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Psalm xix

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The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 21, 1868

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 32, No. 5.

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Psalm xix.

The law of God is commended to us, in this Psalm, by the following reasons:—
1. From the author: It is the “law of Jehovah.”
2. From its sufficiency: It is “perfect.”
3. From its utility: It converts the soul;—gives wisdom to the simple.
4. From its infallibility: “The testimony of the Lord is sure.”
5. From its perspicuity: “The statutes of the Lord are right.”
6. From the effects it works on the soul: They rejoice the heart. They quiet the troubled conscience; “being justified by faith, we have peace with God.”
7. From its purity: “The commandment of the Lord is pure.” It is opposed to all bad opinions and evil practices.
8. From its effects in the understanding: It enlightens the eyes. It dispels all darkness and ignorance, all doubts and fears, diffidence, carnal security, false worship, &c., and gives us to see our own deformities.
9. From its uncorruptness: “The fear of the Lord is clean.” Other religions are polluted with human inventions, strange ceremonies, uncommanded sacrifices, false gods, &c.
10. From its perpetuity: It endureth forever. It is an endless law.
11. From its truth and equity: It is altogether true and righteous.
From all which David concludes that it is both precious and delightful.
1. The price of it is beyond the best gold: More to be desired than gold; yea, than much fine gold.
2. It is delightful: “Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.”
3. This he knew by his own experience: “Moreover, by them is thy servant illuminated.”
4. It is profitable to observe them: For in the keeping of them there is, 1. A reward. 2. A great reward.
But this last consideration sent David to the throne of mercy. What! a reward, a great reward! and only to those who keep God’s law? My conscience tells me that the reward is not for me; I cannot plead this observance. David had public sins, secret faults and errors, to deplore. But he had at hand three means of help: 1. Confession of sin. 2. Petition for grace. 3. Faith in the divine mercy, through the great Redeemer.
1. He knew he was an offender, but he knew not how greatly he had offended. He saw that he was guilty, and asked pardon. He felt that he was impure, and asked cleansing: “Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.”
2. He prays that he may be preserved from presumptuous sins; that he may not be hardened in transgression: “Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins.” For which he gives two reasons: 1. If he were not kept back from them, sin would get the dominion over him. Sin would become a king, who would command, rule, and enslave him. 2. If thus kept back, he would be innocent from the great transgression; for he that gets under the strong habit of sin, may at last deny God himself, renounce the blood of the covenant, and become a castaway.
3. Lastly, that his prayer may be heard, he prays for his prayer: “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight.” This is pleading, or supplication.
That prayer and supplication may be successful, he acts faith in God, whom he:
1. Claims as his strength; literally, his rock, by whom alone he could resist and overcome.
2. His Redeemer, through whom alone he could get pardon for the past, and grace to help him in time of need. To this word he adds nothing, as it includes everything necessary to saint and sinner.—Dr. Clarke.