Psalm 19:14 - Prayer of Consecration.
Psa. 19:14; Prayer of Consecration.
Psa 19:14 (KJV) Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation
of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and
my redeemer.
This psalm, which begins with a contemplation of God in his
works, appropriately closes with a contemplation of God in redemption
(Barnes' Notes)
Given the fact of the universal glories of God's revelation in
nature and his perfections and power to impact men through his special
verbal revelation, the psalmist offers a prayer. He acknowledges the
moral implications of God's revelation to him as a sinner who
passionately desires to know God as Rock and Redeemer. [Jamieson, Fausset,
And Brown Commentary]
The psalm closes with a prayer ....... petition for purity of
word and thought in the experiences of every day. [SDA Commentary]
David asks that God approve his words and thoughts as though
they were offerings brought to the altar. As you begin each day,
determine that God's love will guide what you say and how you think. [Life
Application SB]
This prayer is often, with great propriety uttered by pious
people when they enter a place of worship. (Adam Clarke Commentary)
The great purpose of the truly pious is, not to please
themselves, or to please their fellow-men, (compare ), but to
please God. (Barnes' Notes)
Pray to him to exert such an influence on our minds that our
words and thoughts may be right and pure; (Barnes' Notes)
Prayer is such a privilege for the believer. Just knowing that
we can come into His presence any time, anywhere, and speak to Him,
brings great comfort. And knowing that not only the words from our
mouth are heard, but the thoughts of our hearts are considered to be
prayer, brings great joy! What changes should we make if we determine
to have our prayer time bring pleasure to the Lord rather than
pleasure to ourselves? How could we alter our thought-life so that the
things we think about are considered prayer? We would do well to
realize that God is our ever-listening Father. [In His Time; Walk With
Wisdom]
This oft-quoted verse attests to the importance and desirability
of our words and thoughts being consistent with God's Word and
will. The text literally says, "Let what I speak and what my heart
murmurs to itself be a delight to You, God." The truth of this text
urges us to always speak the kind of words that confirm what we
believe or think in our hearts about our Heavenly Father, His love, and
His power.
To believe yet contradict our beliefs with careless words from
our mouth is not acceptable in God's sight. Such words not only
become faithless and fruitless to us, but they can produce doubts in
others--both believers and unbelievers. Rather, Acts 5:19, 20 give a command
that is as true for us as it was for the apostles, "An angel of the
Lord . . . said, 'Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all
the words of this life.'"
As we go about our daily activities today, let us speak the
words of life that delight the Lord. Hayford and Middlebrook (LSFL)
[Spirit Filled Life Devotional SB]
The word "meditation" here has the image of a musician plucking
the strings of a harp. Who controls the music of your heart, God or
Satan? Meditation is to the heart what digestion is to the body; it is
the taking in of the Word of God and making it a part of the inner
being. As the heart and mind think on the Word all day long, the Spirit
guides the life. This is what it means to walk in the Spirit (Gal.
5:16) and to have the spiritual mind (Rom. 8:1-8). [Wiersbe Expository
Outlines]
As God works upon the heart by His Holy Spirit, man must
cooperate with Him. The thoughts must be bound about, restricted,
withdrawn from branching out and contemplating things that will only
weaken and defile the soul. The thoughts must be pure, the meditations
of the heart must be clean, if the words of the mouth are to be
words acceptable to heaven, and helpful to your associates. . .
.[Matt. 12:34-37 quoted.]
In the sermon on the mount, Christ presented before His
disciples the far-reaching principles of the law of God. He taught His
hearers that the law was transgressed by the thoughts before the evil
desire was carried out in actual commission. We are under obligation to
control our thoughts, and to bring them into subjection to the law of
God. The noble powers of the mind have been given to us by the Lord,
that we may employ them in contemplating heavenly things. God has
made abundant provision that the soul may make continual progression
in the divine life. He has placed on every hand agencies to aid our
development in knowledge and virtue; and yet, how little these agencies are
appreciated or enjoyed! How often the mind is given to the contemplation of
that which is earthly, sensual, and base! We give our time and
thought to the trivial and commonplace things of the world, and neglect
the great interests that pertain to eternal life. The noble powers
of the mind are dwarfed and enfeebled by lack of exercise on themes
that are worthy of their concentration. [Phil. 4:8 quoted.]
Let every one who desires to be a partaker of the divine nature
appreciate the fact that he must escape the corruption that is in the world
through lust. There must be a constant, earnest struggling of the soul
against the evil imaginings of the mind. There must be a steadfast
resistance of temptation to sin in thought or act. The soul must be kept
from every stain, through faith in Him who is able to keep you from
falling. We should meditate upon the scriptures, thinking soberly and
candidly upon the things that pertain to our eternal salvation. The
infinite mercy and love of Jesus, the sacrifice made in our behalf, call
for most serious and solemn reflection. We should dwell upon the
character of our dear Redeemer and Intercessor. We should seek to
comprehend the meaning of the plan of salvation. We should meditate upon
the mission of Him who came to save His people from their sins. By
constantly contemplating heavenly themes, our faith and love will grow
stronger. Our prayers will be more and more acceptable to God, because
they will be more and more mixed with faith and love. They will be
more intelligent and fervent. There will be more constant confidence
in Jesus, and you will have a daily, living experience in the
willingness and power of Christ to save unto the uttermost all that come
unto God by Him.
By beholding we are to become changed, and as we meditate upon
the perfections of our divine Model, we shall desire to become
wholly transformed and renewed in the image of His purity. There will
be a hungering and thirsting of soul to be made like Him whom we
adore. The more our thoughts are upon Christ, the more we shall speak
of Him to others, and represent Him to the world. 3BC1145
"Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues
of life." Diligent heart-keeping is essential to a healthy growth
in grace. The heart in its natural state is a habitation for unholy
thoughts and sinful passions. When brought into subjection to Christ, it
must be cleansed by the Spirit from all defilement. This can not be
done without the consent of the individual.
When the soul has been cleansed, it is the duty of the Christian
to keep it undefiled. Many seem to think that the religion of
Christ does not call for the abandonment of daily sins, the breaking
loose from habits which have held the soul in bondage. They renounce
some things condemned by the conscience, but they fail to represent
Christ in the daily life. They do not bring Christlikeness into the
home. They do not show a thoughtful care in their choice of words. Too
often, fretful, impatient words are spoken, words which stir the worst
passions of the human heart. Such ones need the abiding presence of
Christ in the soul. Only in His strength can they keep guard over the
words and actions.
In the work of heart-keeping we must be instant in prayer,
unwearied in petitioning the throne of grace for assistance. Those who
take the name of Christian should come to God in earnestness and
humility, pleading for help. The Saviour has told us to pray without
ceasing. The Christian can not always be in the position of prayer, but
his thoughts and desires can always be upward. Our self-confidence
would vanish, did we talk less and pray more....
Christians should be careful that they keep the heart with all
diligence. They should cultivate a love for meditation, and cherish a
spirit of devotion. Many seem to begrudge moments spent in meditation,
and the searching of the Scriptures, and prayer, as though the time
thus occupied was lost. I wish you could all view these things in the
light God would have you; for you would then make the kingdom of
heaven of the first importance. To keep your heart in heaven, will give
vigor to all your graces, and put life into all your duties. To
discipline the mind to dwell upon heavenly things, will put life and
earnestness into all our endeavors. Our efforts are languid, and we run the
Christian race slowly, and manifest indolence and sloth, because we so
little value the heavenly prize. We are dwarfs in spiritual
attainments. It is the privilege and duty of the Christian to be "increasing
in the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the
measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." [Eph. 4:13.] As
exercise increases the appetite, and gives strength and healthy vigor to
the body, so will devotional exercises bring an increase of grace
and spiritual vigor.
The affections should center upon God. Contemplate His
greatness, His mercy and excellences. Let His goodness and love and
perfection of character captivate your heart. Converse upon His divine
charms, and the heavenly mansions He is preparing for the faithful. He
whose conversation is in heaven, is the most profitable Christian to
all around him. His words are useful and refreshing. They have a
transforming power upon those who hear them, and will melt and subdue the
soul.
Let the prayer go up to God, "Create in me a clean heart;" for a
pure, cleansed soul has Christ abiding therein, and out of the
abundance of the heart are the issues of life. The human will is to be
yielded to Christ. Instead of passing on, closing the heart in
selfishness, there is need of opening the heart to the sweet influences of
the Spirit of God. Practical religion breathes its fragrance
everywhere. It is a savor of life unto life. 3BC1157
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