Praying Psalm 19
The Word of God is like the sun.
“Let the light of your truth shine on every part of my life today, Lord.”
This past Monday’s ‘Praying with the Psalms’ guide (click HERE), included Psalm 19, an ‘orientation’ psalm. I wanted to share how I am learning to pray the psalms into my life this week…
Psalm 19 (ESV)
1 The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
2 Day to day pours out speech,
and night to night reveals knowledge.
3 There is no speech, nor are there words,
whose voice is not heard.
4 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,
5 which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber,
and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.
6 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.
7 The law of the Lord is perfect,
reviving the soul;
the testimony of the Lord is sure,
making wise the simple;
8 the precepts of the Lord are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is pure,
enlightening the eyes;
9 the fear of the Lord is clean,
enduring forever;
the rules of the Lord are true,
and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold,
even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey
and drippings of the honeycomb.
11 Moreover, by them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
12 Who can discern his errors?
Declare me innocent from hidden faults.
13 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.
14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable in your sight,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
(I recommend reading or listening to Psalm 19 in at least two translations, including The Message, which begins, 1-2 God’s glory is on tour in the skies, God-craft on exhibit across the horizon. Madame Day holds classes every morning, Professor Night lectures each evening…”)
PRACTICING PSALM-SHAPED PRAYER
Now let’s practice praying with Psalm 19, starting by inserting personal pronouns, moving from talking about God to talking to God…
“The heavens declare your glory, Father God! The skies above proclaim your handiwork… Your law, Lord, is perfect, reviving my soul. Your testimony is sure, turning my foolishness into wisdom. Your precepts are right, rejoicing my heart. Your commandment is pure, enlightening my eyes. Your words are more desirable to me than gold, sweeter than honey from the honeycomb. In them I am warned and protected, and in keeping them I have great reward…
“Lord, your creation never stops speaking, revealing your glory! As we gaze on the works of your hands we hear silent sermons of your splendor, craftsmanship, beauty and wisdom.
“Your Word to me is like the sun- bringing light to all the dark places in my soul, like a signpost, guiding my steps onto your pathway, like gold, precious beyond any human source of wisdom, like guardrails, protecting me from my own sin and self-deception, like honey, nourishing and energizing me for my life with God.
“I thank you God for giving us clear boundaries, for defining for us what is true and false, good and evil, wise and foolish. And thank you for giving us the freedom to choose the good. I bring to you the choices that are before me today (I now pray through my day, inviting you, King Jesus, into every part of my morning, my afternoon and my evening…).
Optional prayer of approach: “The skies are charged with grandeur; your glory carved in cloud and star: a testament to your goodness. The dawn brings fresh mercies; a world made new. At your word, light pierces the darkness; creation stirs. Your ways are righteous and true; a fruit evergreen: Reviving. Renewing. Transforming me, from one degree of glory to another, into the image of Christ…” (Sheltering Mercy, by Ryan Whitaker Smith and Dan Wilt: Psalm 19).
Background on Psalm 19:
‘The greatest poem in the psalter and one of the greatest lyrics in the world.’ (C.S. Lewis on Psalm 19)
Psalm 19 is a literary masterpiece. This psalm of wisdom has three sections, all arranged around the theme of voice. The first section (1-6) celebrates creation’s voice. The second (7-11): Scripture’s voice. The final section is a prayer for my voice to be pleasing to God (12-14).
One of the most distinctive aspects of ancient Hebrew poetry is parallelism. Instead of rhyming sounds, as in English poetry, Hebrew poetry rhymes meaning. Each successive line restates truth with different language and imagery. V. 1 is a classic example of parallelism-
The heavens (A) declare the glory (B) of God
and the sky above (A1) proclaims his handiwork (B1).
The pivotal line in Psalm 19 is in v. 6, ‘Nothing is hidden from its (the sun’s) heat.’ Just as the sun boldly blazes its light and life to every dark corner of the earth, Scripture brings light and life to every part of my world (see 7-11).
Questions for reflection and prayer:
How is God’s Word to you like the sun?
In what part of your life do you need the light of God’s Word?
Finally, try taking Psalm 19 into your day through music…
