Psalm 19:7-11 - Scripture's Special Revelation of God.
Psa. 19:7-11; Scripture's Special Revelation of God.
Psalm 19:7-11 (KJV) The law of the Lord is perfect, converting
the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the
commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord
is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and
righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than
much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover
by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is
great reward.
Psa 19:7-11 (CWR) The law of the Lord is perfect, converting
the soul. The testimony of the Lord is trustworthy, giving wisdom to
the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, and those who follow
them are happy. The commandments of the Lord are pure, enlightening
the mind. Respect for the Lord is good; it will continue forever.
The judgments of the Lord are fair and altogether righteous. His
laws are more precious than gold, more valuable than fine gold. They
are sweeter than honey, even the drippings from the honeycomb. By
them I am warned, and when I follow them, I am richly rewarded.
CONTEXT
God's Works and Word
God's Glory in Creation and the Law
The Witness of Creation and Scripture
CROSS REFERENCES
Romans 7:12 (KJV) Wherefore the law is holy, and the
commandment holy, and just, and good.
Psalm 18:30 (KJV) As for God, his way is perfect: the word of
the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.
Psalm 119:152 (KJV) Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of
old that thou hast founded them for ever.
Deut. 6:6-9 (KJV) And these words, which I command thee this
day, shall be in thine heart: [7] And thou shalt teach them
diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in
thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest
down, and when thou risest up. [8] And thou shalt bind them for a sign
upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.
[9] And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on
thy gates.
Joshua 1:8 (KJV) This book of the law shall not depart out of
thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou
mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then
thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good
success.
Col. 3:16 (KJV) Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in
all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns
and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Proverbs 1:23 (KJV) Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour
out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.
Romans 12:2 (KJV) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye
transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that
good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Romans 10:17 (KJV) So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing
by the word of God.
2 Tim. 3:15-17 (KJV) And that from a child thou hast known the
holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation
through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by
inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be
perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
Psalm 119:105 (KJV) Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a
light unto my path.
Psalm 119:11 (KJV) Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I
might not sin against thee.
John 17:17 (KJV) Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is
truth.
2 Peter 1:4 (KJV) Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and
precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine
nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
2 Cor. 3:18 (KJV) But we all, with open face beholding as in a
glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from
glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Proverbs 29:18 (KJV) Where there is no vision, the people
perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
James 1:25 (KJV) But whoso looketh into the perfect law of
liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a
doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
COMMENTARY / APPLICATION
Overview
God declares His glory in creation and in His Word (Ps. 19).
[The 365-Day Devotional Commentary]
Here are two books of divine Revelation:
1. The visible HEAVENS, and the works of creation in general.
2. The BIBLE, or divinely inspired writings contained in the Old
and New Testaments. (Adam Clarke Commentary)
God has revealed Himself in His creation (19:1-6), but has
enriched us most through His revelation in the Scriptures (vv. 7-11).
Revelation is primarily the giving and receiving of information
from God. Psalm 19 celebrates two forms of revelation: natural, in
which information about God is made known through His Creation; and
special, in which information from God is made known directly to human
beings. [Victor Bible Reader's Companion]
David turns from his contemplation of nature, revealing in its
grandeur, permanence, and purpose the glory of God, to the contemplation
of the even clearer revelation of God in the law. Beautiful as the
manifestations of God's glory in the heavens may be; magnificent as the
splendor of the sun, moon, and stars may appear; still more beautiful,
more magnificent, is the picture of a character directed by God's
law. [SDA Commentary]
God's glory is more perfectly displayed in God's Word, which
reveals His character and provides moral guidance. [The 365-Day
Devotional Commentary]
The great themes of creation (19:1-6), the law (19:7-11), and
the fear of God (19:9) are linked together here as the motivation
for man's verbal and heartfelt devotion to God (19:14). Without
words or voices, the beauty and wonder of creation shouts, "God, the
Creator, exists!" In 19:7-9 David provided a sixfold description of the
law, God's special revelation. The various synonyms emphasize
different aspects of God's word. The "law," in Hebrew, "Torah," is God's
instruction to his people; the "statutes" are a witness to God's truth; the
"precepts" are divine directions for man to follow; the "commands" are
God's orders or imperatives; the "fear of the Lord" is the reverence
that God's word fosters; and the "ordinances" are God's decisions.
[New Bible Companion]
The Word of God is characterized as being: (1) perfect, i.e.,
complete and without fault; (2) sure, i.e., not variable; (3) right,
i.e., straight; (4) pure, i.e., without alloy; (5) clean, i.e.,
without impurities; and (6) true, i.e., utterly dependable. The law of
the Lord produces two dramatic effects in men. First, the law
"converts" or "restores" the soul. Second, the testimony of the Lord
imparts wisdom. [Believer's SB]
This passage presents six words for the law of God--law,
testimony, statutes, commandment, fear, and judgments; six evaluations of
the law--perfect, sure, right, pure, clean, and true; and six
results--converting the soul, making wise the simple, rejoicing the heart,
enlightening the eyes, enduring forever, and righteous altogether. The value
of the Scripture cannot be compared with any other desirable
thing--even gold. It provides the key to wisdom, joy, and most importantly,
eternal life. [Nelson SB]
Six titles for God's special verbal revelation are given: "law
of the LORD" (Heb. Yahweh), "testimony of the LORD," "statutes of
the LORD," "commandment of the LORD," "fear of the LORD," and
"judgments of the LORD." These six titles are given six different
qualities: "perfect," "sure," "right," "pure," "clean," and "true." These
six qualities have six different effects on man: "converting the
soul," "making wise the simple," "rejoicing the heart," "enlightening
the eyes," "enduring for ever," and "righteous altogether."
[Jamieson, Fausset, And Brown Commentary]
The KJV translation almost perfectly conveys to the English
reader the beauty and order of the original Hebrew structure.
The following table shows the inclusiveness of thought in vs.
7-10:
Name for the law Its nature Its effects
law perfect converting
testimony sure making wise
statutes right rejoicing
commandment pure enlightening
fear clean [enduring]
judgments true [righteous]
[SDA Commentary]
The first four Commandments are related to one's relationship
with God. The next six Commandments have to do with human
relationships. It is important to note that right relationships with others
follow being rightly related to God. Being rightly related to God
compels one towards right relationships to one's neighbors. [Holman's
Bible Dictionary]
"This do, and you will not come under the dominion and control
of Satan." There is not a negative in that law, although it may
appear thus. It is DO, and Live (Letter 89, 1898). 1BC1104-5
God has given us His holy precepts, because He loves mankind. To
shield us from the results of transgression..... The law is an expression
of the thought of God; when received in Christ, it becomes our
thought. It lifts us above the power of natural desires and tendencies,
above temptations that lead to sin. God desires us to be happy, and He
gave us the precepts of the law that in obeying them we might have
joy.... When the law was proclaimed from Sinai, God made known to men
the holiness of His character, that by contrast they might see the
sinfulness of their own. The law was given to convict them of sin, and
reveal their need of a Saviour. It would do this as its principles were
applied to the heart by the Holy Spirit. DA307-9
By His own obedience to the law, Christ testified to its
immutable character and proved that through His grace it could be
perfectly obeyed by every son and daughter of Adam.... Because the law of
the Lord is perfect, and therefore changeless, it is impossible for
sinful men, in themselves, to meet the standard of its requirement.
This was why Jesus came as our Redeemer. It was His mission, by
making men partakers of the divine nature, to bring them into harmony
with the principles of the law of heaven. MB49-51
When we think of the law, we often think of something that keeps
us from having fun. But here we see the opposite--law that revives
us, makes us wise, gives joy to the heart, gives light to the eyes,
warns us, and rewards us. That's because God's laws are guidelines and
lights for our path, rather than chains on our hands and feet. They
point at danger and warn us, then point at success and guide us. [Life
Application SB]
Every law which God has given has been for our benefit. If a
person breaks it, he is not only rebelling against God, he is hurting
himself. God gave "the law" because he loves man. It is for man's
benefit. God's commandments were given to protect and promote man's
happiness, not to restrict it. God wants the best for man. To ask God to
revise his commandments would be to ask him to stop loving man.... In
our universe, we live under God's law. In the physical realm, the
planets move in split-second precision. There is no guesswork in the
galaxies. We see in nature that everything is part of a plan which is
harmonious, orderly, and obedient. Could a God who made the physical
universe be any less exacting in the higher spiritual and moral order?
God loves us with an infinite love, but he cannot and will not
approve of disorder. Consequently, he has laid down spiritual laws
which, if obeyed, bring harmony and fulfillment, but, if disobeyed,
bring discord and disorder. (From How to Be Born Again by Billy
Graham) [Inspirational SB]
You Can Count On It!
The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the
testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. Psalm 19:7.
This is one of my favorite texts. We don't usually think of the
law of the Lord as anything but the Ten Commandments, and they are
indeed one expression of the complete law of God. But His law is as big
as the universe. Everything you see, everything you hear,
everything you feel, and even everything you think about is controlled in
some way by the perfect law of God. I believe that the same laws that
govern our lives govern the stars in their courses; the Bible tells us
so in other verses of Psalm 19.
Think about the perfect law of God for a minute. Do you have any
doubt that the sun will come up tomorrow? The day may be cloudy, but
the sun will rise and there will be daylight. You can count on it!
Is there any question whatsoever in your mind that if you throw
a ball up in the air it is going to come back down instead of
heading off into space on its own? The law of gravity is absolute. You
can count on it!
If you put a pan of water on a stove at sea level and heat it to
212 degrees, is there any doubt in your mind that the water will
boil? There is no question about it!
If a mother duck lays a nest full of eggs and those eggs hatch,
can you imagine their being anything other than ducklings? Ducks
produce ducks. You can count on it!
Does an oak tree have acorns? Do most roses smell good? Is the
sky blue? Does a rabbit hop? Is pure water clear? Is lead heavy?
Does a bird have feathers? Is the world round? Do you need oxygen to
live? Can a fish swim? Is ice cold? You can count on it!
Does sin bring pain, disappointment, and death? Yes, that's the
law. There is no question about it. Did Jesus overcome sin and give
us life if we follow Him? You can count on it! [Glimpses Of God's
Love by J & P Tucker]
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