginis protrudit
emittit"
Gejerus; so Michaelis. rendered
"uttereth" signifies
the streams of divine light and knowledge; they
were full of matter
and their tongues were as the pen of a ready writer; they
diffused the savour of the knowledge of Christ
in great plenty
in every place
where they came. These words express the continuance of the Gospel revelation
as the next do the extent of it.
Psalm 19:3 3 There is
no speech nor language Where their voice is not heard.
YLT
3There is no speech
and
there are no words. Their voice hath not been heard.
There is no speech nor
language where their voice is not heard
.... Not the voice of the
day and night; as if the sense was
that there is no people
of any speech or
language under the sun
but there is something said every day and night of the
weather
what it is
or will be
as the face of the heavens appears morning and
evening: but of the heavens and firmament; the meaning of which some take to be
this; either that though they have no proper speech nor language
yet there is
a voice in them which is heard
declaring the glory of God and his handiworks;
and the words may very well be rendered
"they have no speech nor words
without these their voice is heard"; or that there is no people
nation
or language under the heavens; see Daniel 3:4; though they are ever so
different one from another
so as not to be able to understand each other; yet
the voice of the heavens
uttering and proclaiming the glory of their Maker
is
heard and understood by them all: but rather this is to be interpreted of the
extent of the Gospel ministry by the apostles; who
according to their
commission
went everywhere preaching the word
to men of all nations
of every
speech and language; for which they were qualified
by having the gift of
various tongues bestowed upon them; so that there were no nations
of ever so
barbarous a speech and language
but they were capable of speaking to and of
being understood by them; and though they could not understand one another
they all heard the apostles speak in their own tongues the wonderful works of
God
Acts 2:4. Their voice
in the ministration
of the Gospel
was heard in every nation externally
and by many internally:
faith came by hearing; and they received the word with gladness and readiness.
This gives the Gospel revelation a superiority to the legal one; that was only
made to one nation
to the nation of the Jews; the voice of that was not heard
elsewhere; but the voice of the Gospel is heard in all nations; this revelation
is published throughout the world: and this shows that these words belong to
the times of the apostles
after they had received a commission from Christ
to
go into
all the world
and preach the Gospel to every creature; which was done
before the destruction of Jerusalem
Matthew 24:14; and which is further
confirmed by what follows.
Psalm 19:4 4 Their line[a] has gone
out through all the earth
And their words to the end of the world. In them He
has set a tabernacle for the sun
YLT
4Into all the earth hath
their line gone forth
And to the end of the world their sayings
For the sun
He placed a tent in them
Their line is gone out through all the earth
.... Not the
line or writings in the book of the creatures
the heavens
and the earth
which lie open
and are legible
and to be seen and read of all men; nor the
line and writings in the book of the Scriptures
called line upon line
and
precept upon precept
Isaiah 28:13
which
though first given to
the Jews
were written for the instruction of others
and have been
communicated to them; but the line of the apostles: everyone had his line or
measure; or the course he was to steer was measured out and directed to him;
the line of one
where he was to go and preach the Gospel
reached so far one
way
and the line of another reached so far another way; and what with one and another
their line reached throughout all the earth; see 2 Corinthians 10:13; the apostle citing
these words in Romans 10:18; renders them
"their
sound went"
&c. the sound of the Gospel
as published by them; which
agrees with the next clause;
and their words to the end of the world; to the isles
afar off
even to these northern and distant ones of England
Scotland
and
Ireland
which were reached and visited with the Gospel
either by the
apostles
or at least by some of the first ministers of the word;
in them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun; that is
in
the heavens and firmament
where the natural sun is placed; and its habitation
is fitly called a tabernacle
because it is always in motion and never stops:
or this may have some respect to its setting
when
according to the common
appearance
and to common understandings
it seems to be hid as in a tent or
tabernacle; to be as it were gone to bed
and at rest; when in the morning it
rises gay and cheerful
and comes forth like a bridegroom out of his chamber
as is said in Psalm 19:5
but this is all to be
understood
spiritually and mystically
of Christ the sun of righteousness
who
has his tabernacle among his people
his churches; and particularly has a place
and the chief place
in the ministry of the Gospel
being the sum and substance
of it; and this is of God's putting there
who committed to his apostles the
word of reconciliation
the sum of which is Christ; and this is what makes the
Gospel so glorious a light
so clear a revelation as it is: the nature
continuance
and extent of this revelation
are described in the foregoing
verses; the perspicuity and clearness of it is set forth in this clause
and in
what follows.
Psalm 19:5 5 Which is like a
bridegroom coming out of his chamber
And rejoices like a strong man to
run its race.
YLT
5And he
as a bridegroom
goeth out from his covering
He rejoiceth as a mighty one To run the path.
Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber
.... His nuptial
chamber
on which Elias writesF25Elias
in his Tishbi
p. 119. The
same word is used Isa. iv. 5. and translated "a defence".
"we
call the garment (or canopy) spread over the head of the bridegroom and bride
supported by four pillars
in the time of their espousals
חפה.'
who
looks lovely and beautiful in his nuptial robes
cheerful and pleasant in his
countenance
creating pleasure and delight in all his friends that see him and
hear his voice: and this simile is expressive of the brightness and glory of
the sun when it rises; and of the joy and pleasure which it produces in the
minds of men when they behold it: all which sets forth the loveliness and
beauty of Christ
as he is held forth in the ministration of the Gospel
and
the joy unspeakable and full of glory which his presence yields
after a short
departure from his people; see Isaiah 61:10;
and rejoiceth as a strong man
to run a race; in which he shows his readiness
velocity
and strength; and
this denotes the swiftness of the sun in running its course
and its
indefatigableness in its constant motion; though it has been employed therein
for so many thousands of years
yet every morning rises with the same cheerfulness
pursues its course
and is never weary: all which may point at the readiness of
Gospel ministers
their swiftness to run to and fro
and their strength to
fulfil the course of their ministry
in which Christ
the sun of righteousness
is held forth in so glorious a manner.
Psalm 19:6 6 Its rising is from
one end of heaven
And its circuit to the other end; And there is nothing
hidden from its heat.
YLT
6From the end of the heavens
[is] his going out
And his revolution [is] unto their ends
And nothing is hid
from his heat.
His going forth is from the end of the heaven
.... From the
east
where it rises:
and his circuit to the ends of it; to the west
where it
sets; which is expressive of the large compass the Gospel administration took
in the times of the apostles; whereby the grace of God appeared to all men
shone out in a very illustrious manner
and Christ became
what the sun is to
the earth
the light of the world;
and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof; though things
may be hid from the light of it
yet not from its heat
so forcible and
penetrating it is Christ
in the administration of the Gospel to all to whom it
comes with power
not only enlightens their minds
but quickens their souls
warms their hearts
causes them to burn within them
arises with healing in his
wings upon them
and makes his Gospel the savour of life unto life unto them.
The psalmist goes on to say more and excellent things of the Gospel
its nature
and usefulness.
Psalm 19:7 7 The law of the Lord is perfect
converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure
making
wise the simple;
YLT
7The law of Jehovah [is]
perfect
refreshing the soul
The testimonies of Jehovah [are] stedfast
Making
wise the simple
The law of the Lord is perfect
.... By which
is meant
not the law of Moses
or the ten commandments
but the
"doctrine" of the Lord; as the word תורה
"torah"
signifies
even the whole word of God
as in Isaiah 8:20. All the Scriptures of truth
which are profitable for doctrine; for setting doctrine in a clear light
and
for the vindication and establishment of it
and are the rule of doctrine both
to preachers and hearers; and which are "perfect"
contain the whole
mind and will of God
both with respect to faith and practice; whereby the man
of God is made perfect
and thoroughly furnished to all good works
2 Timothy 3:16; and especially the Gospel
part of the word of God may be designed
which both in the Old and New
Testament is called "a law" or "doctrine"
being eminently
so; the doctrine of the Messiah
and of justification by faith in his righteousness
Isaiah 2:3
Romans 3:27. The Gospel is a perfect plan
and scheme of spiritual and saving truths: it gives an account of perfect
things; as of the perfect righteousness of Christ
and complete justification
by it; of the full as well as free pardon of sins by the blood of Christ; and
of redemption and salvation from all sin and evils by him: and it also shows
where true perfection is; namely
in Christ
in whom the saints are complete
be being made to them wisdom
righteousness
sanctification
and redemption;
see James 1:25. This character
therefore
suits better with the Gospel than with the moral law; though that
as it is to
be gathered out of the whole word of God
contains the good and perfect will of
God
with respect to what is to be done or avoided; nor is anything to be added
to it; nor did our Lord come to add unto it
or to make it more perfect
but to
fulfil it
which men could not do; nor could the law make any man or anything
perfect
either perfectly sanctify
or justify
or save; whereas the bringing
in of the better hope in the Gospel does
Hebrews 9:7. The effect
under a divine
influence and blessing ascribed to it
is
converting the soul; which is a further proof
that the law of Moses is not intended: for though by it is the knowledge of
sin
or conviction of sin
which often falls short of conversion; yet the
Spirit of God
as a spirit of regeneration
conversion
and sanctification
is
not received through the doctrine or preaching of the law
but through the
ministration of the Gospel; which is designed to turn men from darkness to
light
and from the powers of Satan to God; and which use it has when it is
attended with the demonstration of the Spirit and of power; see Romans 3:20
though the words may be
rendered "relieving"
that is
refreshing and comforting the
"soul"F26משיבת נפש "recreans animam"
Vatablus
Schmidt;
"refocillat"
Piscator. as in Lamentations 1:11; Through want of bodily
food
which is the case in the passage retorted to
the spirits faint and sink
the soul is almost gone
when
by the ministration of proper food
it is as it
were brought back again
as the wordF1"Restituens animam"
Junius & Tremellius
Cocceius; "reducens"
Gejerus
Montanus; so
Ainsworth. here used signifies
and the animal spirits are cheered and revived:
and of like use is the Gospel; it is the food of the soul
by which it is
refreshed and exhilarated
when ready to sink and faint away; hereby it is
restored and revived
comforted and nourished;
the testimony of the Lord is sure; this is
another name for the word of God
or the Holy Scriptures; so called because
they testify of Christ
of his person
office
and grace; of what he is
was to
do
and suffer
and perform for his people
and of his glory that should follow
thereon
John 5:39; and particularly the doctrine of
the Gospel is the testimony of our Lord Jesus Christ
both which he himself testified
and which is a testimony concerning him
2 Timothy 1:8. And this is
"sure"
or "to be believed"F2נאמנה
"fidele"
V. L. Musculus
Pagninus; "fide dignum"
Piscator
Michaelis. ; the whole of Scripture is true
coming from the God of
truth; having for its principal subject Christ
who is truth itself
and being
dictated by the Spirit of truth; and particularly the Gospel part of it
and
all the truths therein contained
especially the doctrine of salvation by
Christ
which is a faithful saying
and worthy of all acceptation: the Gospel
is a testimony of record which God himself has bore concerning his Son
and
eternal life by him
and therefore sure and to be depended upon; for if the
witness of men is received
the witness of God is greater
1 John 5:9. The effect ascribed to the word
of God
Or to the Gospel under this character
is
making wise the simple. The Septuagint
Vulgate
Latin
Syriac
Arabic
and Ethiopic versions
render it "babes" or
"children"; and so Apollinarius; and the word פתי
here used in the Arabic language
is said toF3Shemot Rabba
s. 3.
fol. 93. 2. signify such; and here it intends babes and children not in years
but in understanding
to whom God is pleased to reveal the truths of his
Gospel
when he hides them from the wise and prudent: these simple ones are
such who are sensible of their simplicity and folly
and of their want of
understanding; who
with Agur
think themselves more foolish than any man
and
have not the understanding of a man; and these
by the word of God
are made
wise to know themselves
their folly
sinfulness
imperfections
and impotence;
and are made wise unto salvation
to know the right way of salvation by Christ;
see 2 Timothy 3:15; where the same phrase is
used as here
and seems to be borrowed from hence
and is used of the
Scriptures; which also make men wise in the knowledge of Gospel doctrines
the
wisdom of God in a mystery
which to know is the greatest wisdom and
understanding
and much more so than to be acquainted with the law only
Deuteronomy 4:6.
Psalm 19:8 8 The statutes of the Lord are
right
rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is
pure
enlightening the eyes;
YLT
8The precepts of Jehovah
[are] upright
Rejoicing the heart
The command of Jehovah [is] pure
enlightening the eyes
The statutes of the Lord are right
.... The word
of God may be called "statutes"
or "visitations"F4פקודי "visitationes"
Ainsworth. because that God
will visit
in a way of resentment
such persons as despise its authority
do
not act according to it
or add unto it
or detract from it; or the word may be
rendered "commissions"F5"Commissiones"
Munster;
"deposita"
so some in Rivetus; "depositum"
Gejerus
Michaelis.
things committed to trust
as the Scriptures were to the Jews
Romans 3:1; and as the Gospel is committed
to the trust of the ministers of it
who faithfully dispense it
2 Corinthians 5:19. Now these may be said
to be right
as the word of the Lord is
Psalm 33:4; since they set men right in
their principles
and direct them to right practices; they are the means of
making them upright in heart
and in conversation: the doctrines of the word of
God have nothing crooked
froward
and perverse in them; are without sophism
and the hidden things of dishonesty; they are all in righteousness
and plain
and easy in everything respecting salvation
to those who have a spiritual
knowledge and understanding of them
Proverbs 8:8; they lead into right and
straight paths of truth and holiness
in which wayfaring men
though fools
shall not err; and particularly the Gospel directs to the right way of
salvation and eternal life by Jesus Christ; the effect of which is
rejoicing the heart. This cannot be
understood of the law
which is a voice of terror
pronounces guilty
curses
and condemns
is the killing letter
and works wrath; but of the Gospel part of
the word
which is a joyful sound; publishes good tidings of good things; and
when applied by the Spirit of God
is found to have this effect
see Jeremiah 15:16;
the commandment of the Lord is pure; not only the
Scriptures in general may bear this name
because they deliver out the commands
of God to men
as those of a moral and ceremonial kind to the Jews under the
former dispensation; so the ordinances of Christ
which are his commands under
the Gospel dispensation; yea
the Gospel itself may be so called
though
strictly speaking
it has no command in it; because
according to the
commandment of the everlasting God
it is made known to all nations for the
obedience of faith
Romans 16:25; besides
the commandment is
no other than the word or doctrine
see 1 John 2:7; and as every commandment of the
Lord
of what kind soever it is
is pure and holy
so is every word of God
Proverbs 30:5; being without any mixture of
men's inventions
or the dross of corrupt doctrine
sincere
unadulterated
clear of all chaff and impurity
consistent
uniform
and all of a piece
and
which tends to promote purity of heart
life
and conversation;
enlightening the eyes: that is
of the
understanding
so as for a man to see his lost state and condition by nature;
to see the glory
fulness
and grace of Christ; to behold wondrous things in
the doctrine of the Gospel
and to observe the way of duty in which he should
walk: this is the eyesalve in Revelation 3:18; and so the Jewish doctorsF6Vajikra
Rabba
s. 12. fol. 155. 3. & Debarim Rabba
s. 8. fol. 243. 3. explaining
this text call the law
using the same word as there.
Psalm 19:9 9 The fear of the Lord is
clean
enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are
true and righteous altogether.
YLT
9The fear of Jehovah [is]
clean
standing to the age
The judgments of Jehovah [are] true
They have been
righteous -- together.
The fear of the Lord is clean
.... Still the
word of God is intended
which teaches men to fear the Lord; gives a full
account of the worship of God
which is often meant by the fear of God; it
instructs in the matter and manner of worship; and nothing more powerfully
engages to serve the Lord with reverence and godly fear than the Gospel does:
and this is "clean"; and the doctrines of it direct to the blood of
Christ
which cleanses from all sin
and to the righteousness of Christ
the
fine linen
clean and white; the promises of it put the saints on cleansing
themselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit; and the whole of it is the
word of truth
by which God and Christ sanctify the church and the members of
it
John 15:2. And this word is
enduring for ever; the law is done away; the ceremonial law
entirely
and the moral law
as a covenant of works
and as to the ministration
of it by Moses; but the Gospel continues; it is an everlasting one; it endures
for ever
notwithstanding all the opposition made to it by open persecution
or
false teachers;
the judgments of the Lord are true
and righteous
altogether; "the judgments of the Lord" are the same with
"the word of God"
as appears from Psalm 119:25; and these seem to design that
part of the word
which contains rules of God's judging and governing his
people; or the laws
orders
and ordinances of Christ in his house
which his
people should observe
and yield a cheerful obedience to
he being their King
Judge
and Lawgiver: and these are "true"
or "truth"F7אמת "veritas"
Pagninus
Montanus
Junius &
Tremellius
Piscator
Cocceius
Gejerus
Rivetus. itself; being wisely made
according to the truth of things
and agreeable to the holiness and
righteousness of God
and so righteous; not at all grievous
but easy
pleasant
and delightful
one and all of them.
Psalm 19:10 10 More to be desired are
they than gold
Yea
than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the
honeycomb.
YLT
10They are more desirable
than gold
Yea
than much fine gold; and sweeter than honey
Even liquid honey
of the comb.
More to be desired are they than gold
.... This
refers to all the truths in the word of God; to all the doctrines of the
Gospel; which
by good men
are more desirable
and by them more prized and
valued
than all worldly riches and treasure;
yea
than much fine gold: more than gold
and the
best of gold
and a great deal of it
than thousands of gold and silver; see Psalm 119:72
Proverbs 8:10;
sweeter also than honey
and the honeycomb; or "the
dropping of the honeycombs"F8נופת צופים "stillatione favorum"
Vatablus
Rivetus
Cocceius; so Ainsworth.
which is the purest and sweetest of the honey; and
what honey is to the natural taste of men
that is the Gospel
and the truths
of it
to the spiritual taste of believers
Psalm 119:103; and when the presence of
Christ is enjoyed
his love is shed abroad
and the blessings of his grace are
partook of
the ordinances of the Gospel are very delightful
Song of Solomon 2:3; eloquence
and
eloquent orators
are sometimes described by mellifluous words; or by their
expressions being like honey
and sweeter than thatF9 του και απο γλωσσης
Homer.
Iliad. 1. v. 249. .
Psalm 19:11 11 Moreover by them Your
servant is warned
And in keeping them there is great reward.
YLT
11Also -- Thy servant is
warned by them
`In keeping them [is] a great reward.'
Moreover
by them is thy servant warned
.... By whom
the psalmist means himself
who was the servant of the Lord
not only in common
with other saints
but as he was a king and prophet
and as such he received
advantage from the word of God; all his instructions as a prophet
and all his
rules of government as a king; and the whole of that wisdom
prudence
and
knowledge
with which the conducted in both offices
were from the Lord by his
word: and it may be applied to any servant of the Lord
and especially in an
ecclesiastical office
as an apostle of Christ
and minister of the word; who
serve God in the Gospel of his Son
and
by means of the Scriptures
are
furnished for every good work; and also to believers in Christ in common; who
of whatsoever rank and quality
in whatsoever state and condition of life
whether high or low
rich or poor
bond or free
are Christ's servants; and
whatsoever is written is for their instruction
and by the word of God they are
"warned"; the Scriptures are a way mark to them
to direct them in a
right way
and to caution them against turning to the right or left; either to
immoral practices
or the errors and heresies of wicked men: it is a lamp to their
feet
and a light to their path
and teaches them to walk circumspectly
and
warns them of rocks
gins
and snares in the way; or
as the words may be
rendered
"by them is thy servant made clear"
or "bright"F11נזהר "illustratur"
Pagninus
Montanus
Rivetus.
; so the word is used in Daniel 12:3; that is
in his understanding:
the psalmist confirms
by his own experience
what he had said before of the
word
Psalm 19:8; that it enlightened the eyes:
the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ shining into the heart gives the
light of the glory of God in the person of Christ; it illuminates and
irradiates the mind
and gives clear ideas of the glory and perfections of God
of his counsels and covenant
of his works of nature and of grace; and makes a
bright discovery of the person
offices
and grace of Christ; and of the
blessed Spirit
and his operations; and of the blessings of grace
and of
eternal glory and happiness;
and in keeping of them there
is great reward; which is to be understood
not of keeping the law of Moses
and
the precepts of that
which
if a man did keep perfectly and constantly
he
should live in them; but of observing the word of God
and by diligent
searching into it
reading and learning it
and meditating on it
to get and
obtain knowledge of divine things; which carries its own reward with it
and is
better than thousands of gold and silver; and of laying up the word of God
and
the truths of the Gospel
and keeping them in mind and memory
which is very
profitable and serviceable
to promote spiritual peace and comfort
and to
preserve from sin
doctrinal and practical; and also of yielding a cheerful
obedience to the Gospel
by cordially embracing and professing the doctrines
and submitting to the ordinances of it; from all which arise great profit
and
much reward: such come at the knowledge of Jesus Christ
which is preferable to
everything else
and is more precious than rubies; and all desirable things;
such enjoy the presence of Christ
have much peace and comfort in their souls;
they are made wise unto salvation
and are fitted for every good word and work.
Psalm 19:12 12 Who can understand his
errors? Cleanse me from secret faults.
YLT
12Errors! who doth
understand? From hidden ones declare me innocent
Who can understand his errors?.... Sin is an
error
a wandering out of the way of God
swerving from the rule of his word;
and many mistakes are made by the people of God themselves; even so many that
they cannot number them; they are more than the hairs of their head; they
cannot understand
find out and express
neither their number
nor their evil
nature
nor the many aggravating circumstances which attend them: this the
psalmist said
upon a view of the large extent
glory
and excellency of the
word of God; and upon comparing himself with it
in which
as in a glass
he
saw how far short he came of it
and what a disagreement and want of conformity
there was in him unto it; see Psalm 119:97; and he suggests
that though
the word he had been describing was perfect
pure
and clean
he was not; nor
could he expect any reward of debt
but merely of grace
for his observance of
it; and that it was best
under a sense of sin
to have recourse
not to works of
righteousness done by men; but to the grace and mercy of God in Christ
as
follows:
cleanse thou me from secret faults; by which are
meant not such sins as are done in secret
and are unknown to men; such as
David's sin with Bathsheba
2 Samuel 12:12; nor the inward motions of
sin in the heart
to which none are privy but God
and a man's own soul; not
but that each of these may be properly enough included in such a petition; but
sins
which are unknown to a man himself are meant: there are some actions
which
though known when committed
are not known to be sinful ones; and there
are some sins which are committed unadvisedly
and through carelessness
and
pass unobserved; not only many vain and sinful thoughts pass to and fro
uncontrolled
without being taken notice of; but many foolish and idle words
are spoken
and many evil actions
through infirmity and inadvertency
are
done
which
when a good man
at the close of a day
comes to reflect upon the
things that have passed in it
are quite hidden from him
are unknown to him
being unobserved by him; wherefore such a petition is highly proper to be
inserted in his address at the throne of grace: and which also supposes the
person sensible of the defiling nature of sin
and of his own impotency to
cleanse himself from it; and that God only can do it
who does it by the
application of the blood of his Son
which cleanses from all sin; for this
respects not regenerating and sanctifying grace
but pardoning grace; a
manifestation of it
a view of acquittance from sin by Christ
and of freedom
from obligation to punishment for it.
Psalm 19:13 13 Keep back Your servant
also from presumptuous sins; Let them not have dominion over me. Then I
shall be blameless
And I shall be innocent of great transgression.
YLT
13Also -- from presumptuous
ones keep back Thy servant
Let them not rule over me
Then am I perfect
And
declared innocent of much transgression
Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins
.... Some
understand these words of persons: the Septuagint
and the versions that follow
that
render it "from strangers": such who are strangers to God and
godliness; that is
keep from all conversation with them in things sinful
or
from others' sins; from having a fellowship with them
being a partaker of
them
lest their plagues and punishments should be shared in: others
as the
Targum
"from proud men"
who are haughty
insolent
and conceited of
themselves; lest he should be so corrupted and drawn aside by them: but rather
the words are to be understood of sins wilfully
contumaciously
and
presumptuously committed; and the petition supposes
that these may be
committed by good men
if left to themselves; and that there is a proneness in
them to them; and that they would rush into them
were they not kept back and
restrained by the powerful and efficacious grace of God: and it also supposes
that the saints cannot keep themselves; that God only can keep them from evil;
and therefore they pray to him that he would
who does keep them by his power
at least from a final and total falling away
let them not have dominion over me: neither presumptuous
sins
nor any other
Psalm 119:133; as they shall not
Romans 6:14; as sin has over wicked men;
and they yield a ready obedience to the laws and lusts of it; it reigns over
them as a king and tyrant
even unto death: it is something very powerful in
good men; it prevails over them
and carries them captive; wherefore they pray
it may not have a continued dominion
as it shall not; because they are in
another kingdom
and under grace as a governing principle
which reigns through
righteousness unto eternal life;
then shall I be upright; in heart
and walk
uprightly in conversation; being cleansed from secret faults
and kept from
notorious crimes
and gross enormities; and shall exercise a conscience void of
offence
both to God and man; and be "perfect"
as the word is
sometimes rendered
at least comparatively; and absolutely so
as washed in
Christ's blood
and justified by his righteousness;
and I shall be innocent from the great transgression; which some
understand of pride
others of apostasy; perhaps the sin against the Holy Ghost
may be intended; though the words may be rendered
"from much
transgression"F11רב
"multa"
Montanus
Rivetus
Gejerus
Cocceius; so Ainsworth. ; and
the sense is
that he should be cleared and acquitted of a multitude of
transgressions he had been guilty of; or be preserved from much sin
which
otherwise he should have fallen into.
Psalm 19:14 14 Let the words of my mouth
and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight
O Lord
my strength
and my Redeemer.
YLT
14Let the sayings of my
mouth
And the meditation of my heart
Be for a pleasing thing before Thee
O
Jehovah
my rock
and my redeemer!
Let the words of my mouth
.... Meaning either his
speech in common conversation
which should not be filthy and foolish
rotten
and corrupt; but such as ministers grace to the hearer: or else his address to
God
both in prayer and thanksgiving;
and the meditation of my heart; his inward thoughts
continually revolving in his mind; or his meditation on the word of God and
divine things; or mental prayer
which is not expressed
only conceived in the
mind;
be acceptable in thy sight; as words and thoughts
are
when they are according to the word of God; and as the sacrifices of
prayer
whether vocal or mental
and of praise
are through Jesus Christ our
Lord. The psalmist
in order to strengthen his faith in God
that he should be
heard and answered in the petitions he put up
makes use of the following
epithets:
O Lord
my strength
or "rock"F12צורי "rupes mea"
Musculus
Junius &
Tremellius
Piscator
Cocceius; "mea petra"
Pagninus
Montanus
Rivetus; so Ainsworth.
and my Redeemer; who had been the strength of his life and
of his salvation
the rock on which he was built and established
and the
Redeemer who had redeemed his life from destruction
and out of the hands of
all his enemies
and from all his iniquities.
──《John Gill’s
Exposition of the Bible》
New King James
Version (NKJV)