PSALMS 19


     We will begin by giving this chapter in metre showing how easily
it could be sung.

                   THE PSALMS OF DAVID IN METRE

                            Chapter 19

verse 1  "The glory of the Lord The heavens declare abroad;
          The firmament displays The handiwork of God;
          Day unto day declareth speech, And night to night doth
          knowledge teach"
verse 2  "Aloud they do not speak They utter forth no word,
          Nor into language break; Their voice is never heard.
          Their line through all the earth extends, Their words to
          earth's remotest ends."
verse 3  "In them he for the sun Hath set a dwelling place;
          Rejoicing as a man Of strength to run a race;
          He, bridegroom like in his array, Comes from his chamber
          bringing day."
verse 4  "His daily going forth Is from the end of heaven;
          The firmament to him is for his circuit given-
          His circuit reaches to its ends, And everywhere his heat
          extends."
verse 5  "God's perfect law converts The soul in sin that lies;
          His testimony sure Doth make the simple wise;
          His statutes just delight the heart; His holy precepts light
          impart."
verse 6  "The fear of God is clean And ever doth endure;
          His judgements all are truth And righteousness most pure.
          To be desired are they far more Than finest Gold in richest
          store."
verse 7  "God's judgements to the taste More sweet than honey are,
          Than honey from the comb That droppeth, sweeter far.
          With counsel they thy servant guard; In keeping them is
          great reward."
verse 8  "Who can his errors know? From secret faults me cleanse;
          Thy servant keep thou back From all presumptious sins.
          O let them not my way control, Nor gain dominion o'er my
          soul."
verse 9  "Then in thy righteous way My life shall upright be;
          I shall be innocent- From great transgressions free.
          Accept my words, and thoughts of heart; Lord, thou my
          strength and Saviour art."

     Now, we will begin the verse by verse study of chapter 19. Psalms
19:1 "{To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.} The heavens declare
the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handiwork."

     On a clear night, you can look into the sky and see the majesty
of the heavens. The study of the heavens has always intrigued mankind.
In recent years, it has been discovered that the universe is very
vast. There are stars that have never been found by man. In the last
few weeks, it has been discovered that there are even galaxies that
man did not know about before. The more they search, the more stars
they find. To put the whole thing into focus, they have known for
years about the star Regal. Regal is over 400 light years away from
the earth. This new telescope, that has been launched into outer
space, is sending back pictures of stars they never knew existed. We
have no way of knowing how far the universe goes. We do know that this
little ball we call earth is only one of tens of thousands. There are
even moons and suns that are not connected with the earth. When we
think of a God that could make all of that, it really humbles us. Look
how casually it is mentioned that God made all of this. Genesis 1:16
"And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and
the lesser light to rule the night: [he made] the stars also."  All of
these, the sun, moon, and stars are just fixtures that we see light
in. The source of all Light is {Jesus Christ}. The Light was applied
to the earth on the first day, giving all things the power to be. The
containers for a portion of that Light were made on the fourth day.

     The earth is another subject that shows the majesty of God. Even
the trees reach up to heaven toward God. When you travel this world,
it brings you closer to God. The mountains {no 2 alike}, the rivers,
and streams {no 2 alike}, the waterfalls, the trees, the animals, and
birds, how could any one see all of this and doubt there is a God?
The hands of God show His creative power.

     Psalms 19:2 "Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night
sheweth knowledge."

     One of the greatest things God did for mankind was to establish
an evening and a morning making a day. The evening was made for rest
and the morning to work. The verse above is speaking of one day and
night sliding over into another.  Look at the promise God made to man
in the following verse. Genesis 8:22 "While the earth remaineth,
seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and
day and night shall not cease."  One thing I would like to just throw
in here is, in heaven there is no change from day to night. There is
one eternal day.

     Psalms 19:3 "[There is] no speech nor language, [where] their
voice is not heard."

     Even the heathens of this world can look into the skies and know
there is a God. They can, also, look around them at the beauties of
this earth and know there is God. No person, who can see, or hear, or
feel, has any excuse to believe there is no God. The very elements of
nature preach a beautiful sermon. We have no excuse when it speaks to
us, if we do not believe. Romans 1:20 "For the invisible things of him
from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by
the things that are made, [even] his eternal power and Godhead; so
that they are without excuse:"

     Psalms 19:4 "Their line is gone out through all the earth, and
their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle
for the sun,"

     God flung each planet out into its space, and told it to stay
there. Even though they circle the sun, they still have order. To move
out of this order would mean sudden destruction. Even the atmosphere
around the earth must stay in exact percentage for you and me to be
able to breathe. When you stop and just think a moment on the ozone
layer around the earth to protect mankind from the harmful rays of the
sun, we see the love and care that God has shown each of us. The
voice, or words, that come out to us are like the tide moving with the
change of the moon. The moon changing to a full moon was a sign to the
Jews that a new month had begun. Nature speaks to us. Sometimes we do
not listen.

     Psalms 19:5 "Which [is] as a bridegroom coming out of his
chamber, [and] rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race."

     The only connection that I can make with this is, the Jewish
bridegroom goes away to prepare a home for the bride. He comes back as
the sun comes up in the morning. Each night the sun does not shine for
half the world, it does shine when it comes up in the morning.

     Psalms 19:6 "His going forth [is] from the end of the heaven, and
his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the
heat thereof."

     The sun that shines on the earth, shines on every inch of it at
some time or the other.

     Psalms 19:7 "The law of the LORD [is] perfect, converting the
soul: the testimony of the LORD [is] sure, making wise the simple."

     The law of God is perfect, but it is so perfect that no mortal
man can keep it in every aspect. All have sinned, and come short of
the glory of God. Why then was the law given? Galatians 3:21 "[Is] the
law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had
been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness
should have been by the law." Galatians 3:22 "But the scripture hath
concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ
might be given to them that believe."  Galatians 3:23 "But before
faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which
should afterwards be revealed." Galatians 3:24 "Wherefore the law was
our schoolmaster [to bring us] unto Christ, that we might be justified
by faith." The law converts the soul, because by studying the law, we
all know that we are guilty of sin and deserve to die. We must repent
of our sin and cry out for a Saviour. We would not realize we needed a
Saviour, if we were not made aware that we were a sinner.
I Corinthians 1:18 "For the preaching of the cross is to them that
perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of
God."  The wisest thing anyone can do is accept Jesus Christ as his
Saviour and Lord.

     Psalms 19:8 "The statutes of the LORD [are] right, rejoicing the
heart: the commandment of the LORD [is] pure, enlightening the eyes."
     I have always taught that we would not need civil law, if people
would live up to the law of God. Jesus said, they have eyes and they
do not see. He was speaking of the spiritual eyes we must look with.
Those who love the lord, rejoice in their hearts at His teachings.
Through the Holy Spirit of God as our teacher, we can see things in
God's laws and commandments that the natural eye cannot discern. Have
you ever read a Scripture 50 times, and the fiftieth time say, O, now
I see? The study of God's laws and commandments is a must, if we are
to do the will of God.

     Psalms 19:9 "The fear of the LORD [is] clean, enduring for ever:
the judgments of the LORD [are] true [and] righteous altogether."

     The clean, is really speaking of a spiritual cleannesss that
comes from the fear {reverence of God}. Spiritual filthiness brings
death, but righteousness in Christ brings eternal life. Jesus is the
righteous Judge of all the earth. Let's look at a prophetic Scripture
that explains the righteous Judge who shall rule as King and
Christians will be princes under Him. Isaiah 32:1 "Behold, a king
shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment."

     Psalms 19:10 "More to be desired [are they] than gold, yea, than
much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb."

     The greatest wealth this world has ever known is not silver and
gold, but life everlasting in Christ Jesus. Knowledge of God and His
Word brings great wealth. The sweetest statement any Christian can
ever hope to hear is, {well done thy good and faithful servant} when
we stand before the righteous Judge {Jesus} on judgement morning.

     Psalms 19:11 "Moreover by them is thy servant warned: [and] in
keeping of them [there is] great reward."

     All through the Bible, we find that keeping God's law brings
great rewards, or blessings. There is another side to this, however.
We are warned, over and over, that not to keep God's laws brings a
curse from God.

     Psalms 19:12 "Who can understand [his] errors? cleanse thou me
from secret [faults]."

     I heard a man tell a story about spiritually cleaning his house.
He went from room to room and cleansed it all up. In the story, the
Lord came to see him and asked to look through the house to see, if it
was clean. He came to a closet in the man's bedroom, He opened the
door and the closet was clean. He looked up, and way up in the corner
was a box tightly wrapped. The man ran into the room and said, don't
look at that. This was the hidden things in his life. At a glance, his
house was clean, on fairly close inspection his house was still clean.
Way up in the hidden corner was the only sin. Have you cleansed your
house of sin? Is there a little box way up in the hidden corner that
you have not cleansed? This is what the Psalmist is asking here. Lord
cleanse the hidden sin in my life.

     Psalms 19:13 "Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous
[sins]; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright,
and I shall be innocent from the great transgression."

     Notice in the verse above that, this is speaking of those who are
followers of the Lord. In fact, they have made Jesus their Lord, as
well as Saviour, {thy servant}. Presumptous, in this particular
Scripture, means proud or arrogant. Pride comes before a fall. I have
noticed that some of us Christians, who have walked with the Lord for
a long period of time and have been operating in the gifts of the
Spirit, have a tendency to feel above the new Christian. We must be
very careful with this attitude. It certainly is pride and arrogancy,
and God will not allow this. The prayer, above that David is speaking,
is one every Christian should pray regularly, Lord keep me humble.

     Psalms 19:14 "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my
heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my
redeemer."

     The words of my mouth will bring forth what is in my heart.
Notice the next Scripture in Jesus' own words from the Sermon On the
Mount.  Matthew 5:8 "Blessed [are] the pure in heart: for they shall
see God."  God judges the heart of man more than He does the deeds of
man. I believe that when the books are opened on judgement day, God
will look into the things recorded in our heart, and judge us by that.
The thing that Jesus asked Peter after Jesus rose from the grave was,
Peter, lovest thou me? He asked Peter this 3 times. More than anything
else that God wants from us, is our great love for Him. Luke 6:45 "A
good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that
which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart
bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart
his mouth speaketh."  Our heart reveals to God what we really are. Of
course, our redeemer is Jesus Christ our Lord. We will notice in
David's writings that most of them end in recognizing the LORD for who
He really is. I will give one more Scripture which says it all.
II Corinthians 12:9 "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for
thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly
therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of
Christ may rest upon me."















                             Questions 19

1.  The _______ declare the glory of God.
2.  The ___________ shows His handiwork.
3.  Why would the fact that so many stars exist, make us reverence
    God?
4.  Quote Genesis chapter 1 verse 16.
5.  Who is the source of all Light?
6.  What are sun and moon really?
7.  Name a few things on this earth that show the majesty of God.
8.  What does Genesis chapter 8 verse 22 have to do with time?
9.  Why are all nations without excuse when they deny the existence of
    God?
10. Quote Romans chapter 1 verse 20.
11. What physical thing about our earth shows us the love and concern
    of God for us.
12. How did the Jews determine a new month?
13. The law of God is ________.
14. Who are guilty of sin?
15. What saves sinners?
16. We are guilty of sin and deserve to ___.
17. What is the law called, in Galatians chapter 3 verse 24?
18. What is our justification?
19. Who counts the preaching of the cross as foolishness?
20. What could take the place of the civil law?
21. What is a must, if we are to do the will of God?
22. What is the clean, in verse 9, speaking of?
23. Who is the righteous Judge?
24. What is the greatest wealth in all the world?
25. What is the statement that all true Christians want to hear?
26. Do you have a hidden box wrapped up with your sins in it?
27. What does presumptuous, in verse 13, mean?
28. What is David praying, in verse 13?
29. Quote Psalms chapter 19 verse 14.
30. Who shall see God?