Daily Devotions – The law of the Lord is perfect

Daily Devotions – The law of the Lord is perfect

 

 

Click this link to hear an audio version of the below text narrated by SOTH member Jerry Rhinehart:

Psalm 19

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun. 5 It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is deprived of its warmth. 7The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. 8The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. 9The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous. 10They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. 11By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward. 12 But who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults. 13 Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me.Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression. 14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

This Psalm uses a simple literary technique to help us appreciate the value of God’s Word. It begins with a poem describing how without using any words, the beauty of the night sky communicates the glory of God. But then, starting in v. 7, we learn of something even more beautiful – the actual Words of God (here called God’s “laws, commands, statutes, and precepts.”) God’s words are trustworthy, refreshing, radiant, sweet, and precious. Pray for the grace to find delight and joy in the study of God’s Word, savoring the beauty of God’s message.