creation, the other a surprisingly cheerful view of the Law. But the two are one, God’s wise plan in making the world and us in it, and God’s will, God’s holy requirements that are wired into the very marrow of all God has made.Musicians have risen to the words of Psalm 19, most famously in Haydn’s The Heavens are Telling. Others may fall silent or be too busy to sing hymns or to utter thanks and praise to God, but the world around us is never mute. Even scientists who don’t believe in God put the marvelous grandeur of God on display: when Charles Darwin reported what he saw on his voyage on The Beagle (cuttlefish, musical frogs, waterhogs, jaguar, flying spider, tortoises, ostriches), he was unwittingly chronicling God’s glory. Clouds, stars, badgers and barnacles together form a wordless, eloquent trumpeting of all that burst from the mind of God.
In ancient times, the sun was thought to be a deity: Shamash, the Mesopotamian sun-god, Aten, the Egyptian divinity… but the massive fireball of the sun is a small toy, a delicate instrument in the true God’s powerful hand. From that holy hand we receive God’s laws – etched into the fabric of creation, handed to Moses on Mt. Sinai, proclaimed by the prophets, taught by Jesus, penned by Paul, explicated by the Church. God has a will, a way, rules and guidelines – and it is fascinating to hear how this Psalmist literally adored and treasured God’s law
s. In a crescendo of praise for the law, the Psalmist trembles, perhaps holding a scroll, and moves from “it’s perfect,” to “this gives me wisdom and salvation,” then on to “rejoicing, joy, a sense of being clean” – and then with poetic boldness, the Psalmist employs sensual images: “the law is more precious than gold, sweeter than honey.” Honey has an alluring taste, and savory consistency in the mouth, and it is through the mouth that the Law was read, recited, and obeyed.The goal in adhering to the Law, the rich benefit of living in sync with what God has revealed, is to please God – and what could be a higher objective? “Let the words of my mouth, and the thoughts of my heart, be pleasing to You, O Lord” (verse 14). In an earlier email series I explored this idea that our talk (or our not talking!) matters to God – as do our thoughts! Of course they do, since God made our mouths, and our brains, and the sun, moon, rabbits and snails, and the commandments and teachings of the Bible. How can we live one more minute without knowing them? And letting them become our agenda for the day?
Here is the entire 19th Psalm, for you to read, ponder, and even pray:
Psalm 19
[1] The heavens are telling the glory of God;
and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
[2] Day to day pours forth speech,
and night to night declares knowledge.
[3] There is no speech, nor are there words;
their voice is not heard;
[4] yet their voice goes out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.
In them he has set a tent for the sun,
[5] which comes forth like a bridegroom leaving his chamber,
and like a strong man runs its course with joy.
[6] Its rising is from the end of the heavens,
and its circuit to the end of them;
and there is nothing hid from its heat.
[7] The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul;
the testimony of the LORD is sure,
making wise the simple;
[8] the precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the LORD is pure,
enlightening the eyes;
[9] the fear of the LORD is clean,
enduring for ever;
the ordinances of the LORD are true,
and righteous altogether.
[10] More to be desired are they than gold,
even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey
and drippings of the honeycomb.
[11] Moreover by them is thy servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
[12] But who can discern his errors?
Clear thou me from hidden faults.
[13] Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins;
let them not have dominion over me!
Then I shall be blameless,
and innocent of great transgression.
[14] Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable in thy sight,
O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
The complete ePsalms series is archived on our web site.
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