INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 19 TO THE CHIEF MUSICIAN, A PSALM OF DAVID. This psalm was penned by David, and inscribed to the chief musician, as others, to be used in public service, and was designed for Gospel times, as the subject of it shows; which is first, not an account of the light of nature, and t... [ Continue Reading ]
THE HEAVENS DECLARE THE GLORY OF GOD,.... By which we are to understand not the heavens literally taken, though these with the firmament are the handiworks of God, and do declare the glory of his perfections, especially his wisdom and power; these show that there is a God, and that he is a glorious... [ Continue Reading ]
DAY UNTODAY UTTERETH SPEECH,.... This, with the following clause, AND NIGHT UNTONIGHT SHOWETH KNOWLEDGE, some understand of the constant and continued succession of day and night; which declares the glory of God, and shows him to be possessed of infinite knowledge and wisdom; and which brings a new... [ Continue Reading ]
[THERE IS] NO SPEECH NOR LANGUAGE [WHERE] THEIR VOICE IS NOT HEARD,.... Not the voice of the day and night; as if the sense was, that there is no people, of any speech or language under the sun, but there is something said every day and night of the weather, what it is, or will be, as the face of th... [ Continue Reading ]
THEIR LINE IS GONE OUT THROUGH ALL THE EARTH,.... Not the line or writings in the book of the creatures, the heavens, and the earth, which lie open, and are legible, and to be seen and read of all men; nor the line and writings in the book of the Scriptures, called line upon line, and precept upon p... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH IS AS A BRIDEGROOM COMING OUT OF HIS CHAMBER,.... His nuptial chamber, on which Elias writes y, "we call the garment (or canopy) spread over the head of the bridegroom and bride, supported by four pillars, in the time of their espousals, חפה.'' who looks lovely and beautiful in his nuptial r... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS GOING FORTH IS FROM THE END OF THE HEAVEN,.... From the east, where it rises: AND HIS CIRCUIT TO THE ENDS OF IT; to the west, where it sets; which is expressive of the large compass the Gospel administration took in the times of the apostles; whereby the grace of God appeared to all men, shone... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LAW OF THE LORD [IS] PERFECT,.... By which is meant, not the law of Moses, or the ten commandments, but the "doctrine" of the Lord; as the word תורה, "torah", signifies, even the whole word of God, as in Isaiah 8:20. All the Scriptures of truth, which are profitable for doctrine; for setting doc... [ Continue Reading ]
THE STATUTES OF THE LORD [ARE] RIGHT,.... The word of God may be called "statutes", or "visitations" d because that God will visit, in a way of resentment, such persons as despise its authority, do not act according to it, or add unto it, or detract from it; or the word may be rendered "commissions... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FEAR OF THE LORD [IS] CLEAN,.... Still the word of God is intended, which teaches men to fear the Lord; gives a full account of the worship of God, which is often meant by the fear of God; it instructs in the matter and manner of worship; and nothing more powerfully engages to serve the Lord wit... [ Continue Reading ]
MORE TO BE DESIRED [ARE THEY] THAN GOLD,.... This refers to all the truths in the word of God; to all the doctrines of the Gospel; which, by good men, are more desirable, and by them more prized and valued, than all worldly riches and treasure; YEA, THAN MUCH FINE GOLD: more than gold, and the best... [ Continue Reading ]
MOREOVER, BY THEM IS THY SERVANT WARNED,.... By whom the psalmist means himself, who was the servant of the Lord, not only in common with other saints, but as he was a king and prophet, and as such he received advantage from the word of God; all his instructions as a prophet, and all his rules of go... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO CAN UNDERSTAND [HIS] ERRORS?.... Sin is an error, a wandering out of the way of God, swerving from the rule of his word; and many mistakes are made by the people of God themselves; even so many that they cannot number them; they are more than the hairs of their head; they cannot understand, find... [ Continue Reading ]
KEEP BACK THY SERVANT ALSO FROM PRESUMPTUOUS [SINS],.... Some understand these words of persons: the Septuagint, and the versions that follow that, render it "from strangers": such who are strangers to God and godliness; that is, keep from all conversation with them in things sinful, or from others'... [ Continue Reading ]
LET THE WORDS OF MY MOUTH,.... Meaning either his speech in common conversation, which should not be filthy and foolish, rotten and corrupt; but such as ministers grace to the hearer: or else his address to God, both in prayer and thanksgiving; AND THE MEDITATION OF MY HEART; his inward thoughts co... [ Continue Reading ]