Matthew Henry Commentary Psalms 19
Matthew Henry Commentary
Psalms 19
Matthew Henry Commentary
Psalms 19
"The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament showeth his handiwork. Day unto day uttereth speech, And night unto night showeth knowledge. There is no speech nor language; 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 his course. His going forth is from the end of the heavens, And his circuit unto the ends of it; And there is nothing hid from the heat thereof." — Psalms 19:1-6 (ASV)
The heavens so declare the glory of God, and proclaim his wisdom, power, and goodness, that all ungodly men are left without excuse. They testify that they are works of God's hands, for they must have a Creator who is eternal, infinitely wise, powerful, and good. The alternation of day and night is a great proof of the power of God, and calls us to observe that, as in the kingdom of nature, so in that of providence, he forms the light, and creates the darkness (Isaiah 45:7), and sets the one against the other.
The sun in the firmament is an emblem of the Sun of righteousness, the Bridegroom of the church, and the Light of the world, diffusing Divine light and salvation by his gospel to the nations of the earth. He delights to bless his church, which he has espoused to himself; and his course will be unwearied as that of the sun, until the whole earth is filled with his light and salvation. Let us pray for the time when he shall enlighten, cheer, and make fruitful every nation on earth, with the blessed salvation.
They have no speech or language, as some read it, and yet their voice is heard. All people may hear these preachers speak in their own tongue the wonderful works of God. Let us give God the glory of all the comfort and benefit we have by the lights of heaven, still looking above and beyond them to the Sun of righteousness.
"The law of Jehovah is perfect, restoring the soul: The testimony of Jehovah is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of Jehovah are right, rejoicing the heart: The commandment of Jehovah is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of Jehovah is clean, enduring for ever: The ordinances of Jehovah are true, [and] righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the droppings of the honeycomb." — Psalms 19:7-10 (ASV)
The Holy Scripture is of much greater benefit to us than day or night, than the air we breathe, or the light of the sun. To recover man from his fallen state, the word of God is needed. The word translated “law” can be rendered as doctrine and understood to mean all that teaches us true religion.
The whole is perfect; its tendency is to convert or turn the soul from sin and the world to God and holiness. It shows our sinfulness and misery in departing from God and the necessity of our return to him. This testimony is sure and can be fully depended upon: the ignorant and unlearned, by believing what God says, become wise unto salvation.
It is a sure direction in the way of duty. It is a sure fountain of living comforts and a sure foundation of lasting hopes. The statutes of the Lord are right, just as they should be; and, because they are right, they rejoice the heart. The commandments of the Lord are pure, holy, just, and good.
By them we discover our need of a Saviour; and then learn how to adorn his gospel. They are the means which the Holy Spirit uses in enlightening the eyes; they bring us to a sight and sense of our sin and misery and direct us in the way of duty. The fear of the Lord, that is, true religion and godliness, is clean; it will cleanse our way, and it endures forever.
The ceremonial law has long since been abolished, but the law concerning the fear of God is always the same. The judgments of the Lord, his precepts, are true; they are righteous, and they are so altogether; there is no unrighteousness in any of them. Gold is only for the body and the concerns of time, but grace is for the soul and the concerns of eternity.
The word of God, received by faith, is more precious than gold; it is sweet to the soul, sweeter than honey. The pleasures of sense soon cloy, yet never satisfy; but those of religion are substantial and satisfying; there is no danger of excess.
"Moreover by them is thy servant warned: In keeping them there is great reward. Who can discern [his] errors? Clear thou me from hidden [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 clear from great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in thy sight, O Jehovah, my rock, and my redeemer. " — Psalms 19:11-14 (ASV)
God's word warns the wicked not to continue in his wicked way, and warns the righteous not to turn from his good way. There is a reward, not only after keeping, but in keeping God's commandments. Religion makes our comforts sweet, and our crosses easy, life truly valuable, and death itself truly desirable.
David not only desired to be pardoned and cleansed from the sins he had discovered and confessed, but also from those he had forgotten or overlooked. All discoveries of sin made to us by the law should drive us to the throne of grace, there to pray. His dependence was the same as that of every Christian who says, Surely in the Lord Jesus have I righteousness and strength.
No prayer can be acceptable before God which is not offered in the strength of our Redeemer or Divine Kinsman, through Him who took our nature upon Himself, so that He might redeem us to God and restore the long-lost inheritance. May our hearts be deeply affected by the excellence of the Word of God; and deeply affected by the evil of sin, the danger we are in from it, and the danger we are in through it.
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