WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:12.919 Heavenly Father, we have gathered in your presence because you call us to worship. 00:00:13.700 --> 00:00:17.460 You call us to pray. You call us to seek you. 00:00:18.500 --> 00:00:22.080 So we are here. So now please speak to us, address us, 00:00:22.719 --> 00:00:29.839 and meet with us as we cry out to you and listen to your voice. 00:00:30.960 --> 00:00:38.420 And by your grace, out of your kindness, help us to experience your presence this evening. 00:00:38.539 --> 00:00:40.079 In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. 00:00:42.200 --> 00:00:47.760 We're in Psalm 19. It's one of my favorite psalms. 00:00:54.000 --> 00:00:57.600 The title says, To the Choir Master, Psalm of David. 00:00:57.600 --> 00:01:27.599 00:01:27.599 --> 00:01:30.479 And like a strong man, runs its course with joy. 00:01:32.559 --> 00:01:35.959 Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them. 00:01:36.299 --> 00:01:39.479 And there is nothing hidden from its heat. 00:01:39.480 --> 00:01:44.359 The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. 00:01:44.939 --> 00:01:48.939 The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. 00:01:49.420 --> 00:01:53.000 The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart. 00:01:53.380 --> 00:01:56.840 The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. 00:01:57.219 --> 00:02:00.080 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever. 00:02:00.520 --> 00:02:04.320 The rules of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. 00:02:04.319 --> 00:02:09.180 More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold. 00:02:09.900 --> 00:02:13.319 Sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. 00:02:14.400 --> 00:02:17.039 Moreover, by them is your servant warned. 00:02:17.459 --> 00:02:19.759 In keeping them there is great reward. 00:02:19.759 --> 00:02:23.019 Who can discern his errors? 00:02:23.579 --> 00:02:25.519 Declare me innocent from hidden faults. 00:02:26.079 --> 00:02:29.000 Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins. 00:02:29.479 --> 00:02:31.159 Let them not have dominion over me. 00:02:31.879 --> 00:02:35.959 Then I shall be blameless and innocent of great transgression. 00:02:37.139 --> 00:02:41.239 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart 00:02:41.239 --> 00:02:46.659 be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. 00:02:46.659 --> 00:02:46.719 Amen. 00:02:46.719 --> 00:02:46.819 Amen. 00:02:46.819 --> 00:02:46.899 Amen. 00:02:46.899 --> 00:02:46.979 Amen. 00:02:49.759 --> 00:02:57.359 In his book, Reflections on the Psalms, C.S. Lewis writes about Psalm 19. 00:02:57.539 --> 00:02:58.099 He says that, 00:02:58.560 --> 00:03:01.780 I take this to be the greatest poem in the Psalter 00:03:01.780 --> 00:03:04.039 and one of the greatest lyrics in the world. 00:03:05.139 --> 00:03:08.060 And one of the grandeurs of this psalm is its structure. 00:03:08.479 --> 00:03:13.259 And it takes us from extolling first the glory of God revealed in nature, 00:03:13.659 --> 00:03:14.639 verses 1 to 6, 00:03:14.639 --> 00:03:23.439 to the glory of God revealed in Scripture from verses 7 to 10 or 7 to 12. 00:03:24.559 --> 00:03:31.159 And then finally it turns to the glory of God revealed in redemption in the last few verses. 00:03:31.919 --> 00:03:35.399 So first it tells us about the glory of God revealed in nature. 00:03:35.400 --> 00:03:38.159 So read verses 1 to 4 with me. 00:03:38.219 --> 00:03:43.680 It focuses on how the heavens, right, which is where the biblical authors refer to the skies and the space above, 00:03:44.379 --> 00:03:45.819 praise God. 00:03:45.819 --> 00:03:46.979 So it reads, 00:03:46.979 --> 00:03:52.199 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. 00:03:52.639 --> 00:03:55.419 Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. 00:03:55.599 --> 00:03:58.319 There is no speech, nor are there words whose voice is not heard. 00:03:58.780 --> 00:04:02.159 Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. 00:04:02.620 --> 00:04:07.259 So it talks about how the praise that the heavens is giving to God is ceaseless. 00:04:07.259 --> 00:04:12.459 So it's day to day and night to night, as it says in verse 2. 00:04:14.679 --> 00:04:17.099 And their praise forth out in two directions. 00:04:17.599 --> 00:04:20.839 So there's two purposes for this praise. 00:04:21.180 --> 00:04:24.099 First is toward God, of course, right, because it's praising God. 00:04:24.300 --> 00:04:27.039 So the heavens declare the glory of God and proclaim his handiwork. 00:04:27.539 --> 00:04:32.839 But secondly, the praise also is directed to man because it reveals knowledge about God. 00:04:33.259 --> 00:04:34.800 It reveals knowledge. 00:04:34.800 --> 00:04:39.759 And since, of course, God's all-knowing, and he's not the one that's receiving knowledge, 00:04:39.900 --> 00:04:43.600 he's not the one that's recipient of this revelation, it's man. 00:04:44.319 --> 00:04:50.300 And heavens reveal knowledge about God in the sense that it shows forth his glory and power. 00:04:50.980 --> 00:04:55.600 So that's, for example, what Paul talks about in Romans 1, 19 to 20, when he says, 00:04:56.040 --> 00:04:59.960 What can be known about God is plain to them because God has shown it to them. 00:04:59.959 --> 00:05:05.339 For his invisible attributes, namely his eternal power and divine nature, 00:05:05.419 --> 00:05:11.299 have been clearly perceived ever since the creation of the world in the things that have been made. 00:05:11.560 --> 00:05:12.659 So they are without excuse. 00:05:12.919 --> 00:05:18.060 So after, you know, millennia of astronomical studies, 00:05:18.060 --> 00:05:25.439 we're still only barely scratching the surface of the heavens, right, the space out there. 00:05:26.019 --> 00:05:31.600 And so by reflecting on the vastness of creation of the heavens, the beauty and the order of the heavens, 00:05:31.600 --> 00:05:36.759 we can learn of God's infinite knowledge, beauty, and power, which far exceeds our comprehension. 00:05:36.759 --> 00:05:47.599 And so this revelation of God in creation is what we call general revelation because it's made available to all. 00:05:47.839 --> 00:05:48.899 It's a general revelation. 00:05:50.240 --> 00:05:57.439 And this general revelation is paradoxical in nature because if you read verses 3 and 4, it says, 00:05:58.060 --> 00:06:02.740 There is no speech, nor are there words whose voice is not heard. 00:06:02.740 --> 00:06:06.819 So the praise of the heavens, of course, on the one hand, is inaudible. 00:06:06.939 --> 00:06:07.680 You can't hear it. 00:06:07.720 --> 00:06:10.120 There's no sound coming actually from them. 00:06:11.019 --> 00:06:12.560 Yet, on the other hand, it says, 00:06:12.780 --> 00:06:17.120 Their voice goes out through all the earth and their words to the end of the world. 00:06:17.800 --> 00:06:21.540 Even though it's inaudible, there's no place where this praise is not reaching. 00:06:21.800 --> 00:06:23.920 It's reaching the remotest corners of the earth. 00:06:24.540 --> 00:06:26.100 And so it's beautiful poetry, right? 00:06:26.100 --> 00:06:29.259 It conveys both the plainness of God's praise that reveals him, 00:06:29.259 --> 00:06:32.659 as well as the subtlety of God's glory seen in creation. 00:06:33.399 --> 00:06:39.920 So that we have to have eyes to see and ears to hear in order to be able to hear this praise and see this glory. 00:06:41.779 --> 00:06:50.439 And in verses 4 to 6, the psalmist, who is David here, he goes on to more specific aspects of the heavens, 00:06:50.599 --> 00:06:56.240 namely the sun because that's the primary thing that reveals God's glory in the heavens. 00:06:56.240 --> 00:06:58.519 And he writes about it in this way. 00:06:58.620 --> 00:06:58.740 He says, 00:06:59.160 --> 00:07:05.199 In them he has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, 00:07:05.319 --> 00:07:07.759 and like a strong man runs its course with joy. 00:07:08.340 --> 00:07:11.879 Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them. 00:07:12.280 --> 00:07:14.759 There's nothing hidden from its heat. 00:07:15.720 --> 00:07:24.800 And it's not an exaggeration, right, for us to say that there's nothing more physically important to life on earth than the sun, right? 00:07:24.800 --> 00:07:30.340 Because in the absence of light and heat, the earth will be cold, hard, and lifeless. 00:07:30.840 --> 00:07:37.939 Because it's the sun that warms our seas and sustains life on earth by providing plants, 00:07:38.520 --> 00:07:43.819 giving energy to plants that provide food and oxygen for people and animals and such. 00:07:44.080 --> 00:07:46.660 So it's God who set the sun in the heavens. 00:07:46.660 --> 00:07:50.260 And the sun comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber. 00:07:50.420 --> 00:07:58.040 It's a simile referring to a newly wedded husband emerging kind of from his nupial chamber for the first time. 00:07:58.439 --> 00:08:02.520 So he's radiant with the honeymoon glow, and he's rejoicing over his wife. 00:08:03.400 --> 00:08:06.700 The sun also is like a strong man running its course with joy, 00:08:06.860 --> 00:08:09.500 going from one end of the heavens to the other end. 00:08:09.500 --> 00:08:18.519 So this is comparing the sun to like a warrior or an athlete that's vigorous and is able to run his course with joy. 00:08:19.699 --> 00:08:26.079 And the last clause of verse 6 serves as kind of a pivot point between the glory of God revealed in nature 00:08:26.079 --> 00:08:27.560 and the glory of God revealed in scripture. 00:08:28.019 --> 00:08:31.699 Because it says there is nothing hidden from its heat. 00:08:32.639 --> 00:08:36.740 It's just a pivot point because just as the sun dominates the physical life on earth 00:08:36.740 --> 00:08:39.200 and nothing escapes its life-giving influence. 00:08:39.740 --> 00:08:43.019 So then scripture dominates the spiritual life of man, 00:08:43.180 --> 00:08:46.840 and there is no spiritual life apart from its life-giving power. 00:08:48.399 --> 00:08:55.399 And it's interesting that there are a lot of ancient hymns from other cultures 00:08:55.399 --> 00:09:00.159 that write similarly about the sun, as Psalm 19 does. 00:09:00.159 --> 00:09:06.560 And some scholars make the connection to that and say that Psalm 19 is indebted to those hymns and such. 00:09:06.740 --> 00:09:13.960 But the fact that there's thematic parallels doesn't mean that the content can be equated 00:09:13.960 --> 00:09:19.080 because Babylonian hymns to Shamash and the Egyptian hymns to the sun god Aten, 00:09:20.299 --> 00:09:25.340 they all deify the sun. 00:09:25.340 --> 00:09:33.139 So the sun becomes god in those hymns, which is a crucial difference between that and Psalm 19, 00:09:33.139 --> 00:09:43.500 because in Psalm 19, the bodies in the heavens are personified, the sun's personified, but it's never deified. 00:09:44.560 --> 00:09:50.379 Rather, all creation, including the sun, is subjected to, submitted to the only god. 00:09:50.379 --> 00:09:53.879 And so there's a crucial difference, the creator, the only true god. 00:09:54.659 --> 00:10:01.500 And so it's natural for the psalmist to go from singing about the glory of God revealed in nature 00:10:01.500 --> 00:10:04.080 than to the glory of God revealed in scripture. 00:10:04.980 --> 00:10:11.139 So notice how also, if you just kind of scan verses 7 to 10, 00:10:11.139 --> 00:10:14.639 the way David refers to God changes. 00:10:15.360 --> 00:10:20.340 Because in verses 1 to 6, he refers to God exclusively as God, 00:10:21.039 --> 00:10:23.039 which is the generic Hebrew word for God. 00:10:23.500 --> 00:10:27.799 But from verse 7 and onward, he refers to God exclusively as Lord, 00:10:28.639 --> 00:10:34.620 which is the specific covenant name of God, Yahweh, that God revealed to his people. 00:10:34.620 --> 00:10:39.139 And so anyone can call God, God, just the generic God, the creator, 00:10:39.560 --> 00:10:46.720 but only his people who know him personally and have experienced his salvation can call him Lord. 00:10:47.580 --> 00:10:52.659 So there is then an important theological distinction here between what we call general revelation, 00:10:53.019 --> 00:10:56.159 that I talked about earlier, because it's given to all in creation, 00:10:56.779 --> 00:11:01.820 and special revelation, which is a special knowledge of God that God imparts to his people 00:11:01.820 --> 00:11:06.440 through his redemptive acts, and through the record of his redemptive acts, which is scripture. 00:11:07.320 --> 00:11:15.300 So this is insightful, because that means the most brilliant and groundbreaking physicist or astronomist, 00:11:15.840 --> 00:11:20.660 they might be able to plumb the depth of the knowledge of God revealed in creation, 00:11:21.160 --> 00:11:25.320 but they still can't hold a candle to the least knowledgeable child of God, 00:11:25.360 --> 00:11:28.460 who personally knows God, and his saving works through scripture. 00:11:28.460 --> 00:11:33.120 So this reminds me of what Albert Einstein said one time, he said, 00:11:33.660 --> 00:11:40.560 it is certain that a conviction akin to religious feeling of the rationality or intelligibility of the world 00:11:40.560 --> 00:11:43.379 lies behind all scientific work of a higher order. 00:11:44.500 --> 00:11:49.320 This firm belief, a belief bound up with deep feeling in a superior mind 00:11:49.320 --> 00:11:54.259 that reveals itself in the world of experience, represents my conception of God. 00:11:54.259 --> 00:11:58.159 So this shows the power of general revelation, 00:11:58.519 --> 00:12:03.480 and even from his studies, and from his study of physics, and examining the world, 00:12:04.019 --> 00:12:08.340 he was able to come to the conclusion that there's a superior mind, a higher order of some kind. 00:12:09.000 --> 00:12:13.679 But even Einstein, for all his genius, could not come to know God personally 00:12:13.679 --> 00:12:16.200 as the Christian child who sings, 00:12:16.399 --> 00:12:19.860 Jesus loves me, yes I know, for the Bible tells me so. 00:12:19.860 --> 00:12:23.320 And that's the beauty and power of God's word, 00:12:23.500 --> 00:12:26.320 that we can know God personally as his covenant people. 00:12:26.620 --> 00:12:32.399 That's the special revelation that allows us to call him Lord by his name. 00:12:33.700 --> 00:12:38.919 So the psalmist, that's why he transitions naturally from the glory of God revealed in nature 00:12:38.919 --> 00:12:40.759 to the glory of God revealed in scripture. 00:12:41.720 --> 00:12:47.680 And then he goes on to wax poetically about the virtues of scripture. 00:12:47.679 --> 00:12:51.120 He gives six different attributes in the course of three verses. 00:12:51.439 --> 00:12:52.500 So he writes in verse 7, 00:12:52.979 --> 00:12:55.699 The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. 00:12:55.959 --> 00:12:58.199 So it's perfect, meaning it's unblemished. 00:12:58.979 --> 00:13:03.439 It revives the soul, gives life and vitality to us, spiritual life. 00:13:04.139 --> 00:13:08.419 And so if we want to have spiritual life, abundant life, 00:13:08.659 --> 00:13:10.519 then we need to turn to his perfect law. 00:13:11.319 --> 00:13:12.399 And then he continues, 00:13:12.399 --> 00:13:16.919 The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. 00:13:17.679 --> 00:13:24.059 So then, if we ever want to hear what God would say about an issue or a question we have, 00:13:24.459 --> 00:13:27.759 then we need to turn to his testimony, which is sure, his witness. 00:13:28.279 --> 00:13:30.039 That will make us wise. 00:13:30.219 --> 00:13:32.919 That's what's going to help us to navigate the complexities of life, 00:13:33.439 --> 00:13:35.799 avoid the pitfalls of folly. 00:13:37.139 --> 00:13:37.919 And then verse 8 says, 00:13:37.979 --> 00:13:41.339 The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart. 00:13:41.340 --> 00:13:45.660 The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. 00:13:46.300 --> 00:13:48.940 So the scriptures are right and pure, 00:13:49.720 --> 00:13:54.220 and consequently they rejoice the heart and enlighten the eyes. 00:13:54.300 --> 00:13:56.100 So if we want to live joyfully, 00:13:56.200 --> 00:13:58.460 and if we want to live enlightened by God's truth, 00:13:58.780 --> 00:14:00.259 rather than being ignorant, 00:14:00.440 --> 00:14:01.820 then we need to turn to God's word. 00:14:01.820 --> 00:14:04.420 And then finally, verse 9, 00:14:04.980 --> 00:14:07.500 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever. 00:14:07.660 --> 00:14:11.360 The rules of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. 00:14:12.340 --> 00:14:15.260 So to live according to God's word is to fear God, 00:14:15.420 --> 00:14:16.920 not to be terrified of God, 00:14:16.960 --> 00:14:20.960 but to live in awe and reverence as if we are ever before the presence of God. 00:14:21.940 --> 00:14:24.080 And such a life endures forever, 00:14:24.900 --> 00:14:28.180 because it's not founded on the ever-changing world, 00:14:28.180 --> 00:14:30.600 but in the unchanging word of God. 00:14:30.600 --> 00:14:34.100 And then the final clause sums it all up. 00:14:34.220 --> 00:14:37.240 The rules of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. 00:14:37.800 --> 00:14:42.820 So there's not one rule or precept in the entirety of God's word that is false or evil. 00:14:43.019 --> 00:14:44.480 The whole of it is righteous. 00:14:46.680 --> 00:14:49.899 It's a wonderful psalm about the word. 00:14:50.840 --> 00:14:57.899 And because David is so compelled by the virtues of God's word that he sees here, 00:14:57.899 --> 00:15:00.120 he says in verse 10, 00:15:00.319 --> 00:15:04.659 It is more to be desired than gold, even much fine gold, 00:15:05.100 --> 00:15:08.799 sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. 00:15:09.720 --> 00:15:15.120 So gold and honey are two of the most precious commodities found in nature, 00:15:15.419 --> 00:15:18.919 especially for people living in this time in antiquity. 00:15:18.919 --> 00:15:22.759 Because the gold, I mean, we still value it, right? 00:15:22.839 --> 00:15:24.839 It's for its beautiful color and luster. 00:15:25.699 --> 00:15:28.439 And it's been prized since 4th millennia BC. 00:15:29.279 --> 00:15:33.379 And also because gold is malleable, it was particularly useful in luxury art. 00:15:34.039 --> 00:15:37.019 So it became synonymous with value and prestige, right? 00:15:37.019 --> 00:15:42.059 So we talk about the gold standard or the gold medal is the most prestigious award. 00:15:43.159 --> 00:15:46.519 And honey similarly was precious back then, right? 00:15:46.659 --> 00:15:52.379 Because people back then couldn't just walk into a grocery store and buy a bottle of honey for cheap, right? 00:15:52.500 --> 00:15:53.079 Because people, 00:15:53.919 --> 00:15:59.039 and people didn't discover how to crystallize sugar from sugar canes until the 4th century AD. 00:15:59.039 --> 00:16:05.679 So honey was a coveted and rare sweetener that can be added to all kinds of foods and drinks. 00:16:06.740 --> 00:16:09.099 And not only that, honey was used for medicinal purposes, 00:16:09.860 --> 00:16:15.039 because it contains just the right amount of hydrogen peroxide and it lacks moisture. 00:16:15.439 --> 00:16:22.039 So it kind of sucks out moisture if you apply it to a wound and the hydrogen peroxide sanitizes it. 00:16:22.919 --> 00:16:27.039 And so even today, you can actually buy honey-related medicines. 00:16:27.039 --> 00:16:34.419 So like a company called MediHoney, it sells honey ointments and Band-Aids that have honey in them. 00:16:35.399 --> 00:16:40.039 And so not only that, gold and honey were both prized for their durability, right? 00:16:40.120 --> 00:16:43.980 So gold is one of the least reactive chemical elements in the periodic table. 00:16:44.500 --> 00:16:50.519 So it doesn't technically ever tarnish or rust because it doesn't react with oxygen, nitrogen, 00:16:50.659 --> 00:16:52.740 or really any of the gases present in the atmosphere. 00:16:52.740 --> 00:16:58.299 That's why even when people want like a silver hue in their wedding rings or wedding bands, 00:16:58.379 --> 00:17:01.060 they typically get white gold as opposed to getting silver. 00:17:02.200 --> 00:17:04.680 Because silver tarnishes easily, but gold doesn't. 00:17:05.359 --> 00:17:08.880 And similarly, honey, like I mentioned before, because of its lack of moisture, 00:17:09.120 --> 00:17:12.859 lack of water, and high acidity, and the presence of hydrogen peroxide, 00:17:13.519 --> 00:17:15.940 it basically lasts forever. 00:17:16.380 --> 00:17:17.880 It never expires. 00:17:17.880 --> 00:17:21.260 It doesn't go bad as long as it's stored properly. 00:17:21.920 --> 00:17:28.540 And so then the psalmist, by comparing the scriptures to two of these most precious and valuable things 00:17:28.540 --> 00:17:34.760 and lasting things, he's really conveying beautiful and powerful truths about God's word. 00:17:34.880 --> 00:17:38.460 It's more to be desired than gold, even much fine gold. 00:17:38.880 --> 00:17:42.300 It's sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. 00:17:42.299 --> 00:17:51.460 So then it's a tragedy that such a precious gift of God collects dust on some of our bookshelves. 00:17:52.599 --> 00:17:55.819 If this is really true of God's word, then we should treasure it. 00:17:55.980 --> 00:17:59.919 We should search it daily and meditate on it and memorize it 00:17:59.919 --> 00:18:02.879 so that we can let the word of God dwell in us and minister to us, 00:18:02.919 --> 00:18:06.059 even when we don't have the physical Bible open in front of us. 00:18:06.059 --> 00:18:11.539 And when we read it, we should read it reverently as the word of God, with fear of God, 00:18:12.119 --> 00:18:16.899 and believing that whatever it approves is right and whatever it condemns is wrong. 00:18:17.599 --> 00:18:21.859 And we should submit ourselves to God's word and conform our lives to its rule and practice 00:18:21.859 --> 00:18:27.899 and regard other opinions and books only to the degree that they conform to God's word. 00:18:28.859 --> 00:18:32.980 Because the glory of God is revealed in nature, but also particularly in scripture. 00:18:32.980 --> 00:18:41.839 And if the psalm ended here in verse 10, it would already be a magnificent psalm, 00:18:41.920 --> 00:18:45.019 but it gets better still in verses 11 to 14. 00:18:45.880 --> 00:18:48.539 David goes from extolling the glory of God in nature and scripture 00:18:48.539 --> 00:18:50.980 to the glory of God revealed in redemption. 00:18:51.819 --> 00:18:53.819 So he writes in verses 11 to 12, 00:18:54.180 --> 00:18:57.460 Moreover, by them is your servant warned. 00:18:57.819 --> 00:19:00.220 In keeping them there is great reward. 00:19:00.220 --> 00:19:04.180 Who can discern his errors, declare me innocent from hidden faults? 00:19:05.860 --> 00:19:10.259 And the reason for this transition to reflecting on his errors 00:19:10.259 --> 00:19:12.620 and the warning that comes from scripture 00:19:12.620 --> 00:19:16.220 is that David becomes keenly aware of his own insignificance 00:19:16.759 --> 00:19:20.819 and sinfulness and unworthiness as he reflects on the wonder 00:19:20.819 --> 00:19:26.059 and the perfection of God's word and the glory of God revealed in nature. 00:19:26.059 --> 00:19:34.359 So in the end he recognizes that even though there is great reward in keeping God's word, 00:19:34.460 --> 00:19:35.919 he doesn't do so perfectly. 00:19:36.839 --> 00:19:39.319 And so he says to God in verse 12, he prays, 00:19:39.460 --> 00:19:41.200 Who can discern his errors? 00:19:41.720 --> 00:19:43.940 Declare me innocent from hidden faults. 00:19:46.019 --> 00:19:50.359 David recognizes sin's tendency to blind people. 00:19:50.359 --> 00:19:54.319 So we're often the victim of sin's blinding effect. 00:19:54.959 --> 00:19:55.959 Don't recognize it. 00:19:55.979 --> 00:19:57.059 So he confesses that. 00:19:57.259 --> 00:19:59.199 He said, Who can discern his errors? 00:20:00.219 --> 00:20:02.339 And then having acknowledged his hidden faults, 00:20:02.399 --> 00:20:04.559 he pleads with God to declare him innocent. 00:20:05.679 --> 00:20:08.539 And the word hidden here connects back to verse 6, 00:20:08.639 --> 00:20:09.919 which I said is the pivot point. 00:20:09.920 --> 00:20:11.779 Because where it said, 00:20:11.940 --> 00:20:14.200 There's nothing hidden from the sun's heat. 00:20:14.620 --> 00:20:18.940 So in the same way the sun's heat reaches all the nooks and crannies of the earth, 00:20:19.220 --> 00:20:21.920 so the law of God searches the nooks and crannies of our hearts. 00:20:22.080 --> 00:20:23.900 There's nothing hidden from the Lord. 00:20:25.080 --> 00:20:29.160 And so having prayed therefore to God for forgiveness for sins 00:20:29.160 --> 00:20:30.960 that David is not aware of, 00:20:31.019 --> 00:20:32.680 he then prays to God in verse 13, 00:20:33.980 --> 00:20:37.779 Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins. 00:20:37.779 --> 00:20:39.840 Let them not have dominion over me. 00:20:40.300 --> 00:20:43.519 Then I shall be blameless and innocent of great transgression. 00:20:45.200 --> 00:20:49.779 So, of course, all sin is bad from God's perspective, right? 00:20:49.880 --> 00:20:51.800 Because no sin is trivial. 00:20:52.500 --> 00:20:54.240 And they're equally indicting 00:20:54.240 --> 00:20:58.140 because any degree of sinfulness falls infinitely short of God's standard 00:20:58.140 --> 00:21:00.340 because God's perfectly and eternally holy. 00:21:01.000 --> 00:21:02.200 But from our perspective, 00:21:02.200 --> 00:21:04.880 there are some sins that are greater than others. 00:21:06.300 --> 00:21:07.580 And presumptuous sins, 00:21:07.579 --> 00:21:11.439 sins that we commit while fully knowing what ought to be done 00:21:11.439 --> 00:21:12.799 or what ought not to be done 00:21:12.799 --> 00:21:14.339 are worse than hidden faults. 00:21:14.460 --> 00:21:17.859 So that's what David's talking about here, contrasting. 00:21:19.599 --> 00:21:21.799 And then David concludes in verse 14, 00:21:22.299 --> 00:21:25.439 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart 00:21:25.440 --> 00:21:27.360 be acceptable in your sight, 00:21:27.360 --> 00:21:30.019 O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. 00:21:31.720 --> 00:21:34.480 So unlike the inaudible words of creation 00:21:34.480 --> 00:21:38.660 that uniformly and consistently declare the glory of God, 00:21:39.340 --> 00:21:43.460 David is uncertain of the merits of the words of his mouth. 00:21:43.460 --> 00:21:44.240 So he prays, 00:21:44.240 --> 00:21:47.420 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart 00:21:47.420 --> 00:21:49.579 be acceptable in your sight, 00:21:49.900 --> 00:21:52.200 O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. 00:21:54.480 --> 00:21:58.519 And the word acceptable is the language of sacrifice. 00:21:59.620 --> 00:22:01.860 And David's unsure that his praise of God, 00:22:01.920 --> 00:22:04.039 his words and his thoughts would be acceptable to God. 00:22:04.120 --> 00:22:05.360 So that's why he prays this. 00:22:05.359 --> 00:22:07.740 And for us also, 00:22:07.919 --> 00:22:09.959 we're brought to a similar place that David is. 00:22:10.139 --> 00:22:12.279 After seeing the glory of God in nature and scripture, 00:22:12.779 --> 00:22:15.319 we're brought to that place of confession and repentance. 00:22:15.899 --> 00:22:17.819 And this place of confession and repentance 00:22:17.819 --> 00:22:20.179 points ultimately to the glory of God 00:22:20.179 --> 00:22:22.119 revealed in redemption of Jesus Christ. 00:22:23.039 --> 00:22:25.139 Because David calls God his rock, 00:22:25.759 --> 00:22:28.519 and Jesus taught his followers in Matthew 7, 24, 00:22:28.639 --> 00:22:31.119 Everyone then who hears these words of mine, 00:22:31.439 --> 00:22:32.559 these words of his, 00:22:32.559 --> 00:22:34.619 and does them will be like a wise man 00:22:34.619 --> 00:22:36.700 who built his house on the rock. 00:22:37.440 --> 00:22:37.559 Right? 00:22:37.639 --> 00:22:40.460 So his words are the rock upon which his followers 00:22:40.460 --> 00:22:43.679 are to build their lives. 00:22:44.259 --> 00:22:46.919 And Jesus speaks in that passage 00:22:46.919 --> 00:22:48.599 as if he's speaking the very words of God. 00:22:48.679 --> 00:22:51.440 So he says to build your life on his words. 00:22:52.519 --> 00:22:54.779 And not only that David calls God his redeemer, 00:22:55.240 --> 00:22:57.799 and scripture repeatedly calls Jesus the redeemer, 00:22:58.559 --> 00:23:01.779 that he's the ransom paid for the redemption of sinners. 00:23:02.559 --> 00:23:04.159 And they both come from the same word, 00:23:04.259 --> 00:23:05.179 ransom, redemption. 00:23:06.059 --> 00:23:08.599 And so it says in 1 Peter 1, 17-19, 00:23:08.599 --> 00:23:11.519 And if you call on him as father 00:23:11.519 --> 00:23:14.440 who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, 00:23:14.799 --> 00:23:16.359 conduct yourselves with fear 00:23:16.359 --> 00:23:17.759 throughout the time of your exile, 00:23:18.220 --> 00:23:19.879 knowing that you are ransomed 00:23:19.879 --> 00:23:22.819 from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, 00:23:23.220 --> 00:23:25.779 not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 00:23:25.940 --> 00:23:28.079 but with the precious blood of Christ, 00:23:28.480 --> 00:23:31.619 like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 00:23:31.619 --> 00:23:36.219 So Christ is the acceptable sacrifice 00:23:36.219 --> 00:23:37.459 offered on our behalf. 00:23:37.599 --> 00:23:40.019 David wonders if his words and his meditations, 00:23:40.419 --> 00:23:41.419 his heart are acceptable, 00:23:41.839 --> 00:23:44.659 but Christ is the ultimate sacrifice that is acceptable. 00:23:45.239 --> 00:23:47.500 And Christ is the ultimate rock and redeemer. 00:23:47.659 --> 00:23:50.439 And Christ is the ransom price paid to free us 00:23:50.439 --> 00:23:52.139 from the futile ways of sin 00:23:52.139 --> 00:23:55.719 so that we can be declared innocent even by God, 00:23:56.419 --> 00:23:59.019 the Lord, the impartial judge. 00:23:59.019 --> 00:24:03.680 And so that's why we ought to seek 00:24:03.680 --> 00:24:06.000 the glory of God in nature. 00:24:06.359 --> 00:24:07.700 And still more, we ought to seek 00:24:07.700 --> 00:24:09.379 the glory of God in Scripture. 00:24:10.139 --> 00:24:11.879 But all of those are both, 00:24:11.960 --> 00:24:14.259 neither of those amount to anything 00:24:14.259 --> 00:24:17.000 if they don't drive us to our need for the Redeemer. 00:24:17.720 --> 00:24:19.319 Because that's what Scripture and nature 00:24:19.319 --> 00:24:20.740 all ultimately point to, 00:24:21.180 --> 00:24:23.480 the Lord of creation, 00:24:23.480 --> 00:24:26.640 the glory of God revealed in Jesus Christ. 00:24:27.319 --> 00:24:30.440 So let's meditate on that truth and pray.