Reflections on Psalm 19

We're singing this Psalm this weekend, so I found myself reflecting on it this morning. Random thoughts:

Lord, you have the words of everlasting life: I don't know (without looking it up) if this refrain we're singing is an actual verse of the psalm or merely an added responsory. Still, it seems worth an observation. It represents the disciples' response to Jesus when many followers had left him because his words were too cryptic or challenging for them. This is also true: "Lord, You are the Word of everlasting life."

The law of the Lord is perfect: We will never find a way that is superior to God's perfect Way. We worship what we think of as our superior intellect, without realizing we are not intellectually more developed than our ancestors of whom we read. We may be more learned, more technologically advanced, and more civilized, but we aren't any smarter, and we would do well to recall this from time to time. God's word isn't any less applicable than it has ever been, either, or any less perfect.

. . . refreshing the soul: Considering the perfection of God, our fundamental need for him, and, most particularly, the fact that God will never fail to meet that need for us, is indeed the refreshment for which our souls long. Though we look to slake our thirst with all sorts of other pursuits and pleasures, God alone refreshes us.

The Lord's rule is to be trusted: We insist on trusting only ourselves, when our judgment (on our own) is least trustworthy. Our vision is clouded by our emotions, our wants, our hurts and fears. The Lord's rule and guidance are reliable where our self-determination is flawed.

The simple find Wisdom: Society would dispute it, but simple faith is of greater value than our greatest sophistication.

The fear of the Lord is holy: There's that phrase "fear of the Lord" that is so off-putting. If only we would fear offending or hurting God as much as we fear so many other circumstances in our lives.

. . . abiding forever: When we dwell in God, we find our eternal home.

The command of the Lord is clear: When we choose our own way, it is rarely for failure to see God's way. The path God sets before us is usually very straightforward. But since our faith is usually in ourselves, we too often choose our own evaluation, our own wants, instead of the clear guidance God has given us.

giving light to the eye: I just came from our second graders' first Reconciliation service. The image of the light of Christ, and of restoring that light when we have chosen darkness, was powerful. The Way which God sets before us is illuminated and illuminating. We may not always see the second step ahead of us, but the first one is generally well lit, and we need only trust that the next one will be when we get there, too.

the precepts of the Lord are right: We want to decide right and wrong for ourselves, but no amount of self-deterministic morality will ever lead us in right paths. God's Word, particularly as manifested in Christ Jesus, will not lead us anywhere else.

they gladden the heart: When we embrace God's guidance, we find the desires of our heart fulfilled. (Sometimes that's because our desires have changed to match God's!)

The decrees of the Lord are true: I've been alluding to the Way, but let's not forget Jesus said he is the Truth, too.

. . . all of them just: In our society, we tend to doubt this. We see some which we think cannot be just. But will we trust our own judgment, or will we seek a way to conform ours to God's?

They are worth more than the finest gold: No treasure we can possess can ever rival the gift of knowing and living God's will.

. . . sweeter than honey from the comb: God's desire for us is far sweeter than our greatest ambition for ourselves!