Psalm 19 says much about the glory of God, and not just His glory as revealed in nature, but also of His glory that can be revealed in men.

The Old Testament has a number of major themes. One is the awesome glory of God. The other is the horrible sinfulness of fallen man {1}. There is another theme that resolves these two great contrasts, and that is the merciful salvation of God for man.

 

Verses 1 to 6 of Psalm 19 speak of the glory of God, particularly in nature that surrounds many of us. Verses 7 to 10 speak of His written Word designed to not only bring us to Him, but dynamic powers by which one can receive godly desire and strength to spiritually go back to the time before man sinned and to grow in the Lord, letting His merciful hand mold us for His glory. The remaining verses give the proper responses a true lover of God should have.

 

The Word of God, the Holy Bible, is greatly neglected today, or poisoned by inaccurate translations, or muddled by erroneous teaching.

Nonetheless, the Word of God remains true {2} and when coupled with the Holy Spirit, one who is truly regenerated and yielded to God will find its powers unleashed in their life to the glory of God.

 

Because of the awesome richness of verses 7 to 10 we will look at that text in two parts to see the dynamic powers God has provided for us to enter into His glory now, and for eternity. We will find the following dynamic powers of God’s Word in verses 7 and 8.

 

I. Restoring / Converting 7A

 

The law of YHVH (The Existing One) is perfect, restoring the soul;

 

“The law" is that body of prophetic (in the sense of proclaiming the will of God) teaching {3} which was, in the time of Christ, the Old Testament. It now includes certain writings after the ascension of Christ and before the death of the Apostle John that the Holy Spirit has shown to be the Word of God, what we term the New Testament. The Old and New Testaments form the Holy Bible. The law of God may be expressed through testimonies (you could say “examples”), statutes, commandments, judgments and more.

 

The phrase, “of YHVH (The Existing One)" will occur six times in verses 7 to 10, reminding the alert reader that there is a vast difference between the ways of God and the ways of the world. The law of the world, society, a religion, lifestyle or anything or anyone else cannot begin to compare to what the law of God can do.

 

God’s law is described as “perfect”. A. Some words in Hebrew and also Greek can mean or imply perfect in the sense of completion, while other words will point to perfect in the sense of quality. The Hebrew word here {4} means perfect in BOTH ways. It is complete in that it gives us every instruction and principle to live a life pleasing to God. The Holy Bible is the one place, and the only place to go, to learn how to live for God, and the best “life coach” you can ever have is Jesus Christ.

 

The Word of God is that body of holy scriptures produced by the Holy Spirit through holy men, and further witnessed by the Holy Spirit to be the written Word of God in the original languages. What most of us use today are translations (and sometimes paraphrases) from the original language {2}. However, thanks to God’s hand in technology, many of us can see the original languages through various apps. Additionally Strong describes perfect as “sound, wholesome, unimpaired, innocent, having integrity”, and “what is complete or entirely in accord with truth and fact.”

 

The Authorized Version (AV) and similar works use “converting” for “restoring”, and both Strong and Wilson indicate the word conveys the idea “to restore” {6}. True conversion of a sinner by God contains a spiritual restoration to the time before man fell into sin. For one thing, Adam and Eve freely fellowshipped with God before they sinned. True conversion is a restoration to the spiritual condition we had before Adam sinned. This will be further seen in the next sentence of this verse.

 

It is also good to note restoring / converting is a participle. While one is truly saved from God’s wrath and more when they commit to Him through Christ, salvation is also an ongoing process. And, unless we choose to forsake Christ, the process is completed when we receive our new body.

 

“Soul” here can mean, among other things, the place of our affections, but can include the entire person. Given the context, here it most likely means both since conversion / restoration begins with our spirit, and then our soul and body.

 

II. Making Wise 7B

 

The testimony of YHVH (The Existing One) is sure, making wise the simple.

 

“Testimony” here may be described as “witness” and Wilson adds {7}, “To say again and again; hence to affirm, and specially to testify, exhort.” Since it is of God it is not false and the term in the singular describes the oneness of God's Word. While there are many testimonies of God’s wisdom and glory found in nature as described in the Word of God, the Holy Bible is full of examples that testify to Whom God is and what He can do in a person’s life.

 

There are also numerous examples of what to do and what not to do, how to live and how not to live, how to return to God in repentance and how to return to sin to one’s destruction, how God moves despite man and how He has man work with Him, and much more. Much can be learned from Jacob, Moses, David, Jehoshaphat, Judas Iscariot, Peter and many others whether we look at their lives in their entirety or focus on just one segment of their life. There is also the testimony of God as to what He can do in a person’s life in our current time.

 

There is also the testimony of God in history whereby prophetic passages are fulfilled and where we can clearly see preparations for these events to occur. A classic example of such preparation is the very peculiar rise to power of Donald Trump, and then, as President of the United States stating Jerusalem is the capital of Israel and moving the U. S. Embassy there. Another, to the best of my knowledge and understanding, is the alliance of Israel with certain Arab nations in regard to the threats of Iran. Permit me to give one more: The development of technology to receive some type of identification embedded or placed in or on their hands or elsewhere (see Revelation 13).

 

“Is sure” speaks to the fact that the testimonies of God are “firm, stable, such as one may safely lean upon; to be sure, certain, true, of persons and of any other thing remaining in its proper state, unalterably; a sure place" {8}. Strong states, “sure, lasting, confirmed, established, sure, verified, confirmed, reliable, faithful, trusty.” We certainly can learn from them, applying the lessons learned to our lives.

 

Looking at the list Wilson has {9}, I note that, out of eight possible words, the Holy Spirit chose “khaw-kam’” for “making wise”. Wilson writes, “The word denotes the acquisition of the habit of wisdom: Prov. ix. 9. The latter import is more frequent, applied to the acquisition of wisdom by experience, to the discrimination of good and evil, the receiving of instruction, and the exercising of correct judgment; yet it occasionally carries with it the meaning of cunning, subtlety, and wiliness, Ps. cv. 20.” For that last clause, remember Christ said (Matthew 10:16), “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the middle of wolves: be you therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.”

 

Strong notes “the simple" means, “simple, foolish, open-minded," and Wilson has, “. . . foolish, easily enticed and seduced, credulous, inexperienced". All of unredeemed mankind fall into some of those descriptions. And sinfulness goes back to Adam and Eve. Remember, too, the Word of God described Eve as being deceived (1 Timothy 2:14), but Adam was not -- and many would deem Adam foolish for falling into transgression.

 

Making Wise The Simple

 

Think back to when Eve took of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 3:6-7). Again, 1 Timothy 2:14 says, “the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.” Since that time and up to this moment, there are a lot of unredeemed people who are open-minded, easily enticed -- which is part of the definition for the Hebrew word for “simple" used in Psalm 19:7b. And, as stated, until we surrender to God through Christ each of us is spiritually “simple" in at least one way.

 

In Genesis 3:6 we read that Eve saw the tree “was desirable to make one wise”. “To make one wise” in that verse is NOT the same word as in Psalm 19:7b. Its definition is much more narrow and can include TO PROSPER. That particular Hebrew word in Genesis 3:6 is the ONLY one that could be translated as making wise with possibly having the idea of “to prosper”. This would hint to me that today’s materialistic prosperity gospel is not of God.

 

God wants us to have His wisdom. The contrasting connection between Psalm 19:7b and Genesis 3:6 points us to the heart of God Who desires each of us to return to the spiritual condition of man before sin entered into the world. This connection supports the thought of “restoring the soul” found in 7a.

 

III. Rejoicing 8A

 

The precepts (“statutes” in the AV) of YHVH (The Existing One) are right, rejoicing the heart;

 

These are rules from the heart of God for inner purity, godly thinking, and God-honoring behavior. They are to be obeyed regardless what rules family, friends, governments, religions, denominations, fellowships, or anything or anyone else set forth. Easy for me to say? I have lost at least two jobs, and many others have encountered much worse, in following the statues of God above all else.

 

“Are right" means {11} not only right but straight, and straight in the sense of a way to go in. With this, let us think of Amos' prophecy of a plumb line which pointed to when Jesus Christ would come and live the life we ought to live to please God (Amos 7:8): “YHVH (The Existing One) said to me, ‘What do you see, Amos?’ And I said, ‘A plumb line.’ Then the Lord said,

‘Behold I am about to put a plumb line

In the midst of My people Israel.

I will spare them no longer.’”

 

As for the Jew, it is also for everyone, the old sinful way of life, where self creates its own rules contrary to God, must be destroyed. It must be rebuilt by God, and once again, something that we use today in building some brick structures is a cornerstone, straight in all three dimensions. And, as it is written about Christ in Isaiah 28:16-17d, “Therefore thus says the Lord GOD,

"Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone,

A costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed.

He who believes in it will not be disturbed.

I will make justice the measuring line

And righteousness the level;”

 

Christ connected Himself with the Word of God when He said (John 5:39), “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me.” And that is why many, like myself, after being born again by God rejoice at the Holy Bible. I definitely remember rejoicing (and still rejoice) that I had one, and only one, set of standards to go by, the Holy Bible. As an unmarried youth (at that time) I was relieved to know that if I would “go on a date” there was no longer any question of whether I should go by “my rules” or “her rules”. And by faith I had to go by His loving statute that I should only date Christian girls.

 

The Hebrew word for rejoicing in this verse means {12}, “. . . to be joyful, to be glad: the primary idea seems to be that of a smiling, cheerful, merry countenance, free from care; sometimes of a louder joy, to be or make merry, spoken of persons feasting; hence to rejoice before Jehovah, spoken of the sacred festivities held in the courts of the sanctuary, . . .”.

 

Much can be said based on Wilson’s definition, but let me focus on “free from care”. What if everyone in the world followed the New Testament, which actually goes deeper in heart than the Mosaic Law. Well, that will not happen because, sadly, most desire to follow anything but Christ. But for those who do follow the Word of God with Christ within will rejoice now and for all eternity if they remain in Him. And each day each true disciple can rejoice as they spiritually feast with God through Christ!

 

Let us briefly return to Genesis 3. Before Adam and Eve disobeyed God they were free from care. After they sinned they had numerous cares, and even more as they brought children into the world.

 

In regard to “the heart”, among other things Strong notes “the heart” can mean the inner man and will. Just like the soul, restoration begins with God regenerating our spirit, our inner man. One’s will can now, with cooperation from us, line up with the will of God.

 

Before we continue, let us see a contrast between the statutes of God and those of man. To my knowledge, every country has statutes that are not really right. One quick example is that in the United States there is to be religious freedom. However there are elements within our country that drag Christians and sometimes Jews into litigation because someone who fears God will not violate their conscience by condoning sinful activity. Yet, we suffer such persecution far less here than many other countries.

 

Some laws do not make sense. Some laws make things worse. Some are outright stupid. But the statutes of YHVH, The Existing One, are totally right.

 

IV. Enlightening 8B

 

The commandment of YHVH (The Existing One) is pure, enlightening the eyes.

 

Once again, it is emphasized: The commandment of YHVH (The Existing One) -- not a government, religion, fellowship, family, employer, and everyone else. And, it is good to point out, it says the commandment of God, not a mere suggestion!

 

Most are familiar with the Ten Commandments, but there really is a host more. Some examples include pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17), be filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18), depart (rebel against) iniquity (2 Timothy 2;19), husband love your wife (Ephesians 5:25), wife submit to your husband (Ephesians 5:22), go to church (Hebrews 10:25), and, at the top of the list I would say, pursue holiness (Hebrews 12:14).

 

Too many? Not really, because they are easily summed up into loving God with all that we are – body, mind, strength, soul, – every bit of us! Hard to do? Outside of Christ, yes. However, once we surrender to God through Christ and begin to, in faith and by His grace, to lovingly obey Him, the more we obey the stronger we become in Him.

 

Unlike many commandments from elsewhere, God's commandment is pure, clear. There is not one bit of darkness because there is no darkness in Him (1 John 1:5). But many commandments from people contain darkness and lead to darkness. One time I was told by a police officer not to talk to my unsaved neighbor since we were at odds with each other and taking each other to court. However, I chose, according to the Word of God, to disobey the officer and one evening Dorcas (my wife) and I had a conversation with him that God used to lead him to Christ. The police officer's command would have led to continued darkness for that man. But God's commandment to love my neighbor brought light to him.

 

“Enlightening” means {13} “to shine, to shine upon, to be enlightened; it implies both receiving light and giving forth light; to be glorious in light.” The psalmist by the Holy Spirit says of God in Psalm 36:9, "For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light." With that, Jesus showed His deity in John 8:12 when He declared, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”

 

“The eyes" in this context speak of our mental and spiritual faculties. Christ said in Matthew 6:22-23, “The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!"

 

The true disciple of Christ endeavors to make sure whatever enters his mind from without or within is acceptable to the God he lovingly serves. Thus, by the Holy Spirit, Paul writes in Titus 1:15, “To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled.” As we do this and more by His grace and faithfulness we will see more of His light as we grow in Him.

 

Again, let us return to Genesis 3, this time verse 7a, “Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked”. Here, their eyes were “opened” {14}, but not in a good way. While they were now quite open to the material realm, they had plunged their spiritual sight into darkness. They had disobeyed the command of God, loving themselves more than they did Him.

 

By contrast when someone truly surrenders to God through the only Savior, Jesus Christ, they have then received the very light of God, bringing and maintaining godly vibrant spiritual life. This is true for anyone, no matter how deep they have gotten into darkness. If you have not been born again by God, why not let Him restore you to true fellowship with Him. You will have to forsake self and sin, but you will definitely know it was worth it!

 

Notes:

 

{1} Used in the proper traditional sensible sense, denoting all people, male and female. I could not care less about being politically correct.

 

{2} Please see Holy Bibles Good And Bad at http://thesureword.expertscolumn.com/article/holy-bibles-good-and-bad .

 

{3} Based on information from an electronic version of Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance by James Strong incorporated in the Online Bible program, along with Wilson, William: Wilson's Old Testament Word Studies (MacDonald Publishing Company, McLean, VA) p244.

 

{4} Strong along with Wilson, p307. {5} Strong along with Wilson, p95.

 

{6} Strong along with Wilson, p406. {7} Wilson, pp442-3

 

{8} Wilson, p430 {9} Wilson, pp484-5

 

{10} Strong along with Wilson, p395 {11} Wilson, ppW356-7

 

{12} Wilson, p346 {13} Wilson, p146

 

{14} This is not the same Hebrew word as Psalm 19:8b's “enlightening”.

 

This article was written in the form of a sermon (message) outline with comments. You should be able to hear the actual message (sermon) by selecting a link at http://www.sapphirestreams.com/life/audioM.html#M513 .

 

Unless otherwise noted all Holy Scripture is from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) changing LORD to YHVH as it rightly should be when the text so indicates and adding “(The Existing One)” to readily express the meaning of His Name without making repeated explanations in articles. * = For other versions the spelling of some words is updated for our time in addition to changing LORD to YHVH as it rightly should be when the text so indicates. Usage of the NASB does not mean I condone the entire work of the NASB. I use the NASB in articles partly because its Copyright directives are less cumbersome than those of the New King James.

 

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