May 22, 2015: Psalm 19

Psalm 19

Heaven is declaring God’s glory; the sky is proclaiming his handiwork.
² One day gushes the news to the next,
and one night informs another what needs to be known.³ Of course, there’s no speech, no words—their voices can’t be heard—
⁴ but their sound^[a] extends throughout the world; their words reach the ends of the earth. God has made a tent in heaven for the sun.
⁵ The sun is like a groom coming out of his honeymoon suite; like a warrior, it thrills at running its course.
⁶ It rises in one end of the sky;  its circuit is complete at the other. Nothing escapes its heat.

⁷ The Lord’s Instruction is perfect,
    reviving one’s very being.^[b]
The Lord’s laws are faithful, making naive people wise. ⁸ The Lord’s regulations are right, gladdening the heart. The Lord’s commands are pure,
  giving light to the eyes.⁹ Honoring the Lord is correct, lasting forever.
The Lord’s judgments are true.
    All of these are righteous!
¹⁰ They are more desirable than gold—
   than tons of pure gold! They are sweeter than honey— even dripping off the honeycomb ¹¹ No doubt about it:
    your servant is enlightened by them;
    there is great reward in keeping them.
¹² But can anyone know what they’ve accidentally done wrong? Clear me of any unknown sin ¹³ and save your servant from willful sins. Don’t let them rule me.
Then I’ll be completely blameless;
    I’ll be innocent of great wrongdoing.

¹⁴ Let the words of my mouth
    and the meditations of my heart
    be pleasing to you,
    Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Reflection:

David was known as a man after God’s own heart. Yet David struggled with sin. He let his own desires keep him from seeing the ways in which he was failing God and hurting others. It is this man, who conspired in the death of Uriah and committed adultery with Bathsheba, that cries out to God saying, “The Lord’s judgments are true.” Perhaps no one knows better than David the consequences of sin and still David prays for God not to let his sin rule him. He prays for God to clear him of any unknown sins and save him from willful sins. David recognizes that not only does he sin, but also that he sins consciously and at times even without even seeing he’s doing it. Yet, David’s plea is that God search his heart and not allow that sin to take control. Let us hear David’s plea and make it our own today and everyday.

Reflection Questions:

Morning: How have you struggled with sin?

Noon: Can you identify willful sins or sins that are so implicit they seem unknown? This could be cutting people off in traffic or ignoring injustice. Whatever it is, ask God’s forgiveness and help to address it.

Evening: Pray the words of David in verse 14: “Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing to You, Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”