Who can understand his errors? rather, who can discern (or, perceive ) his errors ? i.e. all of them. Who will not overlook some, try as he may to search out his heart? Cleanse thou me from secret faults . Those which are hidden from me, which I cannot discern. read more
The saint's prayer against sin. "Cleanse thou me." Natural theology, revelation, spiritual experience,—these are the three successive spheres of thought through which this wondrously beautiful psalm leads us. God in nature; God in Scripture; God in the heart and conscience to which he manifests himself. And in this last sphere, reading the psalm with Christian eyes, we can see what the inspired psalmist "desired to see, but saw not"— God in Christ. First (as in Psalms 8:1-9 .), David... read more
A consideration of the Law cannot but raise the thought of transgression. Man "had not known sin but by the Law" ( Romans 7:7 ), and he cannot contemplate the Law without being reminded of possible disobedience to it. The psalmist's thoughts are led in this direction, and he ends with an earnest prayer against "secret sins" ( Psalms 19:12 ), against "presumptuous sins" ( Psalms 19:13 ), and against sins of word and thought ( Psalms 19:14 ), addressed to "God his Strength [or, 'his... read more
Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins (comp. Exodus 21:14 ; Numbers 15:30 ; Deuteronomy 17:12 ). Wilful, intentional, deliberate sins are intended—such as cut off from grace. They are called "presumptuous ones," being "personified as tyrants who strive to bring the servant of God into unbecoming subjection to them" (Hengstenberg). Let them not have do minion over me (comp. Psalms 119:133 ; Romans 6:14 ). Then shall I be upright ; or, "blameless" ( ἄμωμος , ... read more
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight . Nor let my doings only be righteous; let the door of my lips be kept, that I utter no evil word, and the recesses of my heart be purged, that I think no evil thought. O Lord, my strength ; literally, my Rock ( צוּדִי ), as in Psalms 18:1 . And my Redeemer (comp. Psalms 78:35 ; and see Genesis 48:16 ; Exodus 15:13 ; Le 25:48; Ruth 4:4 ; Job 19:25 ; Isaiah 63:9 ). As applied to... read more
A sacrifice and a prayer. "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my Strength and my Redeemer." Let us look at this language— I. AS OFFERING A SACRIFICE . The thoughts and feelings of the soul uttered and unuttered. 1 . The sacrifice is spiritual. Words and meditations. Man's heart is the most precious thing God has created—the jewel of the universe. The thoughts that come out of the heart and the words that utter... read more
This very beautiful psalm is designed to illustrate the superiority of revealed truth above the light of nature in showing the character and perfections of God. In doing this, there is no attempt in the psalm, as there should be none on our part in explaining it, to undervalue or disparage the truths about God revealed by nature. All that could now be said in regard to the works of creation, as illustrating the divine perfections, is really admitted by the psalmist Psalms 19:1-6; and yet this... read more
The heavens declare the glory of God - They announce, proclaim, make known his glory. The word heavens here refers to the material heavens as they appear to the eye - the region of the sun, moon, and stars. The Hebrew word is used in the Scriptures uniformly in the plural number, though in our common translation the singular number is often used. Genesis 1:1, Genesis 1:8-9, Genesis 1:14, Genesis 1:17, Genesis 1:20; Genesis 6:17; Genesis 7:11, Genesis 7:19, Genesis 7:23; et soepe. The plural,... read more
Day unto day - One day to another; or, each successive day. The day that is passing away proclaims the lesson which it had to convey from the movements of the heavens, about God; and thus the knowledge of God is accumulating as the time moves on. Each day has its own lesson in regard to the wisdom, the power, and the goodness of God, and that lesson is conveyed from one day to another. There is a perpetual testimony thus given to the wisdom and power of the Great Creator.Uttereth speech - The... read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 19:11-14
Man's relation to the Divine Law. The former part of the psalm is a comparison and a contrast between God's revelation of himself in nature and in his Law. Now the psalmist passes on to consider his own relation to the Divine Law; what light it throws upon his character and circumstances, and what rewards it bestows upon those who abide in the steadfast observance of it. I. WHAT THE DIVINE LAW TAUGHT THE PSALMIST . ( Psalms 19:12 , Psalms 19:13 .) 1 . His... read more