A Prayer for Righteousness
For Meditation (RIchard Haney)
We live in a world of both information and disinformation. We can be overwhelmed by the 24-hour news cycle, pervasive social media, hundreds of news outlets, and debates about the limits of free speech. In this era of information overload, what voices do you hear and heed? And to whom should you listen?
Psalm 19, the favorite psalm of C. S. Lewis, reminds one of Psalm 1 (mediate on the law) and Psalm 8 (God’s majestic earth). The psalmist declares that God speaks both in his glorious Creation and in the revealed Law (Torah) of the Scriptures. Theologians refer to these divine voices as “general revelation” and “special revelation.” The opening hymn of praise (vss 1-6) says that creation testifies to God’s glory. And the crowning achievement of God’s creation is the sun that comes forth at dawn and runs its course each day.
The second part of the psalm (vss 7-13) reflects on God’s law or teaching. “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul” (v 7). Six characteristics are named and matched with its beneficial effects upon those who hear it. The conclusion (v 14) gives us a brief but memorable prayer, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”
This summer, as we study the Psalms as the prayer book of the church, we see that Psalm 19 reads like a wisdom poem with a concluding prayer to guide us in a way that pleases God. The psalm is a beautiful expression of Hebrew poetry exhibiting both thematic parallelism and vivid metaphors. Verse 14 especially calls out to be memorized and serve us as a daily guide.
Torah or God’s law can refer particularly to the first five books of the law (Genesis through Deuteronomy) or more generally to all of God’s instruction in Scripture. Often the Hebrew writers spoke of the Law and the Prophets as shorthand for God’s Word. Do you believe God speaks through his entire Word, both Old and New testaments? What steps do you take to hear, read, believe, heed and follow this teaching from God? The psalmist comes to this teaching assuming its truth and value; he approaches with delight and appreciation—hence his prayer about his words and his heart!
Psalm 19
1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they reveal knowledge.
3 They have no speech, they use no words;
no sound is heard from them.
4 Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.
5 It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,
like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
6 It rises at one end of the heavens
and makes its circuit to the other;
nothing is deprived of its warmth.
7 The law of the Lord is perfect,
refreshing the soul.
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the Lord are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
9 The fear of the Lord is pure,
enduring forever.
The decrees of the Lord are firm,
and all of them are righteous.
10They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the honeycomb.
11By them your servant is warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
12But who can discern their own errors?
Forgive my hidden faults.
13Keep your servant also from willful sins;
may they not rule over me.
Then I will be blameless,
innocent of great transgression.
14May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.