Division
This song very distinctly divides itself into three parts, very well described by the translators in the ordinary heading of our version.
Thus praise and prayer are mingled, and he who here sings the work of God in the world without, pleads for a work of grace in himself within.
C.H. Spurgeon
Whole Psalm
The world resembles a Divinity College, says Plutarch, and Christ, as the Scriptures say, is our Tutor, instructing us by His works and by His words. For as Aristotle had two sorts of writings, one called Exoterical, for his common students, and the other Acromatical, for his private scholars and acquaintances: so God has two sorts of books, as David tells us in this psalm; namely, the Book of His creatures, as a common-place book for all men in the world: "The heavens declare the glory of God, verses 1 to 6; and the Book of His Scriptures as a statute book for His household of faith: – "This law of the Lord is an undefiled law", verses 7 to 8.
The first book is an open epistle for all, as David says in our text – "Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world". And the preaching of the heavens is wonderful in three respects. (1) As preaching all the night and all the day without intermission: v2 – "Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge". (2) As preaching in every kind of language: v3 – "There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard". (3) As preaching in every part of the world and in every parish of every part, and in every place in every parish: v4 - "Their line is gone out through all the earth, etc."
They be diligent pastors, as preaching at all times; and learned pastors as preaching in all tongues; and evangelistic pastors as preaching in all towns. This is God's PRIMER, as it were, for all sorts of people, but He has another book made for the use of His house of faith, the Church. Heathen men read His primer, but His people are well-acquainted with His Bible. The primer is a good book, but it is imperfect; for after a man has learned it he must learn more; but "The law of the Lord", that is the body of the Holy Scriptures, is a most absolute canon of all doctrines appertaining either to faith or christian living; it is "a perfect law, converting the soul, giving wisdom to the simple, sure, pure, righteous, and rejoicing the heart".
John Boys
Verses 4 to 6.
This gospel dispensation commences with the resurrection of Christ. In that the Sun of Righteousness rises from under the earth, as the sun appears to do in the morning. The sun after it is risen ascends up to the midst of heaven, and then at that end of its race descends again to the earth. So Christ when He rose from the grave ascended to the height of heaven, and far above all heavens, but at the end the gospel day will descent again to the earth.
Jonathan Edwards
Verses 7 to 11.
All of us are by nature the children of wrath. Our souls are like the "porches of Bethesda" in John chapter 5, in which are lodged a great many sick folk, "blind and halt and withered". But, if our souls are like the porches of Bethesda, then the Scriptures are like the POOL of Bethesda, into which whosoever enters when God's Holy Spirit has "stirred the water" a little is "made whole of whatsoever diseases he hath". Is any man heavy-laden? "The statute of the Lord rejoices the heart" it says in verse 8. Is any man in want? "The judgments of the Lord are more to be desired than fine gold" it says again. Is any man ignorant? "The testimonies of the Lord giveth wisdom to the simple" the scriptures tell us.
John Boys
Verse 11.
"Moreover, by them is thy servant warned". A certain Jew had formed a design to poison Luther, but was disappointed by a faithful friend who sent Luther a portrait of the man, with a warning against him. By this Luther knew the murderer and escaped his hands. Thus the Word of God, O Christian, shows thee the face of those lusts which Satan employs to destroy thy comforts and poison thy soul.
G. S. Bowes
Verse 12.
"Who can understand his error …?" After this survey of the works and words of God, David comes at last to peruse the THIRD book &ndash his own conscience! A book which, though wicked men may keep shut up, and by nature do not like to look into, yet will one day be laid open before the great tribunal in view of the whole world, to the justifying of God when He judges, and to the impenitent sinners' eternal confusion.
Adam Littleton
This Page Title – Gleanings in the Psalms – Psalm 19 The Wicket Gate Magazine "A Continuing Witness". Internet Edition number 55 – placed on line July 2005 Magazine web address – www.wicketgate.co.uk |