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Daily Fiber
for the soul

by Edward E. Thomason

PSALM 19
SLICE ONE: LEARNING
(feed your head)

The "crust" of the matter:
The Psalmist briefly mentions the two witnesses of God (The World and the Word or more specifically, the Skies and the Scriptures.)

Ingredients this serving:
Ps 19:1-6 God’s Natural Revelation
Ps 19:6-11 God’s Supernatural Revelation
Ps 19:12-14 Man’s response

Skies - natural revelation

Lesson: The world is said to be a great "who dun it." It gives adequate clues and shows the finger prints of a creator everywhere. Man is really without excuse for not noticing that the heavens declare (speak loudly and plainly) the glory of God!

Ps 19:1-6 "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handiwork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. 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, Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. 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."
Comments to munch on:
Man can sin in "ignorance," and unwittingly violate God’s sacred will and he can also sometimes forget or overlook his error. The Psalmist is in awe of God’s glory and his wrath and rightly begins to worry about his sin and even prays for God’s forgiveness of any hidden or secret sins that he is not aware of or has overlooked in his confessions.
But David’s great worry was "presumptuous or willful sin." Willful sins can become habitual and dominating. These sins must be the more hideous to God than sins of ignorance, because we know we are committing sin and do it anyway. Such is "the great transgression" perhaps because such sins are more difficult to repent of and are an expression of one’s disrespect and disdain for both God and his law. (Cf., Hebrews 10:26-31.)

1. Discuss the kind of sins that might be committed out of ignorance? Is it possible to be unaware of a sin or to forget and overlook a sin when we confess our sins? What does 1 John 1:7-9 suggest that a Christian do regarding sins? According to I John, when we humbly and penitently confess our sins, what will happen to those sins we have overlooked? (Does "all sin" include such sins?)
2. Discuss the danger and seriousness of willful sin. Can such sin become habitual? What does Hebrews 10:29 suggest may be our attitude toward the Son of God when we willfully and habitually transgress God’s laws?

Scriptures -supernatural revelation

Lesson: The law (testimony), statutes (rules and commandments), and judgments of the Lord are more valuable than fine gold and sweet honey to our souls. (v-10.)

Ps 19:7-11 "The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. . .

More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward."

Comments to munch on:
The "Law" or "Testimony" of the Lord is a general reference to the moral and ceremonial law of Moses in this context. While we must keep in mind the proper divisions of God’s word (Cf., 2 Timothy 2:15), the sentiments of the Psalm are also applicable to the whole or entirety of the Lord’s testimony (moral and otherwise.) The Law of God is perfect although man is not. It has the power to convert the soul (Cf., Romans 10:17), it is sure (indisputable) and makes even the simple or immature wise. (v-7).
The "statutes" or "commandments" of the Lord is a reference to specific rules. We might not always understand the wisdom or reason for God’s specific rules or commands, but we should share David’s conviction that God’s rules are always right and when we carefully keep them, we will be able to rejoice with a clear conscience. (v-8).
The "judgments" of the Lord (His sovereignty, wisdom, righteous indignation and wrath) are always true and righteous. When we rightly fear his judgments it leads to a cleansing of our lives.

1. How does the law convert the soul? Can we even know what sin is without the law of God? How does the testimony of the Lord make the simple wise? How do the commands and rules of God make the heart rejoice?

2. In what way do the commands of God enlighten the eyes? (Some suggest that the Spirit must enlighten us apart from God’s word in a supernatural way in order for us to understand the word. Verse 8 says that it is the word itself that enlightens.)
3. Discuss some of the warnings of God’s written revelation.
4. Verse 11 says there is great reward in keeping God’s law. What is that reward?

Sin -man’s inner revelation

Lesson: The sky reveals God’s glory, the scriptures reveal God’s will, but as man looks within his own heart who can reveal the secret sins that may lie hidden there. God knows what is in man’s heart.

Ps 19:12-13 "Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. 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."

Comments to munch on:
David’s eye was upon the Lord. He chose to walk "behind" him as a sheep would follow his Shepherd and protector. He also chose to walk "beside" him as his friend who takes his stand along side another friend in battle who would never retreat nor be moved. David possessed a sense of stability and security as he faced life and death. (v-8.) Because of his hope, David knew his soul would not be left in "Hell." ("Hell" is a reference to Sheol or Hades and signifies the invisible place where the soul goes after it departs from the body at death.) This is the hope that all believers possess and was verified when our Lord was resurrected in fulfillment of this "golden prophecy."

SLICE TWO: LIVING
(nourish your soul)

1. David asked God to keep him back from willful sin and not to let such sin have dominion over him. We know that sin can reign or rule in our lives but we (not God) are responsible for making the choice to not let it rule in us nor to obey its lusts. (Cf., Romans 6:12.) God by his grace at Calvary has made it possible for sin not to have dominion over us. But freedom comes only when we chose to obey from the heart. (Cf., Romans 6:14-18.)
2. Like David we might pray that God keep us from willful sin, but we should understand that God has instructed us that we must make choices based upon his Word. We must flee, avoid, and abstain. We must "lay aside every weight and sin that doth so easily beset us." (Hebrews 12:1.) He can keep us from sin by teaching us to follow and obey his law.

A FEW MORE CRUMBS
(fragments overlooked)

Lesson: This last verse is worth memorizing! It is the attitude and mindset that we all should strive toward. Psm 19:14 "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer."