Psalms 19:1-14: a reflection

1The heavens declare the glory of God. The expanse shows his handiwork. 2Day after day they pour out speech, and night after night they display knowledge. 3There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. 4Their voice has gone out through all the earth, their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun, 5which is as a bridegroom coming out of his room, like a strong man rejoicing to run his course. 6His going out is from the end of the heavens, his circuit to its ends. There is nothing hidden from its heat. 7The LORD’s law is perfect, restoring the soul. The LORD’s covenant is sure, making wise the simple. 8The LORD’s precepts are right, rejoicing the heart. The LORD’s commandment is pure, enlightening the eyes. 9The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever. The LORD’s ordinances are true, and righteous altogether. 10They are more to be desired than gold, yes, than much fine gold, sweeter also than honey and the extract of the honeycomb. 11Moreover your servant is warned by them. In keeping them there is great reward. 12Who can discern his errors? Forgive me from hidden errors. 13Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins. Let them not have dominion over me. Then I will be upright. I will be blameless and innocent of great transgression. 14Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, LORD, my rock, and my redeemer.

This psalm praises the word of God as perfect and precious, reviving the soul, making wise the simple, more to be desired than gold and sweeter than honey. The LORD's law is perfect, restoring the soul, the psalm says; the LORD's precepts are right, rejoicing the heart; they are more to be desired than gold, sweeter also than honey. God's word is described as perfect and sure, right and pure, true and altogether righteous; and its effects are life-giving: reviving the soul, making wise the simple, rejoicing the heart, enlightening the eyes. And it is precious: more desirable than the finest gold, sweeter than honey. God's word is not a burden, but a treasure, perfect and precious. This shows the surpassing worth and sweetness of God's word. God's word is perfect and precious, reviving the soul. God's word is more to be desired than gold, sweeter than honey. Treasure God's word as a life-giving delight, not a burden. Let God's word revive your soul and gladden your heart.

Notice how the psalm describes God's word and its effects. It calls God's word perfect, sure, right, pure, true, and altogether righteous, a word without flaw, wholly good and trustworthy. And it describes what this word does: it revives the soul, restoring life to the weary; it makes wise the simple, giving wisdom to those who lack it; it rejoices the heart, bringing gladness; it enlightens the eyes, giving light and understanding. And then it values this word above all treasures: more to be desired than gold, than much fine gold; sweeter than honey from the comb. God's word, in this psalm, is both perfect and precious, life-giving and delightful. This invites us to a certain regard for God's word. We can come to see God's word as a burden, a set of demands, something heavy or dull; and so neglect it. But this psalm sees it otherwise: as perfect and precious, reviving the soul, making wise, rejoicing the heart, more desirable than gold and sweeter than honey. To regard God's word this way, as a treasure and a delight rather than a burden, changes how we come to it: not grudgingly, but eagerly, seeking in it the life, wisdom, gladness, and light it gives. We do well to treasure God's word as this psalm does, as perfect and precious, a life-giving delight, letting it revive our souls and gladden our hearts. Treasure God's word as perfect and precious, a life-giving delight. God's word revives the soul, makes wise, and gladdens the heart. Desire God's word more than gold, and find it sweeter than honey. Come to God's word eagerly, as a treasure, not grudgingly, as a burden.

That is worth taking to heart, for God's word is perfect and precious, reviving the soul, more to be desired than gold and sweeter than honey, and we do well to treasure it as this psalm does. We can regard God's word as a burden and neglect it; but the psalm calls it perfect and precious, reviving the soul, more desirable than gold and sweeter than honey. Treasure it. Do not regard God's word as a dull burden; come to it eagerly as a treasure and delight, letting it revive your soul and gladden your heart. Treasure God's word as perfect and precious, more to be desired than gold and sweeter than honey, letting it revive your soul and gladden your heart rather than regarding it as a burden, as this psalm praises the word of God as perfect and precious, reviving the soul and making wise the simple, saying the LORD's law is perfect and restores the soul, his precepts are right and rejoice the heart, and they are more to be desired than gold and sweeter than honey; for God's word is described as perfect and sure, right and pure, true and altogether righteous, and its effects are life-giving, reviving the soul, making wise the simple, rejoicing the heart, and enlightening the eyes, and it is precious, more desirable than the finest gold and sweeter than honey, so that God's word is not a burden but a treasure, perfect and precious, which invites us to a certain regard for it, since we can come to see God's word as a burden or a set of heavy demands and so neglect it, but this psalm sees it otherwise, as perfect and precious, reviving the soul, making wise, rejoicing the heart, and more desirable than gold, so that to regard God's word this way as a treasure and delight rather than a burden changes how we come to it, not grudgingly but eagerly, seeking in it the life, wisdom, gladness, and light it gives, and we do well to treasure God's word as this psalm does.

Lord, this psalm praises your word as perfect and precious, reviving the soul, making wise the simple, more to be desired than gold and sweeter than honey. The LORD's law is perfect, restoring the soul, the psalm says; the LORD's precepts are right, rejoicing the heart; they are more to be desired than gold, sweeter also than honey. Your word is described as perfect and sure, right and pure, true and altogether righteous; and its effects are life-giving: reviving the soul, making wise the simple, rejoicing the heart, enlightening the eyes. And it is precious: more desirable than the finest gold, sweeter than honey. Your word is not a burden, but a treasure. Show me how the psalm describes your word and its effects. It calls your word perfect, sure, right, pure, true, and altogether righteous, a word without flaw, wholly good and trustworthy. And it describes what this word does: it revives the soul, restoring life to the weary; it makes wise the simple; it rejoices the heart; it enlightens the eyes. And then it values this word above all treasures: more to be desired than gold, sweeter than honey. Your word is both perfect and precious, life-giving and delightful. This invites me to a certain regard for your word. I can come to see your word as a burden, a set of demands, something heavy or dull, and so neglect it. But this psalm sees it otherwise: as perfect and precious, reviving the soul, making wise, rejoicing the heart, more desirable than gold and sweeter than honey. To regard your word this way, as a treasure and a delight rather than a burden, changes how I come to it: not grudgingly, but eagerly. Take that to my heart. Keep me from regarding your word as a dull burden; help me come to it eagerly, Lord, as a treasure and delight, desiring it more than gold and finding it sweeter than honey, and letting it revive my soul, make me wise, and gladden my heart.