_THE HEAVENS DECLARE THE GLORY OF GOD; AND THE FIRMAMENT SHEWETH HIS HANDYWORK._ Psalms 19:1.-The book of nature (Psalms 19:1), and that of Revelation (Psalms 19:7), alike have as their theme the glory of God. From Revelation come the warning and reward, with which in view David prays to be cleansed... [ Continue Reading ]
_DAY UNTO DAY UTTERETH SPEECH, AND NIGHT UNTO NIGHT SHEWETH KNOWLEDGE._ Day unto day uttereth speech. The testimony of the heavenly luminaries is an unceasing one, and is transmitted by each one day and each one night to its successor continually. The speech of the day is the echo of the speech or... [ Continue Reading ]
_THERE IS NO SPEECH NOR LANGUAGE, WHERE THEIR VOICE IS NOT HEARD._ (There is) no speech nor language (where) their voice is not heard - i:e., although the nations are very different in language, yet the heavens have a common speech for instructing all alike. So Calvin. But thus the Hebrew for "spee... [ Continue Reading ]
_THEIR LINE IS GONE OUT THROUGH ALL THE EARTH, AND THEIR WORDS TO THE END OF THE WORLD. IN THEM HATH HE SET A TABERNACLE FOR THE SUN,_ Their line is gone out through all the earth. "Their line" is the measuring line of the heavens, which determines the limits and compass of the earth so far as they... [ Continue Reading ]
_WHICH IS AS A BRIDEGROOM COMING OUT OF HIS CHAMBER, AND REJOICETH AS A STRONG MAN TO RUN A RACE._ Which is as a bridegroom ... and rejoiceth as a strong man - Hebrew, a hero. The point of comparison is his vigour and conscious power.... [ Continue Reading ]
_HIS GOING FORTH IS FROM THE END OF THE HEAVEN, AND HIS CIRCUIT UNTO THE ENDS OF IT: AND THERE IS NOTHING HID FROM THE HEAT THEREOF._ And there is nothing hid from the heat thereof. "Heat" here includes light, which is its accompaniment; because the word "hid" must primarily refer to light. There i... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE LAW OF THE LORD IS PERFECT, CONVERTING THE SOUL: THE TESTIMONY OF THE LORD IS SURE, MAKING WISE THE SIMPLE._ The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul. How is this to be reconciled with Paul's denial that spiritual life is to be had by the law? (Galatians 3:21.) For the law х_ TOWRAT... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE STATUTES OF THE LORD ARE RIGHT, REJOICING THE HEART: THE COMMANDMENT OF THE LORD IS PURE, ENLIGHTENING THE EYES._ The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. For statutes translate 'charges' (see note, Psalms 19:7). Becau... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE FEAR OF THE LORD IS CLEAN, ENDURING FOR EVER: THE JUDGMENTS OF THE LORD ARE TRUE AND RIGHTEOUS ALTOGETHER._ The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever. "The fear of the Lord" is shown by the parallelism to mean the parts of God's law which inspire reverential fear (as, for instance, thos... [ Continue Reading ]
_MORE TO BE DESIRED ARE THEY THAN GOLD, YEA, THAN MUCH FINE GOLD: SWEETER ALSO THAN HONEY AND THE HONEYCOMB._ More to be desired ... fine gold. The law understood in its spiritual, reviving, and joy-bestowing power (Psalms 19:7) through Christ, our Law-fulfiller, is thus precious. The spiritual man... [ Continue Reading ]
_MOREOVER BY THEM IS THY SERVANT WARNED: AND IN KEEPING OF THEM THERE IS GREAT REWARD._ Warned - literally, enlightened х_ NIZHAAR_ (H2094)]; i:e., illuminated in the right way, in cases of doubt, danger, ignorance, or sin. IN KEEPING OF THEM - in the very act of keeping them there is a present g... [ Continue Reading ]
_WHO CAN UNDERSTAND HIS ERRORS? CLEANSE THOU ME FROM SECRET FAULTS._ His errors, х_ SHªGIY'OWT_ (H7691), from _ SHAAGAH_ (H7686), to wander] - all failings and infirmities of the believer. The Hebrew is used in Leviticus 4:2; Leviticus 4:13; Leviticus 4:22; Leviticus 4:27, as to sins of ignorance;... [ Continue Reading ]
_KEEP BACK THY SERVANT ALSO FROM PRESUMPTUOUS SINS; LET THEM NOT HAVE DOMINION OVER ME: THEN SHALL I BE UPRIGHT, AND I SHALL BE INNOCENT FROM THE GREAT TRANSGRESSION._ Presumptuous (sins). He does not say, Cleanse me from presumptuous sins, but keep me back from them. These were not sins to which h... [ Continue Reading ]
_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 the words of my mouth - Let the prayer which is the main object of this psalm, as well as the praises which form the introduction to the prayer, find acceptance with th... [ Continue Reading ]