Expanding Glory Psalm 19

For the music director. A Psalm of David
Psalm 19 is known widely to be the psalm with two themes: God’s creation and God’s word. Some think that the psalm is actually two songs put together. Not only are there two themes, but two styles, and two different names of God that are used differently in the two sections. Yet someone, at sometime, saw the similarity between these two different themes and determined that they were richer and more descriptive together.

The Heavens’ Glory and God’s
The heavens declare the glory of God
And the sky speaks of his handiwork.
Day to day utters speech
Night to night declares knowledge
With no language and no words;
With no sound of their voice.
Their cries go forth throughout the earth,
Their words to the end of the world.
The psalmist looks at the sky—its vastness, its depth, its ever-moving lights—and he says, “However amazing this is, its Creator must be more amazing.” Just the fact that the day and night sky can be in turn both beautiful and awe-inspiring, both fearsome and marvelous communicates something to us as to the nature of God. The unspoken assumption of this verse is that God is the creator of all that we see in the sky. And since is creation is worthy of being analyzed on the one hand and the subject of inspiration on the other, then the Creator of such a magnificent canvas on which is placed such colors and drama—the entire universe—must be at least equally worthy of honor.

The Sun’s Glory and God’s
He placed a tent for the sun in them,
Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his marriage tent
He rejoices like a champion to run his course.
His starting point is at the end of heaven,
And his circuit reaches the other end,
And nothing is sheltered from his heat.
Now the psalmist narrows his focus onto one luminary in the heaven—the glorious sun. In the psalmist’s day, the sun was considered a god, and even in the Bible, the sun is seen as a power that rules the daytime sky (Genesis 1:16). In this section of the psalm, the sun is actually being praised for its power and glory. It is compared to a newlywed on the morning of his consummated marriage. It is compared to a powerful Olympic runner who daily runs his race across heaven daily. And it speaks of its pervasive influence on every square inch of the earth. Yet, ultimately, the glory of the sun, the power is simply God’s—for God gave him the power, gave him the light, gave him the heat, gave him his place in the universe. Thus, the glory of the sun’s is, quite frankly, God’s.

The Perfection of God’s Command
The law of Yahweh is perfect, reviving the heart.
The precepts of Yahweh is clear, making wise the simple.
The directives of Yahweh are just, rejoicing the heart.
The commandment of Yahweh is clear, enlightening the eyes.
The fear of Yahweh is pure, enduring forever.
The judgments of Yahweh are true, righteous altogether.
More desirable than gold, than much fine gold
Sweeter than honey, from the drippings of the comb
But as great, as powerful, as glorious as the sun is, as amazing as the universe and sky are, even greater are the commands of God. When the psalmist speaks of the law (or “Torah”), it is not only speaking of the commands that Moses proclaimed, but also the moral stories of the Bible, all of which teach God’s desire for humanity, especially for his people. God’s universe is marvelous, but God’s Torah is perfect. God’s sun shows how powerful God is, but God’s commands show how God can rejuvenate a person and lead them into a life of maturity and joy. Studying the stars has much value—but studying God’s law can lead one to a complete life.

The Purification of God’s Servant
By them your servant is warned;
In obeying them there is much reward.
Who can discern their errors?
Absolve me from unintended faults.
Keep your servant from willful sins--
Let them not rule over me
Then I shall be blameless
Free from great transgression.
Let the words of my mouth
And the meditations of my heart
Be acceptable in your sight,
O Yahweh, my rock and my Redeemer.
In comparison to God’s law, the servant of God realizes how far he must go to be right in God’s sight. Sometimes the law is frustrating when we realize just how powerless we are to accomplish God’s perfection. None of us are without fault before God. All of us have hidden sins and even evils we had no idea were evil. But the frustration we feel in studying God’s commands are not to keep us apart from God, but to help us cry out to God, even as the psalmist does. We are to realize our helplessness and to seek out God. God help us! God, purify us! Make us one with your law, so that we might accomplish the greater work you have chosen to be greater than your whole universe!

It is not enough for God’s glory to be displayed in the heavens;
We must expand that glory by living out God’s word!