A manual of the book of Psalms · Martin Luther
PSALM XIX.
_The creatures show God’s glory.—The word his grace.—David prayeth for grace._ To the chief Musician, a Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God: and the firmament sheweth his handy-work. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. _There is_ no speech nor language _where_ their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun; Which _is_ as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, _and_ rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. His going forth _is_ from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof. The law of the LORD _is_ perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD _is_ sure, making wise the simple: The statutes of the LORD _are_ right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD _is_ pure, enlightening the eyes: The fear of the LORD _is_ clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD _are_ true _and_ righteous altogether. More to be desired _are they_ than gold; yea, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honey-comb. Moreover, by them is thy servant warned: _and_ in keeping of them _there is_ great reward.
Who can understand _his_ errors! cleanse thou me from secret _faults_. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous _sins_: let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength and my redeemer. This is a prophecy concerning the preaching of the Gospel to every creature under the whole heaven wherever the wide earth extends. “Day unto day, (saith David) uttereth the word;” that is, ‘from day to day;’ or, day and night shall the Gospel be propagated by the voice of the apostles and the ministers of the word, farther and farther; and that, not only in Judea but every where in all the earth, and in all languages throughout the world.—And says David, as by the life-giving light of the Sun, all things in nature are illuminated, recreated, and cherished: so this new light, this voice of the Gospel shall illumine the world, and, by communicating the Spirit, shall revive and purify the hearts of men, and shall lift up and comfort distressed consciences. Here also David intimates, that the old law which was the ministration of death was to be done away with; and that the Gospel was to succeed, which should be the ministration of life and of the Spirit; and which should be a word sweet and lovely, illumining the eyes and purifying the heart. This Psalm belongs to the Third Commandment; for it shews us what is the true Sabbath, namely, the day or time, in which the Gospel should be preached throughout the whole world and received by those who should believe it.
Text from Project Gutenberg, public domain in the United States.