Psalm 19

What Psalm 19 means

Psalm 19 begins with the sky. "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork." Every day and every night carry the message on. There is no spoken language, yet the message goes out through all the earth. The sun is pictured like a bridegroom leaving his room and a strong man glad to run a race, crossing the sky so that nothing is hidden from its heat.

At verse 7 the psalm shifts from the sun to the Scriptures. The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul. The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. Six names for God's word are paired with what each one does: law, testimony, statutes, commandment, fear and judgments. The psalmist calls them more desirable than much fine gold and sweeter than honey and the honeycomb.

Those same words also warn. By them the servant of God is warned, and in keeping them is great reward. That leads the psalmist to look at his own heart. "Who can understand his errors?" He asks God to cleanse him from secret faults he cannot see, and to hold him back from presumptuous sins, deliberate sins, so they will not rule over him.

The psalm closes with a prayer many still use before preaching or teaching: "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer." Christians have long read Psalm 19 as a summary of how God makes himself known, through what he has made and through what he has said.

Background and context

The heading of Psalm 19 addresses it to the chief Musician and names it a psalm of David. David was a shepherd before he was king, and he would have spent many nights under the open sky.

The first half praises God the Creator, using the general name God; the second half praises the LORD, the covenant name, who gave Israel his law. Paul quotes verse 4 in Romans 10:18.

Key verses

Cross references

• Romans 1:20 Paul says God's eternal power is clearly seen in the things he has made.For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
• Romans 10:18 Paul quotes verse 4: their words unto the ends of the world.But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.
• Psalm 119:103 Another psalm calls God's words sweeter than honey to the mouth.How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
• Psalm 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, the enlightening of the eyes in verse 8.Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
• 2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction and instruction.All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
• Psalm 139:23-24 Search me, O God: David again asks God to show him what he cannot see in himself.Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.