Psalm 19:8 Kommentar

There are two excellent books which the great God has published for the instruction and edification of the children of men; this psalm treats of them both, and recommends them both to our diligent study. I. The book of the creatures, in which we may easily read the power and godhead of the Creator (Psa 19:1-6). II. The book of the scriptures, which makes known to us the will of God concerning our duty. He shows the excellency and usefulness of that book (Psa 19:7-11) and then teaches us how to improve it (Psa 19:12-14). To the chief musician. A psalm of David.

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 19 To the chief Musician, a Psalm of David. This psalm was penned by David, and inscribed to the chief musician, as others, to be used in public service, and was designed for Gospel times, as the subject of it shows; which is first, not an account of the light of nature, and then of the law of Moses, but of the Gospel of Christ; and especially as ministered in the times of the apostles, as a citation out of it in Rom 10:18, makes clear.

The fear of the Lord is clean,.... Still the word of God is intended, which teaches men to fear the Lord; gives a full account of the worship of God, which is often meant by the fear of God; it instructs in the matter and manner of worship; and nothing more powerfully engages to serve the Lord with reverence and godly fear than the Gospel does: and this is "clean"; and the doctrines of it direct to the blood of Christ, which cleanses from all sin, and to the righteousness of Christ, the fine linen, clean and white; the promises of it put the saints on cleansing themselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit; and the whole of it is the word of truth, by which God and Christ sanctify the church and the members of it, Joh 15:2. And this word is enduring for ever; the law is done away; the ceremonial law entirely, and the moral law, as a covenant of works, and as to the ministration of it by Moses; but the Gospel continues; it is an everlasting one; it endures for ever, notwithstanding all the opposition made to it by open persecution, or false teachers; the judgments of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether; "the judgments of the Lord" are the same with "the word of God", as appears from Psa 119:25; and these seem to design that part of the word, which contains rules of God's judging and governing his people; or the laws, orders, and ordinances of Christ in his house, which his people should observe, and yield a cheerful obedience to, he being their King, Judge, and Lawgiver: and these are "true", or "truth" (g) itself; being wisely made, according to the truth of things, and agreeable to the holiness and righteousness of God, and so righteous; not at all grievous, but easy, pleasant, and delightful, one and all of them. (g) "veritas", Pagninus, Montanus, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Cocceius, Gejerus, Rivetus.

"The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart" [Psalm 19:8]. All the statutes of the Lord are right in Him who taught not what He did not; that they who should imitate Him might rejoice in heart, in those things which they should do freely with love, not slavishly with fear. "The commandment of the Lord is lucid, enlightening the eyes." "The commandment of the Lord is lucid," with no veil of carnal observances, enlightening the sight of the inner man.

They are truly right, because he is known to have acted in the same say as he taught. In contrast, those whose words are not consistent with their works show that their version of justice is not right.

"The justices of the Lord are right," that is, those judgments that are spoken of in Ex. 22: "He who has stolen an ox or a sheep," and so on. Is. 26: "The path of the just is straight for walking": Prov. 21: "It is joy for the just man to do justice, and dread for those who work iniquity." And he says two things about them: that they are right, and that they are joyful. Right, because they contain justice. What is right is called just: Prov. 8: "All my words are just, and there is nothing wicked or perverse in them; they are right to those who understand," and so on. Joyful, not harsh and disturbing, because they are mixed with equity; hence he says, "Rejoicing hearts," because of the equity and the hope of reward: Ps. 118: "I shall rejoice in your words." But the moral precepts are bright and illuminating; hence he says, "The commandment of the Lord is bright." It is called bright because it is manifest and evident in itself, as here: "You shall not kill," "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not steal," and similar things, which have clarity in themselves, that everyone is bound to observe, as Prov. 6 says: "The commandment is a lamp, and the law is a light." A precept is called that to which attention is directed according to the command of a superior; and it concerns things to be done, and imports a duty of acting in the one to whom it is commanded. This duty arises either from the divine rule which we are bound to follow -- and thus that falls under obligation without which the order of reason cannot be preserved; or it is a duty from the authority of the one commanding, whom we are bound to obey; or from the end, which we entirely desire, which is appointed for us -- and then that falls under precept without which we cannot maintain subjection to the one commanding, or without which we cannot attain the intended end. For a precept is so called as though "precisely taken," namely for acting -- as though we are precisely bound to do that. And therefore such a precept is "enlightening the eyes," namely of reason, which eyes are darkened by the desire for exterior things and the interior passions of concupiscence; and the precept of the Lord removes this, and therefore it is "enlightening the eyes." "Enlighten my eyes, lest I ever sleep in death," Ps. 12.

After exhibiting the harmonious revelation of God's perfections made by His works and His word, the Psalmist prays for conformity to the Divine teaching. (Psa 19:1-14) the glory of God--is the sum of His perfections (Psa 24:7-10; Rom 1:20). firmament--another word for "heavens" (Gen 1:8). handywork--old English for "work of His hands."