19:14Psalms 19:14

It is a prayer that both the outward words spoken and the inward thoughts pondered may please God, addressed to him as personal source of strength and Redeemer.Ms 28, 1898, par. 8–11+4 It belongs with asking to be cleansed from hidden faults and held back from willful sins so they do not rule, within praise of God's law and judgments as perfect and righteous, converting the soul, enlightening the eyes and bringing great reward.Ms 28, 1898, par. 8–11+4 The prayer calls for self-examination by God's standard and is met only as the person depends on God and cooperates with the Holy Spirit to bring every thought under Christ's control so that speech glorifies him.Ms 139, 1899, par. 22–23+3 Made sincerely by all who give themselves to serve God, it brings noble aspirations and yearnings for purity that show in wholesome speech and fruitful deeds, because God values what a person truly is at heart more than outward appearance.Ms 73, 1897, par. 37–39+3 It is the prayer each person should offer daily, especially those in positions of trust, keeping aware of God's presence so that thoughts, words and acts stay pure, provoke no quarrel, and shine as light guiding others to Christ.Lt 65, 1898, par. 32–36+4

The verse is a prayer that the spoken words of the mouth and the inward meditation of the heart alike be acceptable in God's sight, addressed to the Lord as personal strength and Redeemer.Ms 28, 1898, par. 8–11+4 It asks God for strength and redemption, and the one who offers it and then acts in harmony with it by sincere earnest consecration places himself where God can work through him in cooperation with God to answer his own prayer.Ms 28, 1898, par. 8–11+1 It calls for self-examination by God's standard, so that faults are recognized and the life is brought into conformity with God's law.Ms 139, 1899, par. 22–23

In the psalm it follows a plea to be cleansed from hidden or secret faults and to be kept back and restrained from presumptuous sins.Ms 28, 1898, par. 8–11+3 It asks that those sins not have dominion, so that the speaker may be upright and innocent from the great transgression and free from transgression.Ms 109, 1899, par. 15–16+2 Both outward words and the heart's meditation are thus shown to depend on God's help.4MR 153.4

Its setting is praise of the law of the Lord as perfect, the testimony as sure, the statutes as right, the commandment as pure, the fear as clean, and the judgments as true and righteous altogether.Lt 192, 1902, par. 4–5+1 These convert the soul, make wise the simple, rejoice the heart, enlighten the eyes, endure forever, warn the servant, and bring great reward in keeping, being more to be desired than gold and sweeter than honey.Ms 139, 1899, par. 22–23+3 Obedience to that perfect law converts the soul, gives wisdom, brings joy, enlightens, warns against sin, and carries great reward, while the Lord's chastening serves purification rather than destruction.Ms 139, 1899, par. 22–23 The same psalm joins God's law with His created works and is to be read often so its lessons may be understood.13MR 260.1

The titles strength and Redeemer describe God as the source of strength and help and the one who redeems.PP 413.1+1 They identify Christ as the rock who saves and sustains His people.PP 413.1

The prayer calls for self-examination by God's standard, so that faults are recognized and the life is brought into conformity with God's law, while the Lord's chastening works purification and not destruction.Ms 139, 1899, par. 22–23 It expresses dependence, and it is answered only as the one who prays cooperates with God in sincere earnest consecration, presenting the self to be worked through by God.Lt 180, 1903, par. 24–27 That cooperation means depending on the Holy Spirit to shape the person and bringing every thought under Christ's control, so that the words spoken are right and glorify God.Ms 183, 1898, par. 56–58

It is the prayer of one ever looking to Jesus in order to reflect His character, being changed into the same image from glory to glory, from character to character.Lt 192, 1902, par. 4–5 It rests on the perfect law of the Lord that converts the soul, the sure testimony that makes wise the simple, the right statutes that rejoice the heart, the pure commandment that enlightens the eyes, the clean fear that endures forever, and the true and righteous judgments altogether.Lt 192, 1902, par. 4–5 Those are more to be desired than gold and sweeter than honey, warning the servant and bringing great reward in keeping, while the prayer asks cleansing from secret faults and restraint from presumptuous sins so they do not have dominion, that the speaker may be upright and innocent from the great transgression.Lt 192, 1902, par. 4–5

When made the prayer of all who consecrate soul, body and spirit to serve God in righteousness and truth, it brings great thoughts, noble aspirations, clear perceptions of truth, unselfish purposes, and yearnings for purity and holiness.Ms 73, 1897, par. 37–39 These bear fruit in words that reveal a pure heart-treasure and in fruitful good deeds.Ms 73, 1897, par. 37–39 Its answer removes cheap experience, foolish talking and evil speaking, so the tongue utters right things and conversation dwells on lovingkindness, mercy and redeeming love.Ms 73, 1897, par. 37–39

God cares more for what people really are than for what they claim to be or how good they look outwardly, so the prayer seeks a pure heart as strength and Redeemer accepts both spoken words and inner meditation, because when the heart is made pure all words and actions will be right, and this should be everyone's prayer.COS 65.4 It asks God to keep the lips from evil and the tongue from speaking guile or deceit.Ms 33, 1892, par. 36+1 Such right lips and God-centered, acceptable heart meditation come by relying wholly on His promise with genuine simple trustful faith, with no vestige of presumption or self-confidence.Ms 33, 1892, par. 36+1

To be able truly to confess Christ as personal strength and Redeemer is a generous noble confession of Christianity and belief in the validity of the truth.Lt 283, 1904, par. 20–21 It makes a person a true medical missionary.Lt 283, 1904, par. 20–21 Those who love and fear God and have strong confidence in Him have His mercy to save them, His power to defend them, and His wisdom to guide them in safe paths.Lt 283, 1904, par. 20–21

This prayer for speech and inward thought to be pleasing to the Lord as strength and Redeemer is one every person should offer, and especially those carrying responsible positions who must be guided in their work by the Holy Spirit rather than by self-confidence.Lt 65, 1898, par. 32–36 Praying it in sincere dependence is the condition for standing in the appointed lot and place as the Lord's agency and for succeeding in awakening unbelievers to their peril.Lt 65, 1898, par. 32–36+1 With a pure heart and the meek and lowly spirit of Christ, the one who prays it provokes no quarrel and returns no angry answer.COS 66.1 Such a person becomes a peacemaker who makes the home happy and brings a sweet peace that blesses all around.COS 66.1

It is the prayer of those who are the light of the world, that they may teach people of His love and shine in this dark world like a lighthouse guiding a ship safely to harbor.COS 66.3–4 In this way they guide men to Christ and the heavenly home and work with Him in saving others.COS 66.3–4 Awareness of God's presence should continually shape the thoughts of the heart, the words of the lips, and every act of life, with the language of the heart always saying God is here.5T 70.1+1 When that awareness is continually felt, thought, speech, and action make character more worthy, keep life pure and character unspotted, and lift the soul continually to the Lord.5T 70.1+1

Students should understand this psalm in order to speak intelligently of it, for the prayer for acceptable words and heart-thoughts belongs with consecrating one's talents to God and serving Christ, and understanding Christ's sacrifice brings a clearer sense of that responsibility.Ms 76, 1898, par. 9–10 Ministers must be thoroughly converted, so that the words of their mouth and the thoughts of their heart are approved by God both at home and in the church.Ms 101, 1906, par. 47 Offered with brokenness of heart, joined to the plea to be cleansed from secret faults and kept back from presumptuous sins so they do not have dominion and one may be upright and innocent from the great transgression, the prayer expresses confession of a sinful past life and lack of faith, forgiveness through Jesus, trust in His wisdom, a life hid with Christ in God, and readiness to meet the Lord at His near coming.Lt 19, 1904, par. 9–11 It brings peace and happiness, light in the Lord, praise and thanksgiving, earnest seeking of the Lord, the deep moving of the Spirit, and humble confession that brings out of darkness.Lt 19, 1904, par. 9–11 The names strength and Redeemer describe God as the source of strength and help and the one who redeems, giving confidence in God while enduring illness.Lt 31, 1901, par. 2