Thoughts for the Day

The law of the Lord is perfect,
reviving the soul;
the decrees of the Lord are sure,
making wise the simple;
the precepts of the Lord are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is clear,
enlightening the eyes;
the fear of the Lord is pure,
enduring for ever;
the ordinances of the Lord are true
and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold,
even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey,
and drippings of the honeycomb.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Psalm 19 has often been called one of the greatest of psalms, but many stop short of examining it beyond its opening verses, not least because of the glorious music that has been created by Haydn based on them: "The heavens are telling the glory of God". David obviously looked into the sky and he clearly saw God's glory as being shown in the beauty that he saw there in the natural world, with its "sun, which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy".

But if we stop at the opening verses we miss so much more, for Psalm 19 has far more in common with the 'Queen of Psalms', Psalm 119, with its 176 verses that study the Law in all its depth. We have looked at some of the words used for "law" in that psalm, and here they appear again in verses 7-9, words like "decree", "precepts", "commandment" and "ordinances", which describe the glorious character of God's law. David describes this effect of God's law on us in a number of ways: the law revives or wakes up the soul; it spurs the soul into action; it makes those who study it wise showing right from wrong; it brings joy to those who follow its ways; and they won't be led astray when they follow God's words for they are true and righteous.

Psalm 19 shows us David’s desire to live a life that honours God, despite only having relatively few of the Hebrew scriptures at that time. Imagine what his work would have been like if he could have read Isaiah's prophecies or that of Micah or Ezekiel, never mind the coming of Jesus and the making of the second covenant with God.

Heavenly Father,
may we learn to embrace Your laws
as given to us through Your Son,
our Lord Jesus Christ -
to love You
and to love our neighbour as ourself,
accepting that He paid the penalty for our sin,
and that our repentance brings forgiveness.
May we then move on, renewed in spirit,
to do Your work in the world.
Amen.