THRU THE BIBLE EXPOSITION

Psalms: God's Nurture Of The Inner Man In The Life Of Faith

XIX. Applying God's General And Special Revelations For Blessing

(Psalm 19:1-14)

I. Introduction

A. God has revealed Himself in general revelation through creation (Romans 1:18-20) and in special revelation through the written Scriptures (2 Timothy 3:15-4:2), and David wrote about them both in Psalm 19:1-14.

B. We view that Psalm for our insight on applying both God's general and special revelations for blessing:

II. Applying God's General And Special Revelations For Blessing, Psalm 19:1-14.

A. Since the introductory notes in the English Bible comprise verse one of the Hebrew text (Kittel, Biblia Hebraica, p. 989), we stay with the verse numbering system of the English Bible for clarity in this lesson.

B. We thus translate Psalm 19:1-14 as follows:

1. "The heavens declare (sapar, B. D. B., A Heb.-Eng. Lex. of the O. T., p. 707-708) the glory of Elohim (Creator God), and the works of His hands conspicuously declare (nagad, Ibid., p. 616-617) the expanse (raqia', Ibid., p. 956) [the stellar heavens]," Psalm 19:1.

2. "Day after day they pour forth speech, and night after night they display knowledge," Psalm 19:2.

3. "There is no ('ayin, [particle of negation] "is not, are not," Ibid., Kittel, p. 990; Ibid., B. D. B., p. 34-35) speech, and there are no ('ayin again) words -- their voice is not heard [they are inaudible]," Psalm 19:3.

4. "Their measuring line ["fixed course," A. R. Hulst, O. T. Trans. Prblms., 1960, p. 95-96] (qaw, Ibid., B. D. B., p. 876) has gone out into all the earth; and their utterances to the extremities of the world. He [Elohim] has pitched a tent in them for the sun," Psalm 19:4.

5. "Which is like a bridegroom going out of his chamber (huppah, Ibid., p. 342) like a mighty man of valor (gibor, Ibid., p. 150) rejoicing to run his path ('orah, Ibid., p. 73) [across the sky]," Psalm 19:5.

6. "From one extremity of the heavens is its [place of] going forth and it makes its circuit to the other extremity [of the heavens], and there is nothing hid from its heat," Psalm 19:6.

7. "The Law of Jahweh (Covenant-keeping Lord) is wholesome, having integrity (tamim, Ibid., p. 1071), turning back, restoring (shub, Ibid., Kittel; Ibid., B. D. B., p. 996-1000) the life principle (nepesh, Ibid., Kittel; R. B. Girdlestone, Syns. of the O. T., 1973, p. 56-59 [physical, mental, emotional, spiritual life]; the testimony of Jahweh is reliable ('aman, Ibid., B. D. B., p. 52-53; Niphal = passive), making wise the [foolishly] open-minded, naive (peti, Ibid., p. 834)," Psalm 19:7.

8. "The charges of Jahweh are upright, rejoicing the heart; the commandments of Jahweh are clean, pure (bar, Ibid., p. 141), illuminating the eyes," Psalm 19:8.

9. "The fear, reverence for Jahweh is ceremonially clean (tahur, Ibid., p. 373), enduring forever; the verdicts of Jahweh are faithfully true ('emet, Ibid., p. 54), they are all together (yahdaw, Ibid., Kittel; Ibid., B. D. B., p. 403) righteous," Psalm 19:9.

10. "They are more to be desired than gold, even than much fine gold; and they are sweeter than honey, than honey of the honeycomb," Psalm 19:10.

11. "Also, Your servant is warned by them; in keeping them is great reward," Psalm 19:11.

12. "Who can discern his [own] errors? Acquit me of hidden [faults] (satar, Ibid., p. 711)," Psalm 19:12.

13. "Also, keep Your servant from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless, innocent of great rebellious transgression (pesha', Ibid., p. 833)," Psalm 19:13.

14. "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be well-pleasing in Your sight, O Jahweh, my [defensive] Rock Wall (sur, Ibid., p. 849) and my Kinsman-Redeemer (ga'al, Ibid., p. 145)," Ps. 19:14.

C. [The yellow sun, yellow gold and yellow honey typify the power, value and appeal of God's revelation.]

Lesson: David rejoiced in God's general revelation in nature as the Creator, Elohim (Ps. 19:1-6) and in His special revelation of the Scriptures as his Covenant-keeping Lord, Jahweh (Ps. 19:7-11). David thus applied Scripture to his life to avoid sin and be blessed, assured God would then be his sure defensive Rock Wall and self-sacrificing, delivering Kinsman-Redeemer in the time of need (cf. the kinsman-redeemer role of Boaz in Ruth 3:1-4:22).

Application: (1) May we rejoice in God's revelation of Himself as to His eternal power and Godhead in nature (Romans 1:20) and as to the power, value and desirability of His written Word. (2) Then, may we thoroughly apply that Word to enjoy God's blessings in general and His gracious protection and provisions in time of great need.