Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Psalm 19:14
Psalm 19 is a celebration of God’s revelation of Himself to the world. These two revelations are known by the terms natural revelation and special revelation and are seen in Psalm 19 through God’s glory displayed in creation (vv. 1-6) and His grace revealed through His Word (vv. 7-14).
The heavens declare God’s majesty so powerfully that no one is able to say that there is no God and is without excuse (vv. 1-4; cf. Romans 1:20). David marvels at how the sun, like a joyous bridegroom or a victorious runner, hurries to proclaim God’s power and order (vv. 4-6). That’s what natural revelation does: proclaim God’s handiwork and point people toward Him. But natural revelation is not enough to bring people to saving knowledge of God. We need a specific introduction – a special revelation.
Psalm 19 transitions to the Word of God and God’s special revelation of Himself through it, which is described as perfect, trustworthy, right, radiant, pure and true (vv. 7-9). These descriptions highlight how Scripture revives the soul, makes the simple wise, rejoices the heart, and provides light for life’s path. As we read through the Psalms, this is what God’s Spirit does in our hearts as we read. Look at how David shows that he treasures God’s Word more than gold and finds it sweeter than honey (v. 10).
The end of Psalm 19 illustrates what an appropriate response to God’s revelation of Himself looks like. In vv. 12-14, David offers a brief and humble prayer for forgiveness, protection from his own sin, and a life pleasing to God. God’s Word – His revealing of Himself – changed David’s life (and can do the same for us).
Seeing Jesus in Psalm 19
Psalm 19 points to Jesus as the ultimate revelation of God (John 1:14, Hebrews 1:1-3) – a literal, incarnate face-to-face introduction of God and man. Jesus perfectly obeyed God’s law and revealed God’s glory in His life, death, and resurrection.
He is the Word made flesh (John 1:1-3, 14), and through Him alone can we be made acceptable in God’s sight, revealing the true and definitive response to David’s prayer (vv. 12-14). David prayed for God’s Word to guide him and protect him from sin; Jesus is the very Rock and Redeemer to perfectly answer his prayer!
Reflection
The skies and the Scriptures both testify to God’s glory and grace. Have you paused today to marvel at God’s creation or His Word? If you have read this far, you’ve spent time in His Word. Have you marveled at the power of God in keeping His Word so that you have it before you these millennia later?
Let David’s prayer in v. 14 be your prayer today: “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer”, and know that, this is one more opportunity to sing and rejoice as we did in Psalm 18:46: “The LORD lives, and blessed be my Rock, and exalted be the God of my salvation”!
The #dailyPSALMSchallenge gives us the opportunity to start 2025 in God’s Word by digging into a psalm a day. Each day will identify a key passage for us to meditate on as well as seeking to help us see Jesus in the psalm and reflect on what we have read.
Won’t you take the challenge?
Just Keith Harris 