Notes on the Book of Psalms, Psalm 19
The xix. PSALM.
David intending to magnifie Gods word, and the condition of his people the Iews, that did enjoy it of all the people of the world, takes his rise from his works, and those nations that onelyonly enjoy them, whereby though they might attain to much excellent knowledg of God, thereby to magnifie and praise him. Yet do his works how excellent soever declare him but under a common notion, whereas his word holds him forth in a special manner, manifesting and that with power and efficacy the way of life and salvation, which we having lost, it onelyonly restores it to us; making us holy like it self, and consequently happy, containing nothing but what is pure, true, and just, and yields most profit and delight of any thing to them that conscionably observe it. Which none doth or can do so exactly, but that he needs both pardon of unknown sins, and preservation against known ones, which the very godly themselves cannot avoid but by power from God. To be accepted in whose sight we must get our persons sanctified in thought, word, and deed, and our sins done away by the virtue of Christs redemption.
To him that is the first and principal of all the Quire, Psalm 19. To the chief musician. A Psalm of David.do I David that made this Psalm recommend it, for the care and ordering of it to be sung.
1 THe heavens and those glorious lights that shine therein manifest and magnifie the more glorious wisdom and power of God,1THe heavens declare the glory of God: and the firmament sheweth his handy work. and that vast expanse and transparent region of the aire, wherein those great and mighty clouds reside, and birds take their flight, shew forth his might and skill that made them.
2 The continual and never failing succession of one day after another,2Day unto day uttereth speech, & night unto night sheweth knowledg. by the suns return upon the earth, speaks the praise of his wise contrivement, and by a constant course of one nights following another, by the setting of the sun, and the appearing of the moon and starrs, is his exceeding great wisdom, power, and providence shewed and held forth.
3 There is no people under heaven be they of never such different languages,3There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. but the benefit of these things are participated to them, and thereby the praise and glory of God is taught them, and communicated to their understandings & capacities.
4Their line is gone out throughout all the earth, and their words to the end of the world: in them hath he set a Tabernacle for the sun.4 This glorious peice of creation, the heavens and the firmament, by the ordinance of God ever from the beginning have they overspread the whole earth, and they speak the excellent wisdom and power of God to all parts and people thereof. In them may all men see how wonderfully God hath ordained the sun to reside and shine.
5Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoyceth as a strong man to run a …ace.5 Which at its first arising, and mornings beautiful appearance is most welcome to all mens sight, bringing light and as it were life with it from under the dark curtain of the sable night; and with a free and natural motion fit for such an undertaking, without difficulty sets upon the course it is to run and finish in the appointed time, from one end of the heaven to the other.
6His going forth is from the end of the Heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.6 His setting forth is from the East, and in a day he makes his progress to the West, diffusing also his light and influence North and South; whose penetrating heat in this his motion, reacheth the very lowermost parts of the earth, concocting minerals, and quickening vegetables.
7The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.7 Glorious is God in his works which declare his power and wisdom to all men, but much more glorious is he in his word and doctrine delivered peculiarly to his people, which holds forth to them his covenant of saving grace. Those things by a natural propensity convey to men many common and bodily benefits. But the word of God is far beyond them all; restoring both our title to them (lost by our fall) and which is infinitely more, supernaturally revealing to us the perfect and infallible way of life, & turning again to God, and powerfully bringing it to pass upon▪ us. The truth delivered in it by the Lord touching our salvation is unquestionable and may be trusted to, which understood and imbraced enriches us, who foolishly lost our first estate of holines and happines, with understanding how to get it again.
8 The saving principles and ordinances which God gives us in his word to walk by,8The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoycing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightning the eyes. are holy and righteous, and such as being observed and obeyed in faith and conscience to the Law-giver, brings joy and hearts ease in the comfortable sense of our sinceritie, and assurance of Gods favour to us, and acceptance of us. The whole will of God revealed is it self pure, void of errour or corruption, and makes them so that walk according to it, enlightning them with understanding to tread in the way of truth and life, when others wander in by-paths of death and errour.
9 The holy law of God which he hath ordained his people to fear and serve him by,9The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the iudgements of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. is free from corruption, and makes them like it that observe it, holy and pure; and is everlastingly the same, like God the giver of it, not to be varied by us at no time nor occasion, bringing with it the reward of everlasting happines. The ordinances and commandments of the Lord by which he expects to be obeyed, and purposes to judge the world are compleatly perfect, free from all errour and injustice, and onelyonly makes men so.
10 They are of more worth and yield a man more profit than all the riches of the world,10More to be desired are they than gold; yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also then honey, and the honey-comb. better are they to be prized, and more to be desired than the most refined gold. And more true pleasure and content do they bring to the soul and conscience by faithful observance, than the sweetest honey does to the taste.
11Moreover, by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.11 After a special manner they are and ever have been useful to me and to all that fear thee, shewing us how to stear a right course in every condition, by chusing the good and refusing the evil. And well worthie are they to be obeyed, for they bring a blessed reward with them even peace of conscience and everlasting life.
12Who can understand his errours? cleanse thou me from secret faults.12 So holy are all thy foresaid laws and commandments, and so binding both to the inward and outward man; as, who lives that can know how oft he offends against them? Lord pardon me therefore my unknown sins, and sanctifie my heart and spirit conformably to thy law which is spiritual.
13Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous s…s, let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.13 Protect me also who am thy servant, and desire to yield thee universal obedience, from outward and grosser iniquities committed against knowledge, let not such prevail over me by strength of temptation. And so being thus pardoned and sanctified, notwithstanding my many frailties and daily infirmities, I shall be uprightly righteous in thy sight, and shall be though not innocent and free from all sin, yet from known and presumptuous ones, any of which lived in, may justly stagger my sinceritie and covenant-peace, which without thy special preventing grace I shall notwithstanding fall into.
14Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer.14 Yea cleanse me throughout. Let my very words and thoughts, as well as deeds, be such as sute with thy law and will. Thus, Lord, grant me grace and pardon, who onelyonly art my sanctifier and redeemer.