Psalm 19:14

Psalm 19
For the choir director: A psalm of David.
1 The heavens proclaim the glory of God.
The skies display his craftsmanship.
2 Day after day they continue to speak;
night after night they make him known.
3 They speak without a sound or word;
their voice is never heard.
4 Yet their message has gone throughout the earth,
and their words to all the world.
God has made a home in the heavens for the sun.
5 It bursts forth like a radiant bridegroom after his wedding.
It rejoices like a great athlete eager to run the race.
6 The sun rises at one end of the heavens
and follows its course to the other end.
Nothing can hide from its heat.
7 The instructions of the LORD are perfect,
reviving the soul.
The decrees of the LORD are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
8 The commandments of the LORD are right,
bringing joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are clear,
giving insight for living.
9 Reverence for the LORD is pure,
lasting forever.
The laws of the LORD are true;
each one is fair.
10 They are more desirable than gold,
even the finest gold.
They are sweeter than honey,
even honey dripping from the comb.
11 They are a warning to your servant,
a great reward for those who obey them.
12 How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart?
Cleanse me from these hidden faults.
13 Keep your servant from deliberate sins!
Don’t let them control me.
Then I will be free of guilt
and innocent of great sin.
14 May the words of my mouth
and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing to you,
O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

When I considered what devotional to begin our first session with, Psalm 19:14 sprung immediately to mind.

I found it interesting, as I read the Psalm in its entirety, to gain the context for this verse, that these lines, written by David, are contrasted to God’s creation, which declares his glory without words. Their very presence speaks of His power and might.

Without words, through the course of its daily actions, the sun bears witness to all that God has done.
The law, which we were created to honor and obey, is perfect. It refreshes the soul, bringing joy to the heart.
The decrees of God are precious because they instruct Man in His ways.

So, as Creation honors God without words, what brought David to pray to God about his words and meditations? He recognized his own inability to identify all the ways in which he sinned, the hidden faults within his heart. He knew that his heart did not follow all of God’s decrees because his heart was fallible.

In verses 13 and 14, he pled to God to keep him from deliberately sinning in any way, asking that He keep sin from controlling David. He knew, as fallen Man, that he could not avoid it altogether. But he still sought God’s protection from deliberate sin.

As we seek to share our thoughts through the written word, what better way for us to begin this journey together than in the words of David, who recognized that all Creation worshipped God much better than he ever could, and yet still sought to please his Lord?