Salmos 19
Alexander Maclaren · Citado em PreceptAustin
Salmos 19:7-14
Maclaren wrote that… All this rapture of delight in the law contrasts with the impatience and dislike which some men entertain for it. To the disobedient that law spoils their coarse gratifications. It is as a prison in which life is wearisomely barred from delights; but they who dwell behind its fences know that these keep evils off, and that within are calm joys and pure delights. (The Expositor's Bible) Righteous (06663) (tsadaq) basically connotes conformity to an ethical or moral standard which in Scripture is the nature and will of God (Ps145:17) And thus God is righteous (Ps 51:4) as are His laws (Ps 19:9). When injustice prevails, God is the One who sets things right (Ex 23:6, 7; Ps 82:3). Man is not righteous by God's perfect standard, which is why we need the righteous standard of His Word. Altogether (03162)(yachad) speaks of a unit, unitedness, association. Yachad conveys an inclusive sense of gathering up many things at once, leaving none out. Spurgeon…The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether; -- jointly and severally the words of the Lord are true; that which is good in detail is excellent in the mass; no exception may be taken to a single clause separately, or to the book as a whole. God's judgments, all of them together, or each of them apart, are manifestly just, and need no laborious excuses to justify them. The judicial decisions of Jehovah, as revealed in the law, or illustrated in the history of his providence, are truth itself, and commend themselves to every truthful mind; not only is their power invincible, but their justice is unimpeachable. (Ps 19:9 Treasury of David) Psalm 19:10 THEY ARE MORE DESIRABLE THAN GOLD, YES, THAN MUCH FINE GOLD; SWEETER ALSO THAN HONEY AND THE DRIPPINGS OF THE HONEYCOMB. Gold: Ps 119:72,127 Job 28:15, 16, 17 Pr 3:13, 14, 15 8:10,11,19 16:16 Sweeter: Ps 63:5 119:103 Job 23:12 Pr 24:13 Honeycomb: the dropping of honey-combs, 1Sa 14:26, 27, 28, 29 The honey satisfies the body. The Word satisfies the soul. Greek Septuagint (LXX): NOTE: The NT passages are NOT cross references but passages what use the preceding Greek word epithumeta (Epithumetos not found in NT but see epithumeo - precious, pleasant, to be desired Jer 12:10) huper (lit = over, above) chrusion kai lithon timion polun kai glukutera (literally sweet Jas 3.11) huper meli (honey from bees) kai kerion (honeycomb, a wax comb filled with honey Lk 24.42KJV). Brenton's Translation of the Septuagint: To be desired more than gold, and much precious stone: sweeter also than honey and the honey-comb. THEY ARE MORE DESIRABLE THAN GOLD A glory gilds the sacred page, Majestic like the sun; It gives a light to every age, It gives, but borrows none. William Cowper Desirable (02530) (chamad) means to take pleasure in something, to covet, to desire passionately or intensely. desire, covet, long for (describes the pleasant trees as well as the forbidden trees in Eden Ge2:9).“Do not covet” (Ex 20:17). In a negative sense chamad refers to an inordinate, ungoverned, selfish desire, whether it be the gold of idols (Dt 7:25), or lusting after prostitutes (Pr 6:25) but here David uses the verb in its positive sense. So just as strongly as one would lust for some unforbidden fruit (an attitude we can all identify with though the "fruit" may be different), we are to long for the Word of Jehovah because it is more valuable than the most precious metal known at that time. Do I have this intense longing? Has it been there but slowly been sapped by the cares of the world? Then cry out to Jehovah even as the psalmist (Ps 119:34, 35, 36, 37, 38, etc). Chamad - 21x in 20v - Gen 2:9; 3:6; Exod 20:17; 34:24; Deut 5:21; 7:25; Josh 7:21; Job 20:20; Ps 19:10; 39:11; 68:16; Prov 1:22; 6:25; 12:12; 21:20; Song 2:3; Isa 1:29; 44:9; 53:2; Mic 2:2. NAS = attracted(1), covet(6), coveted(1), delight(1), desirable(2), desire(1), desired(2), desires(2), pleasing(1), precious(2), precious things(1), took great delight(1) Much fine gold - David regarded the words of God as more valuable than gold, the most expensive substance in his day, and more pleasing and satisfying than honey, the sweetest substance. Spurgeon… More to be desired are they than fine gold, yea, than much fine gold. Bible truth is enriching to the soul in the highest degree; the metaphor is one which gathers force as it is brought out; -- gold -- fine gold -- much fine gold; it is good, better, best, and therefore it is not only to be desired with a miser's avidity, but with more than that. As spiritual treasure is more noble than mere material wealth, so should it be desired and sought after with greater eagerness. Men speak of solid gold, but what is so solid as solid truth? For love of gold pleasure is forsworn, ease renounced, and life endangered; shall we not be ready to do as much for love of truth? (Ps 19:10 Treasury of David) Adam Clarke "nails" us all with his pithy comment on God's Word as more desirable than gold… This is strictly true; but who believes it? By most men gold is preferred both to God and his judgments; and they will barter every heavenly portion for gold and silver! The Bible is still "the most influential book in history" according to a 1996 survey of US citizens. The most influential book every written is… survey says 79.8 % Bible 4.7 % Dr. Spock's baby book 4.1 % Charles Darwin's The Origin Of The Species 2.4 % George Orwell's 1984 How many of those who praise the Bible's influence actually read it? And even if they read it, do they read it as the only source of their daily bread (Mt 4:4)? As someone has well said, if our approach to reading Scripture is "hit or miss", mostly likely it will "miss"! Do we have a "system" that helps us read the Scripture accurately and methodically, taking care to plumb the depths of the whole counsel of God's Word, both old and new testaments? If your answer to the preceding question is "no", let me suggest an approach to your Bible reading that has literally transformed the reading of thousands of believers - Inductive Bible study (see discussion). This method takes some effort but teaches you skills that will enable you to discover Biblical truth for yourself, which in turn transforms Scripture reading from an onerous "duty" to a genuine "delight"! Do you believe and practice what you read in Scripture? Is the Bible radically influencing your life? (See discussion of Application) ><>><>><> Illustration - Beginning in 2000, Americans will have a new one-dollar coin. But officials say the Sacagawea dollar honoring the Native American woman who guided the Lewis and Clark expedition will avoid the problems of the Susan B. Anthony dollar. The new coin will be the same size and weight as the Anthony, but it will have smooth edges so it can easily be distinguished by touch from quarters and other coins. It will also be set apart by its gold tone although officials have not yet decided what metals will be used to give the coin its color. Not gold itself, obviously! So even though people may look like they have a pocketful of gold next year, looks will be deceiving. The writers of Scripture often compare God's Word to gold because it stands for something of the highest value. It takes a mature eye to look at 'all that glitters' and determine what is really valuable and what simply looks valuable. And it takes spiritual maturity to value the things of God above even the most sought-after wealth on earth. (Today in the Word. Moody Bible Institute) ><>><>><> What is the world’s greatest treasure? Some people might say it’s all the gold stored in Fort Knox. Others might suggest it’s the Sistine Chapel in Rome. Still others would think of the fabulous wealth once displayed in the czarist palaces of Russia. The answer that I hope would come to your mind is the Bible, God’s Word. At the coronation of England’s Queen Elizabeth II, the Archbishop of Canterbury presented her with a Bible and said, “Our gracious Queen: To keep your Majesty ever mindful of the Law and the Gospel of God as the Rule for the whole life and government of Christian Princes, we present you with this Book, the most valuable thing that this world affords.” If the world were somehow robbed of all the splendid things we call treasures, that would be an incalculable loss. Suppose, though, the world were somehow stripped of the Bible and every trace of its influence. What a barren, blighted desert this planet would be! Yes, the Bible is our greatest treasure, worth far more than gold (Ps 19:10). But are we giving more than lip service to its worth? Are we obeying it as “the Rule for the whole life” because we believe the gospel and trust Christ personally as our Lord and Savior It is God's will that we should read His Word from day to day, Not just for knowledge, but much more— To love Him and obey. —Hess The rich treasures of God's Word are waiting to be discovered. Sweeter than honey (Ps119:103, 92): God's words are like honey. Honey in Near East substituted for sugar to sweeten things. God's Word supernaturally counteracts the bitterness in our life and makes it sweet. The spiritual man has more pleasure in the precepts of the Lord than carnal men have in their evil deeds. Dyer rightly advised… Prize the Word of God by the worth of it—that you may never come to prize the Word of God by the want of it! (The Strait Way to Heaven) Thomas Watson… Sickness takes away the TASTE. A sick man does not taste the sweetness in his food. Just so, the sinner, by reason of soul-sickness, has lost his taste for spiritual things. The Word of God is bread to strengthen, and wine to comfort; but the sinner tastes no sweetness in the Word. A child of God who is spiritualized by grace, tastes a savoriness in ordinances. The promise drops as a honeycomb (Psalm 19:10) — but a natural man is sick and his taste is gone. Since tasting of the forbidden tree, he has lost his taste for spiritual dainties. (The Souls Malady and Cure) Wayne Mack says the sweetness of God's Word is… able to remove the sourness, acidity, and bitterness caused by sin and to produce in us a sweetness of life that surpasses anything the world can provide. (The Sufficiency Of Scripture In Counseling - Wayne A. Mack) Dictionary of Biblical Imagery notes that… In biblical times honey was known for its sweetness (Jdg 14:14; Ps 19:10; 119:103; Pr 24:13; Ezek 3:3; Rev 10:9, 10) and its medicinal qualities (Pr 16:24). It was considered a delicacy and was sometimes presented as a valued gift (Ge 43:11; 1Ki 14:3; 2Chr 31:5; Ezek 16:13, 19; 27:17). For these reasons honey often indicated or symbolized abundance and prosperity (Dt 32:13; Job 20:17; Ps 81:16; Jer 41:8). At least twenty times (e.g., Ex 3:8, 17; 13:15) the OT calls the Promised Land of Palestine a “land flowing with milk and honey” (NIV), a description that appears to be a stock expression for a land abounding in pasture land and flowering plants. (Ryken, L., et al.. Dictionary of Biblical Imagery. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press) Sweeter (04966) (mathoq) means sweet and is sometimes translated "pleasant" in the 11 uses in the NAS - Jdg 14:14, 18; Ps 19:10; Prov 16:24; 24:13; 27:7; Eccl 5:12; 11:7; Song 2:3; Isa 5:20; Ezek 3:3. Honey (01706) (debash) here refers to literal honey. See the dictionary discussion of Honey. Debash - 54v in NAS - Gen 43:11; Exod 3:8, 17; 13:5; 16:31; 33:3; Lev 2:11; 20:24; Num 13:27; 14:8; 16:13f; Deut 6:3; 8:8; 11:9; 26:9, 15; 27:3; 31:20; 32:13; Josh 5:6; Judg 14:8f, 18; 1 Sam 14:25ff, 29, 43; 2 Sam 17:29; 1 Kgs 14:3; 2 Kgs 18:32; 2 Chr 31:5; Job 20:17; Ps 19:10; 81:16; 119:103; Prov 16:24; 24:13; 25:16, 27; Song 4:11; 5:1; Isa 7:15, 22; Jer 11:5; 32:22; 41:8; Ezek 3:3; 16:13, 19; 20:6, 15; 27:17 Honeycomb (06688) (tsuph) is used only here and in Pr 16:24. Adam Clarke… Honey is sweet; but honey just out of the comb has a sweetness, richness and flavor, far beyond what it has after it becomes exposed to the air. Only those who have eaten of honey from the comb can feel the force of the psalmist's comparison: it is better than gold, yea, than fine gold in the greatest quantity; it is sweeter than honey, yea, than honey from the comb. Two arguments for loving God's statutes -- Profit and Pleasure. Spurgeon… Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
Salmos 19:7-14
Maclaren comments that… The contemplation of the law cannot but lead to self-examination, and that to petition. So the psalmist passes into prayer… he feels that beyond the sin which he knows, there is a dark region in him where foul things nestle and breed fast. "Secret faults" are those hidden, not from men, but from himself. He discovers that he has hitherto undiscovered sins. Lurking evils are most dangerous because, like aphides on the under-side of a rose leaf, they multiply so quickly unobserved; small deeds make up life, and small, unnoticed sins darken the soul. Mud in water, at the rate of a grain to a glassful, will make a lake opaque. "Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth." Conscience needs educating; and we have to compare ourselves with the ideal of perfect life in Jesus, if we would know our faults, as young artists go over their copies in front of the masterpiece. But the psalmist knows that, servant of God though he is, he is in danger from another class of sins, and so prays to be held back from "presumptuous sins," i.e. wilful conscious transgressions. Such deliberate contraventions of law tend to become habitual and despotic; so the prayer follows that thy may not "have dominion." But even that is not the lowest depth. Deliberate sin, which has gained the upper hand, is but too apt to end in apostacy. (The Expositor's Bible) Hidden (05641)(cathar; Lxx = kruphios - see related word kruphe) means concealed, kept secret. Yes, they might perhaps be hidden from men but not from the all seeing eye of Jehovah the Righteous Judge of all men! Hidden faults would appear to be those not apparent to the conscience, the so called "sins of ignorance" (Heb 5:2-note He 9:7-note). Illustration - A lady once asked a captain if he knew where all the rocks and shallows were in the sea. "Oh no!" he said, pointing to his chart, "but I know where the deep water is." God's Word is a chart which will steer us clear of the rocks. David knew about presumptuous sins. They had all but wrecked his life. (John Phillips) No person can understand his or her "incurable" heart (Jer 17:9). We need the mirror of the Word to reveal our hidden faults (Jas 1:22, 23, 24-note, Jas 1:25-note). Moses writes… Thou hast placed our iniquities before Thee, Our secret sins in the light of Thy presence. (Ps 90:8, cp Isa 29:12, Ezek 8:12, Ep 5:12-note) Ray Stedman… “Forgive my hidden faults.” Is that your prayer? Do you know what will happen when you pray that way? You might think that God will take a sponge and wipe around inside you so you will not even know what those hidden faults were. But God does not do that. His way of dealing with hidden faults is either to send somebody to point them out to you or to bring them out through some circumstance in which you are suddenly confronted with what you have done or said and you find that it is ugly and you do not like it. That is the way God cleanses us from hidden faults. He opens up the secret places. Usually he does it through other people because, as God well knows, we cannot see ourselves, but other people can see us. These faults are hidden to us but not to others. They see them very plainly. And we can see their hidden faults better than they can. You know that you can see the faults of somebody you are thinking about right now better than that person can. You say, “I don't see how that person can be so blind.” Someone is thinking that very same way about you. That is why it is always proper to say, “Lord, cleanse me from hidden faults. Help me to see myself through the eyes of a friend who loves me enough to tell me the truth.” And then, “Keep me from willful sins.” Willful sins are those in which you are confident that you have what it takes to do what God wants. Self-confidence is presumption. God never asks us to do anything on that basis. If we depend upon ourselves, we are acting presumptuously, and any activity that stems from self-confidence is a presumptuous sin. “Whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” For me to act as though there is anything that I can contribute is to be guilty of this kind of sin. The cure for this is dependence upon the activity of God in you as a believer. So David is praying, “Lord, let me realize that without You I can do nothing. Help me to depend upon You to work through me. Then I will be blameless and innocent of great transgression.” Lord You speak to me through the world You have made and the Word You have spoken. Give me a teachable heart. Life Application: What are two crucial areas for our lives that need exposure? Are we open to praying about them and to allowing God to answer our prayers in His way? (Hidden Faults Daily Devotion for Psalm 19 RayStedman.org) Illustration - Time-Lapse Photography compresses a series of events into one picture. Such a photo appeared in an issue of NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC. Taken from a Rocky Mountain peak during a heavy thunderstorm, the picture captured the brilliant lightning display that had taken place throughout the storm’s duration. The time-lapse technique created a fascinating, spaghetti-like web out of the individual bolts. In such a way, our sin presents itself before the eyes of God. Where we see only isolated or individual acts, God sees the overall web of our sinning. What may seem insignificant—even sporadic—to us and passes with hardly a notice creates a much more dramatic display from God’s panoramic viewpoint. The psalmist was right when he wrote, “Who can discern his errors? Acquit me of hidden faults. Keep back your servant from presumptuous sins” (Ps 19:12,13). ><>><>><> Nobody Can Keep A Secret From God - Washington, D.C., is full of secrets. Some say as many as 3 billion! But not all of them are legitimate secrets that safeguard national security. Many are documents concerning hazardous medical experiments made years ago on human subjects without their knowledge or consent. Others are contracts and bills that civilian manufacturers, often guilty of excessive overcharges, labeled “confidential.” But now, under a new policy inaugurated by the Department of Energy, “a pyramid-like tomb of classified documents” is being systematically exposed to public scrutiny. As a result, many people and companies are being sued. Life, like Washington, is full of secrets. Most secrets are trivial and unimportant. Some, however, are evil and tragic, as illustrated in today’s Bible reading. What about secret sins? We may be able to hide them successfully from people, yet on God’s timetable a day is scheduled when He who “knows the secrets of the heart” (Ps. 44:21) “will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing” (Ec 12:14). Bring those secrets out in the open. Confess your sins now and claim the complete cleansing that is promised through the Savior’s sacrifice (1 Jn. 1:9). You cannot hide your sin from God, He knows what's in your heart; Confession is the quickest way To make a brand-new start. —Sper Our secret sins are open scandal to God. From the revelation of God's Word come both warning and reward… The more holy a man is, the more humble, self-renouncing, self-abhorring, and the more sensitive to every sin he becomes, and the more closely he clings to Christ. The moral imperfections which cling to him he feels to be sins, which he laments and strives to overcome. Believers find that their life is a constant warfare, and they need to take the kingdom of heaven by storm, and watch while they pray. They are always subject to the constant chastisement of their Father’s loving hand, which can only be designed to correct their imperfections and to confirm their graces. And it has been notoriously the fact that the best Christians have been those who have been the least prone to claim the attainment of perfection for themselves. (Hodge’s Outlines) F B
Salmos 19:7-14
Maclaren comments that… "Great transgression" is probably a designation for casting off the very pretense of worshipping Jehovah. That is the story of many a fall. First, some unsuspected evil habit gnaws away the substance of the life, as white antes do wood, leaving the shell apparently intact; then come sins open and palpable, and these enslave the will, becoming habits, and then follows entire abandonment of the profession of religion. It is a slippery, dark stairway, and the only safety is in not setting foot on the top step. God, and God only can "keep us back." He will, if we cling to Him, knowing our weakness. Thus clinging, we may unblamed cherish the daring hope that we shall be "upright and innocent," since nothing less that entire deliverance from sin in all its forms and issues can correspond to the will of God concerning us and the power of God in us, nor satisfy our deepest desires. (The Expositor's Bible) Transgression (06588)(pesha related to pasha' - conveys root idea of breach of relationship between two parties) means offense, rebellion, crime. As used in the present context pesha describes attitudes and/or actions contrary to God's standard, with a focus on the rebellious nature of the sin. There are three primary Hebrew words for sin - (1). chatta'ah [02403] = miss the mark or to fall short of the divine standard. (2). Pesha' [06588] is usually “rebellion” or “transgression,” and indicates revolt against the standard. (3). 'Avon [05771] = iniquity or guilt is a twisting of the standard or deviation from it. Pesha - 94x in 91v in the NAS - Gen 31:36; 50:17; Exod 22:9; 23:21; 34:7; Lev 16:16, 21; Num 14:18; Josh 24:19; 1 Sam 24:11; 25:28; 1 Kgs 8:50; Job 7:21; 8:4; 13:23; 14:17; 31:33; 33:9; 34:6, 37; 35:6, 15; 36:9; Ps 5:10; 19:13; 25:7; 32:1, 5; 36:1; 39:8; 51:1, 3; 59:3; 65:3; 89:32; 103:12; 107:17; Prov 10:12, 19; 12:13; 17:9, 19; 19:11; 28:2, 13, 24; 29:6, 16, 22; Isa 24:20; 43:25; 44:22; 50:1; 53:5, 8; 57:4; 58:1; 59:12, 20; Jer 5:6; Lam 1:5, 14, 22; Ezek 14:11; 18:22, 28, 30f; 21:24; 33:10, 12; 37:23; 39:24; Dan 8:12f; 9:24; Amos 1:3, 6, 9, 11, 13; 2:1, 4, 6; 3:14; 5:12; Mic 1:5, 13; 3:8; 6:7; 7:18. NAS = breach of trust(1), rebellion(6), rebellious(1), rebellious act(2), rebellious acts(2), transgression(37), transgressions(45). David closes by asking God to reveal his secret sins to him much as he did in Ps 139 (compare Ps 139:1,2)… Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way. ( Ps 139:23, 24) Several saints of God were described as "blameless"… Ge 6:9 These are the records of the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless (Tamiym; Lxx = teleios = complete, mature) in his time; Noah walked with God. (Ge 6:9) There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job, and that man was blameless, upright, fearing God, and turning away from evil. (Job 1:1) And they were both (Zacharias and Elizabeth - Lk 1:5) righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord. (Lk 1:6) Perhaps you have strayed from the fold dear believer. Do not let the accuser of the brethren (Rev 12:10-note) lie to you. You have eternal redemption (He 9:12-note) through the precious blood of your Redeemer, the Lamb of God (1Pe 1:18-note, Jn 1:29), in Whom you are accepted (Eph 1:6KJV-note) by the Father, Who will for eternity be fully satisfied with the marks of covenant (See note) His Son cut with thee. And yet you still "feel" far away from Him. Then consider playing and or praying this great old William Cowper hymn… O FOR A CLOSER WALK WITH THEE William Cowper (Play) O for a closer walk with God, A calm and heavenly frame, A light to shine upon the road That leads me to the Lamb! The dearest idol I have known, Whate’er that idol be Help me to tear it from Thy throne, And worship only Thee. Where is the blessedness I knew, When first I saw the Lord? Where is the soul refreshing view Of Jesus and His Word? What peaceful hours I once enjoyed! How sweet their memory still! But they have left an aching void The world can never fill. Return, O holy Dove, return, Sweet messenger of rest! I hate the sins that made Thee mourn And drove Thee from my breast. So shall my walk be close with God, Calm and serene my frame; So purer light shall mark the road That leads me to the Lamb. Spurgeon's Devotional (Morning and Evening)…Such was the prayer of the “man after God’s own heart.” Did holy David need to pray thus? How needful, then, must such a prayer be for us babes in grace! It is as if he said, “Keep me back, or I shall rush headlong over the precipice of sin.” Our evil nature, like an ill-tempered horse, is apt to run away. May the grace of God put the bridle upon it, and hold it in, that it rush not into mischief. What might not the best of us do if it were not for the checks which the Lord sets upon us both in providence and in grace! The psalmist’s prayer is directed against the worst form of sin—that which is done with deliberation and wilfulness. Even the holiest need to be “kept back” from the vilest transgressions. It is a solemn thing to find the apostle Paul warning saints against the most loathsome sins. “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry.” What! do saints want warning against such sins as these? Yes, they do. The whitest robes, unless their purity be preserved by divine grace, will be defiled by the blackest spots. Experienced Christian, boast not in your experience; you will trip yet if you look away from him who is able to keep you from falling. Ye whose love is fervent, whose faith is constant, whose hopes are bright, say not, “We shall never sin,” but rather cry, “Lead us not into temptation.” There is enough tinder in the heart of the best of men to light a fire that shall burn to the lowest hell, unless God shall quench the sparks as they fall. Who would have dreamed that righteous Lot could be found drunken, and committing uncleanness? Hazael said, “Is thy servant a dog, that he should do this thing?” and we are very apt to use the same self-righteous question. May infinite wisdom cure us of the madness of self-confidence. Spurgeon's Commentary…Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me. This earnest and humble prayer teaches us that saints may fall into the worst of sins unless restrained by grace, and that therefore they must watch and pray lest they enter into temptation. There is a natural proneness to sin in the best of men, and they must be held back as a horse is held back by the bit or they will run into it. Presumptuous sins are peculiarly dangerous. All sins are great sins, but yet some sins are greater than others. Every sin has in it the very venom of rebellion, and is full of the essential marrow of traitorous rejection of God; but there be some sins which have in them a greater development of the essential mischief of rebellion, and which wear upon their faces more of the brazen pride which defies the Most High. It is wrong to suppose that because all sins will condemn us, that therefore one sin is not greater than another. The fact is, that while all transgression is a greatly grievous and sinful thing, yet there are some transgressions which have a deeper shade of blackness, and a more double scarlet dyed hue of criminality than others. The presumptuous sins of our text are the chief and worst of all sins; they rank head and foremost in the list of iniquities. It is remarkable that though an atonement was provided under the Jewish law for every kind of sin, there was this one exception: "But the soul that sinneth presumptuously shall have no atonement; it shall be cut off from the midst of the people." And now under the Christian dispensation, although in the sacrifice of our blessed Lord there is a great and precious atonement for presumptuous sins, whereby sinners who have erred in this manner are made clean, yet without doubt, presumptuous sinners, dying without pardon, must expect to receive a double portion of the wrath of God, and a more terrible portion of eternal punishment in the pit that is digged for the wicked. For this reason is David so anxious that he may never come under the reigning power of these giant evils. Then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. He shudders at the thought of the unpardonable sin. Secret sin is a stepping stone to presumptuous sin, and that is the vestibule of "the sin which is unto death." He who is not wilful in his sin, will be in a fair way to be innocent so far as poor sinful man can be; but he who tempts the devil to tempt him is in a path which will lead him from bad to worse, and from the worse to the worst. (Psalm 19:13 - Treasury of David) Psalm 19:14 LET THE WORDS OF MY MOUTH AND THE MEDITATION OF MY HEART BE ACCEPTABLE IN THY SIGHT, O LORD, MY ROCK AND MY REDEEMER. Let: Ps 5:1,2 51:15 66:18, 19, 20 119:108 Ge 4:4,5 Pr 15:8 Ro 15:16 Heb 11:4 13:15 1Pe 2:5 Rock: Ps 18:1,2 Redeemer: Job 19:25 Isa 43:14 44:6 47:4 54:5 1Th 1:10 Titus 2:14 1Pe 1:18,19 Rev 5:9) Greek Septuagint (Lxx): NOTE: The NT passages are NOT cross references but passages what use the preceding Greek word kai esontai eis eudokían (of God good pleasure, favor, approval Ep 1.5) ta logia tou stomatos mou kai e melete (attention, practice,exercise care for many things, attention to action, care paid by one, practice, exercise, Latin = meditatio, painful exercises, of the Spartan discipline, in a military sense, exercise, practice, drill, of an orator, rehearsal) tes kardias (genitive) mou enopion (in the face of Lk 1:6) sou dia pantos (dia pantos = regularly, always, Lk 4:23) kurie boethe (helper, help, the Lord my helper Heb13.6, Ex 15:2; 18:4; Dt 33:7) mou kai lutrota (one who sets free slaves or captives liberator, deliverer Acts 7.35) mou Brenton's Translation of the Septuagint: So shall the sayings of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be pleasing continually before thee, O Lord my helper, and my redeemer. Let the words of my mouth - A prayer, an appeal to God. David has surveyed the wonderful heavens that declare the glory of God; he has looked into the wonderful Word of God that declares His glory and has seen himself in light of these two supernatural creations, causing him to recognize the completeness of God’s works and Word and his "incompleteness" as a sinful creature. The result of David's realization is a powerful prayer calling for His Creator to continually sanctify him. Words (0561)('emer) means something said, speech, utterance, word, etc. Mouth (06310) (peh) is most often used of a man's mouth. Adam Clarke… He has prayed against practical sin, the sins of the body; now, against the sins of the mouth and of the heart. Let my mouth speak nothing but what is true, kind, and profitable; and my heart meditate nothing but what is holy, pure, and chaste. Meditation (01902) (higgayon from hagah = inward utterance, muttering, of the words a man speaks to himself - Josh 1:8) means internal musing, whispering (La 3:62), a musical term (Ps 9:17), melody (Ps 92:4). In the present context, higgayon describes a thought process that may include speaking the thoughts out loud in low tones but to no human in particular. Related Resources: Meditation - Application of the Word Primer on Biblical Meditation The Duty of Meditation - Sermon by John Angell James William Law writes that… Precious, indeed, will be this Psalm if it thus leads to wrestling hold of Christ, Who is all strength and all redemption to us. (Psalm 19 - Exposition) Andrew Murray gives us sage words concerning meditation on the Word… THE true aim of education, study, reading, is to be found, not in what is brought into us, but in what is brought out of ourselves, by the awakening into active exercise of our inward power. This is as true of the study of the Bible, as of any other study. God's Word only works its true blessing when the truth it brings to us has stirred the inner life, and reproduced itself in resolve, trust, love, or adoration. When the heart has received the Word through the mind, and has had its spiritual powers called out and exercised on it, the Word is no longer void, but has done that whereunto God has sent it. It has become part of our life, and strengthened us for new purpose and effort. It is in meditation that the heart holds and appropriates the Word. Just as in reflection the understanding grasps all the meaning and bearings of a truth, so in meditation the heart, assimilates it and makes it a part of its own life. We need continual reminding that the heart means the will and the affection. The meditation of the heart implies desire, acceptance, surrender, love. Out of the heart are the issues of life; what the heart truly believes, that it receives with love and joy, and allows to master and rule the life. The intellect gathers and prepares the food on which we are to feed. In meditation the heart takes it in and feeds on it. The art of meditation needs to be cultivated. Just as a man needs to be trained to concentrate his mental powers so as to think clearly and accurately, a Christian needs to carefully consider and meditate, until the holy habit has been formed of yielding up the whole heart to every word of God. The question sometimes is asked, how this power of meditation can be cultivated. The very first thing is to present ourselves before God. It is His Word; that Word has no power of blessing apart from Him. It is into His presence and fellowship the Word is meant to bring us. Practise His presence, and take the Word as from Himself in the assurance that He will make it work effectually in the heart. In Psalm 119. you have the word seven times (Ed: 8x in NAS - Ps 119:15 23 27 48 78 97 99 148), but each time as part of a prayer addressed to God. "I will meditate in THY precepts." "Thy servant did meditate in THY statutes." "O how I love THY law, it is my meditation all the day." Meditation is the heart turning towards God with His own Word, seeking to take it up into the affection and will, into its very life. (Might I suggest you consider reading Murray's entire chapter on "Meditation" in The inner chamber and the inner life) ><>><>><> Meditate On These Things - Some Christians get a little skeptical when you start talking about meditation—not seeing the huge distinction between biblical meditation and some types of mystical meditation. In mystical meditation, according to one explanation, “the rational mind is shifted into neutral … so that the psyche can take over.” The focus is inward, and the aim is to “become one with God.” In contrast, biblical meditation focuses on the things of the Lord, and its purpose is to renew our minds (Ro 12:2) so that we think and act more like Christ. Its objective is to reflect on what God has said and done (Ps 77:12; 119:15,16,97) and on what He is like (48:9-14). In Psalm 19:14, David wrote, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord.” Other psalms reflect on God’s love (Ps 48:9), His deeds (Ps 77:12), His law (Ps 119:97), and His testimonies (Ps 119:99). Fill your mind with Scripture and focus on the Lord’s commands and promises and goodness. And remember this: Whatever is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, and of good report, “if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things” (Php 4:8). Of all God’s creatures, only man Can worship, meditate, and plan; The gift of thought sets him apart To love the Lord with all his heart. —D. De Haan To become more like Christ, meditate on who He is. Heart (03820)(leb; Lxx = kardia [word study]) - see discussion above (Ps 19:8) Acceptable (07522) (rason; Lxx = eudokía [word study]) means pleasure, delight, desire, will, favor, acceptance. This alone is a miracle of God's grace, that fallen men and women could say or do ANYTHING that would be pleasing and delightful to the Holy God! Rason - 55x in 55v in the NAS - Gen 49:6; Ex 28:38; Lev 1:3; 19:5; 22:19ff, 29; 23:11; Deut 33:16, 23; 2 Chr 15:15; Ezra 10:11; Neh 9:24, 37; Esther 1:8; 9:5; Ps 5:12; 19:14; 30:5, 7; 40:8; 51:18; 69:13; 89:17; 103:21; 106:4; 145:16, 19; Prov 8:35; 10:32; 11:1, 20, 27; 12:2, 22; 14:9, 35; 15:8; 16:13, 15; 18:22; 19:12; Isa 49:8; 56:7; 58:5; 60:7, 10; 61:2; Jer 6:20; Dan 8:4; 11:3, 16, 36; Mal 2:13. NAS = acceptable(5), acceptance(1), accepted(8), delight(5), desire(2), desired(1), desires(1), earnestly*(1), favor(17), favorable(2), good will(1), please(1), pleased(1), pleases(3), self-will(1), what is acceptable(1), what they pleased(1), will(3). Adam
Salmos 19:7-14
Maclaren comments that… The closing aspiration is that Jehovah would accept our song and prayer. There is an allusion to the acceptance of a sacrifice, for the phrase "be acceptable" is frequent in connection with the sacrificial ritual. When the words of the mouth coincide with the meditation of the heart, we may hope that prayers for cleansing from, and defense against, sin, offered to Him Whom our faith recognizes as our "strength" and our "Redeemer," will be as a sacrifice of a sweet smell, well-pleasing to God. He best loves the law of Jehovah who lets it teach him his sin, and send him to his knees; he best appreciates the glories of the silent heavens who knows that their witness to God is but the prelude of the deeper music of the Scriptures' declaration of the heart and will of Jehovah, and who grasps Him as his "strength and his Redeemer" from all evil, whether evil of sin or evil of sorrow. (The Expositor's Bible) Henry Morris calls us to… Note the frequent New Testament conjoining of what we think with what we say (Romans 10:9-10; Matthew 12:34; Colossians 3:16; etc.). (Defender's Study Bible - highly recommended) Spurgeon… Words of the mouth are mockery if the heart does not meditate; the shell is nothing without the kernel; but both together are useless unless accepted; and even if accepted by man, it is all vanity if not acceptable in the sight of God. We must in prayer view Jehovah as our strength enabling, and our Redeemer saving, or we shall not pray aright, and it is well to feel our personal interest so as to use the word my, or our prayers will be hindered. Our near Kinsman's name, our Goel or Redeemer, makes a blessed ending to the Psalm; it began with the heavens, but it ends with him whose glory fills heaven and earth. Blessed Kinsman, give us now to meditate acceptably upon thy most sweet love and tenderness. (Ps 19:14 Treasury of David) Rock (06697)(Tsur/sur; Lxx = boethos [word study]) literally means rock (Ex 17:6) and the context determines the size and shape of the rock. In the present passage the use is a figurative name for God, our Rock - see Dt 32:4, 15, 18, 30, 31; 1Sa 2:2; 2Sa 22:32, 47; 23:3; Ps 18:32,47) Related Resource: Click Scripture chain and chart ~ great Sunday School study Note the KJV renders tsur/sur as "Strength" and the Lxx translates Rock as "Helper" (See study of boethos for the great picture inherent in this Greek noun) Paul expresses a similar idea as David (mouth… meditation… acceptable), i.e., that one's words and thoughts (even motives, cp 1Co 4:5) might be pleasing to God (not so much to men) (see 2Co 5:9, 10) Redeemer (01350) (goel/ga'al); Lxx = lutrotes = release on receipt of a ransom used in Acts 7:35 of Moses Ps 78:35) means primarily to restore to an original state. Goel means to redeem and is perfectly depicted in the Book of Ruth by Boaz who understood the law of kinsman-redeemer which stated that the next of kin was to buy back a relative's property or marry his widow. Goel includes the ideas of Blood Avenger (Dt 19:6, Nu 35:19, 21, 24, 27 35:12), Deliverer, One who ransoms, purchases or redeems. A goel therefore was one who not only delivered but who effected restoration to an original, sometimes ideal, state. The Goel is to do the part of a kinsman and thus to redeem one's kin from difficulty or danger by the payment of a price. Goel places emphasis on the redemption being the privilege or duty of the near relative. Take a moment to worship in spirit and truth by playing Nicole Mullen's great song as you meditate on our Glorious Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ… My Redeemer Lives