Psalm 19 ~ Comfort And Assurance

I have been reading my way through the Book of Psalms and am continually blessed by the comfort and assurance these passages bring me. Psalm 19 begins with an illustration of General Revelation, or how God is revealed to us through nature.

“The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
Day to day pours out speech,
and night to night reveals knowledge.
There is no speech, nor are there words,
whose voice is not heard.
Their voice goes out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.
In them he has set a tent for the sun,
which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber,
and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.
Its rising is from the end of the heavens,
and its circuit to the end of them,
and there is nothing hidden from its heat.”
(Psalm 19:1-6 ESV)

We see evidence of God in the daytime sky in the power of the Sun and at night in the comforting glow of the moon and the stars. The LORD proclaims His handiwork to every living soul on earth every day and every night. His voice can be heard in every corner of the world … if you are listening.

Every man, woman and child on Earth has living proof that God exists if their heart is open to that knowledge. Verses 4 and 5 caught my attention this morning because they reminded me of our personal relationship with God as believers.

“In them he has set a tent for the sun,
which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber”

In our hearts he (God) has set a tent (dwelling place) for the sun (God’s Sovereignty), which comes out like a bridegroom (Jesus) leaving his chamber (Jesus was sent to Earth by God). For me, these verses confirm the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in my heart. I love the analogy of God being the sun as my heart is warmed and comforted by the knowledge of knowing He is here by my side.

Verse 6 reminds me that “nothing is hidden from it’s heat”. God searches my heart and there is nothing I can hide from him. He knows us better than we know ourselves.

In verses 12 and 13 the psalmist David writes:

“Who can discern his errors?
Declare me innocent from hidden faults.
Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins;
let them not have dominion over me!
Then I shall be blameless,
and innocent of great transgression.”

Our hidden faults are sins we either forget and file away, suppress, or sins we may not be aware of. Presumptuous sins are committed out of arrogance and are the sins we commit even though we know they are wrong.

God sees all of these sins. Like the sun, His heat will penetrate and His light will illuminate all of our faults. Through confession and repentance we ask God to forgive us of these sins and to protect us so that sin does not have dominion (control) over us. No amount of good deeds can ever erase the sins we commit. Faith alone in Jesus and the grace of God is the only way we can be considered “blameless and innocent of great transgression”.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

"The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
Day to day pours out speech,
and night to night reveals knowledge.
There is no speech, nor are there words,
whose voice is not heard.
Their voice goes out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.
In them he has set a tent for the sun,
which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber,
and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.
Its rising is from the end of the heavens,
and its circuit to the end of them,
and there is nothing hidden from its heat.

The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul;
the testimony of the LORD is sure,
making wise the simple;
the precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the LORD is pure,
enlightening the eyes;
the fear of the LORD is clean,
enduring forever;
the rules of the LORD are true,
and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold,
even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey
and drippings of the honeycomb.
Moreover, by them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.

Who can discern his errors?
Declare me innocent from hidden faults.
Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins;
let them not have dominion over me!
Then I shall be blameless,
and innocent of great transgression.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable in your sight,
O LORD, my rock and my redeemer."
(Psalm 19 ESV)