Psalm 19:7-14 NLT 7 The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. 8 The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living. 9 Reverence for the Lord is pure, lasting forever. The laws of the Lord are true; each one is fair. 10 They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb. 11 They are a warning to Your servant, a great reward for those who obey them. 12 How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults. 13 Keep Your servant from deliberate sins! Don’t let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin. 14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to You, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
Psalm 19:7-14 MSG The revelation of God is whole and pulls our lives together. The signposts of God are clear and point out the right road. The life-maps of God are right, showing the way to joy. The directions of God are plain and easy on the eyes. God’s reputation is twenty-four-carat gold, with a lifetime guarantee. The decisions of God are accurate down to the nth degree. 10 God’s Word is better than a diamond, better than a diamond set between emeralds. You’ll like it better than strawberries in spring, better than red, ripe strawberries.
11-14 There’s more: God’s Word warns us of danger and directs us to hidden treasure. Otherwise, how will we find our way? Or know when we play the fool? Clean the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh! Keep me from stupid sins, from thinking I can take over your work; Then I can start this day sun-washed, scrubbed clean of the grime of sin. These are the words in my mouth; these are what I chew on and pray. Accept them when I place them on the morning altar, O God, my Altar-Rock, God, Priest-of-My-Altar.
Observation
God’s nature is revealed through His Word. Through all David’s disappointments, trials and failings, he learned that everything he needed could be found in submitting to and obeying God’s commands. David’s worship extols God’s nature as revealed to him by God’s words and actions – “…perfect, reviving the soul…trustworthy, making wise the simple…right, bringing joy to the heart…clear, giving insight for living… pure, lasting forever… true; each one is fair.” Regardless of his experience or current circumstance, David’s worship reflected and rejoiced in Who God is.
Nonetheless, David recognized that he himself was less than perfect or trustworthy. He ends this psalm with words of repentance and humility. “Clean the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh! Keep me from stupid sins, from thinking I can take over your work.” Isn’t this the cry of every humble human heart who strives to please God, to walk worthy of the love and grace so freely given, to be that good and faithful servant?
Impact on Me
I hear in this psalm the wonder, the awe, the gratitude, the humility, the meekness that fired David’s worship. It is one I revisit often. It is full of awe and wonder over the love, wisdom, beauty, majesty, perfection of God Who, for some unimaginable reason, hears me, out of all the voices, and responds with love, grace and mercy to “scrub me clean of the grime of sin” again. The more amazing thing is that He finds joy in the scrubbing! It is better for me to listen to Him and avoid falling into the grimy pit, committing “stupid sins, from thinking I can take over Your work.” However, when I do muck myself up again and sincerely repent, putting my stupid pride on the “morning altar,” and committing to listen and obey more faithfully, He “cleans the slate…so we can start the day afresh”. Surely these things should fire my daily worship with the same wonder, awe, gratitude, humility, and meekness that fired David’s worship!
The question is, “Does it?” Do I take time to marvel at the wonder of God’s love and care for me? Do I put more value on worshipping Him than on seeking praise for what I have done? Am I ever grateful for God’s readiness to clean the slate when I come again to repent for rushing off to take over? Am I humble enough to expose my hidden faults, my stupid sins to repent and free Him to forgive? Do I want to make the David-like choices, sometimes hard, difficult, humiliating, or terrifying, to become one after God’s own heart? Again, I pray that the Holy Spirit will fill me with the courage and strength to do so.
Prayer
God of mercy and grace, You are endlessly patient—so much love, so deeply true—loyal in love for a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, rebellion, and sin. Still, You do not ignore sin (Ex 34 MSG). Lord God, I pray that You will give me the insight, wisdom and strength to be totally transparent before You, allowing Your Holy Spirit to expose my hidden faults/stupid sins and that I might be humble enough to repent for them. Rekindle the fire in me that will restore that awe and wonder in my worship, whether in a group or all alone. May others come to know Christ because they meet Him in me. Make it so, in Jesus’ name.
Pressing On In His Footsteps 