Psalm 19:1-6 God’s revealed glory in what has been made
Psalm 19:7-11The heart of God toward His children in their instruction and guidance
19:7a the instruction, the direction of the Lord - is perfect - renewing or redirecting or setting aright as to turn us back to what is right - that we might return to righteousness
The Lord’s instruction, the words of His loving heart are given to us in statues, a testimony of what is good (James)
19:8b the statutes, or testimony of the Lord are trustworthy - your God’s commands are the story of God, and make wise the simple and inexperienced (Proverbs 1)
19:8a the precepts, commandments of the Lord - God’s mandates - are right, making the heart glad, bringing joy to the heart
19:8b and these decrees, commands are clear, radiant, pure, and clean; choice - sincere without muddiness of shadow - guiding rightly - giving insight for living, making the eyes light up “ah-ha!!
19:9a fear of the Lord and His commands - reverent awe, respect - is pure - that are intermingled, not swayed by others, resisting the enticements of, or not prone to being enticed by others - their effect lasting forever.
19:9b The laws of the Lord - that which governs, by which God governs - are true (right, just, and fair; Prov 2)
And because of these truths regarding God’s truth…
10They are more desirable, more precious, than gold,
even the finest, the purest gold.
They are sweeter than honey,
even honey dripping from the comb.
All of this is God’s provision for us, who, prone to sin, need God’s good and wise leading in life. What do they do? Why are they so important?
Psalm 19:11-13
11By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward.
12But who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults.
13Keep your servant also from willful sins;
may they not rule over me.
Then I will be blameless,
innocent of great transgression.
With all of this, how am I to live? According to your word in light of your glory, to live in such a way that reveres - honors and respects - You and your way and ways and not go according to what I/we/feel think is right or the desires of my flesh and the feelings of my flesh…
Being reminded that my heart - its feelings and desires, what it wants and thinks is right - is deceitful and cannot be trusted...
That - The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? It is beyond understanding. Jeremiah 17:9
That - There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end, it leads to death. Proverbs 14:12
· Pr 12:15 The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.
· Pr 14:12 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.
· Pr 16:2 All a man's ways are pure in his own eyes, but his motives are weighed out by the LORD.
· Pr 16:25 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.
· Pr 19:20 Listen to counsel and accept discipline, that you may be wise the rest of your days.
· Pr 21:2 All a man's ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart
· Pr 14:8 The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.
· Ecclesiastes 10:2 The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left.
· Luke 12 you of little faith! 29And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well
That, in all of this, i can trust God, and His word, His Spirit
That - God - His word and Spirit - searches my heart
· Jer 17:10. “I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.
· Ps 139:1, 23 O LORD, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts
· Rom 8:27 “…And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit”
· Hebrews 12 12For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
That - My flesh naturally desires what is contrary to God and is in conflict with Him, therefore I cannot do just anything I want
Galatians 5:13-17
That - I must then be careful how I live, not as unwise but as wise - Eph 5:5
That - Therefore, I must guard my way – (Proverbs 4:23; 1John 5:21; Matt 16:6; 24:42)
1Cor 16:13 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.
Psalm 1
Proverbs 7
That - I am not just avoid the way of sin, but in fact, go in the way of the Spirit and righteousness
· So I say, walk in the Spirit and you will not gratify the flesh - Galatians 5
· Having put off the old way “clothe yourselves with…”
Colossians 3:12 12Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
· Flee and/or shun the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. - 2Tim 2:22
Psalm 19:14 having been loved by God, receiving that love, having experienced that love, and being guided by that love to live a life of love, this is our heart’s renewed, redeemed plea
14May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
That – this might be so - that this, would be the cry of my heart, our hearts, according to your word, O Lord, would be the expression of your heart, O Lord – in me – and my heart in response to yours and your truth, according to your word
Matthew 4:4; Deut 8:3 ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
As Jesus said “what comes out of one’s mouth is stored up in the heart”
Matthew 12:34-35 “For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. 35A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him”
Therefore, if God is love, then His words are love
1John 4 take time to read all of it…
6God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 17This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. 18There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
