Psalm 19:7-14 Devotional, 5/12/24
7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.

8 The statutes 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 for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.

10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.

12 Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.

13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: so shall I be upright, and made clean from much wickedness.

14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.

Previously we looked at the nature and office of the heavens, their usefulness to convict man of idolatry and unthankfulness, despite their lack of knowledge of the word, moreover of the office of the law, to quicken and convert, and the manner in which it brings us to a right understanding of salvation, even by the doctrine of the law and gospel, and also of the office of the minister who by proper and correct explanation, uses the word of God for the salvation of men and the benefit of the church. Now, before we move on from this wonderful Psalm, I find it appropriate to dwell on the effect of the word upon the quickened soul, expressed here in these words, “More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold” wherein the tone and direction of the Psalm is somewhat changed, which before was instructional and doctrinal, “the heavens declare” and “the law of the Lord is perfect”, but here David moves from doctrine to enthusiastic exhortation, as one who has tasted the sweetness of the Lord, as he writes elsewhere, “O taste and see that the Lord is good” and “Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction.” so we see here that David as one who is enlightened by the Spirit and capable of suitably communicating His doctrine to others, points them in the direction of the law zealously exclaiming that it is to be desired above the finest gold, and is sweeter than all dainties. For we must remember that he here speaks of gold, and honey by way of synecdoche, comprehending in them all riches and all pleasant food. Do you see the rich and poor chasing after wealth? The Proverb saith, “Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.” Do you see the slim, and trim and fat gorging themselves with pleasant meat, and delectable pastries at luxurious banquets? The scripture saith, “For it is sufficient for us that we have spent the time past of our life, after the lust of the Gentiles walking in wantonness, lusts, drunkenness, in gluttony, banquetings, and in abominable idolatries: Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the living and the dead.” But the word of God is both riches and sweetness, able to make us rich in grace, abounding in righteousness to others, and also therein is found much to be delighted for the rational palate inasmuch as it is filled with history, instruction, wisdom, philosophy, proverbs, poetry, wherein all the notable activities of holy men and their pious thoughts are faithfully set down to writing, that we might not be lacking in material but wholly equipped to the refutation of every heresy, the establishment of every holy principle and furnished unto every holy work. And so it is said of scripture, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” And so may we desire the word of God as our chief delight, above all riches and dainties, for found therein is all our life.

Calvin,
More to be desired are they than gold. The Psalmist now exalts the law of God both on account of its price and sweetness. This commendation depends on the commendations given in the preceding verses; for the many and great advantages which he has just now enumerated, ought justly to make us account heavenly truth the highest and most excellent treasure, and to despise, when compared with it, all the gold and silver of the world.In short, the sense is, that we do not esteem the law as it deserves, if we do not prefer it to all the riches of the world. If we are once brought thus highly to prize the law, it will serve effectually to deliver our hearts from an immoderate desire of gold and silver. To this esteem of the law there must be added love to it, and delight in it, so that it may not only subdue us to obedience by constraint, but also allure us by its sweetness; a thing which is impossible, unless, at the same time, we have mortified in us the love of carnal pleasures, with which it is not wonderful to see us enticed and ensnared, so long as we reject, through a vitiated taste, the righteousness of God. From this we may again deduce another evidence, that David’s discourse is not to be understood simply of the commandments, and of the dead letter, but that he comprehends, at the same time, the promises by which the grace of God is offered to us. If the law did nothing else but command us, how could it be loved, since in commanding it terrifies us, because we all fail in keeping it? Certainly, if we separate the law from the hope of pardon, and from the Spirit of Christ, so far from tasting it to be sweet as honey, we will rather find in it a bitterness which kills our wretched souls.

Henry,
II. He expresses the great value he had for the word of God, and the great advantage he had, and hoped to have, from it, Psalms 19:10; Psalms 19:11.
1. See how highly he prized the commandments of God. It is the character of all Christians that they prefer their religion and the word of God, (1.) Far before all the wealth of the world. It is more desirable than gold, than fine gold, than much fine gold. Gold is of the earth, earthly; but grace is the image of the heavenly. Gold is only for the body and the concerns of time; but grace is for the soul and the concerns of eternity. (2.) Far before all pleasures and delights of sense. The word of God, received by faith, is sweet to the soul, sweeter than honey and the honey comb. The pleasures of sense are the delight of brutes, and therefore debase the great soul of man; the pleasures of religion are the delight of angels, and exalt the soul. The pleasures of sense are deceitful, will soon surfeit, and yet never satisfy; but those of religion are substantial and satisfying, and there is no danger of exceeding in them. And therefore, taking supreme delight in the law of God, and in the promises of the gospel, let us come before Him with a pure heart, knowing that He is bountiful and liberal towards us though we be doubtful and unready to receive the many blessings of paradise.

Opening Prayer.

Intro.

The author having bewailed the great distractions, corruptions, and divisions that are in the Church, he thus represents the cause and cure: Among others, a principal cause of these mischiefs is the great and common neglect of the governors of families, in the discharge of that duty which they owe to God for the souls that are under their charge, especially in teaching them the doctrine of Christianity. Families are societies that must be sanctified to God as well as Churches; and the governors of them have as truly a charge of the souls that are therein, as pastors have of the Churches. But, alas, how little is this considered or regarded! But while negligent ministers are (deservedly) cast out of their places, the negligent masters of families take themselves to be almost blameless. They offer their children to God in baptism, and there they promise to teach them the doctrine of the gospel, and bring them up in the nurture of the Lord; but they easily promise, and easily break it; and educate their children for the world and the flesh, although they have renounced these, and dedicated them to God. This covenant-breaking with God, and betraying the souls of their children to the devil, must lie heavy on them here or hereafter. They beget children, and keep families, merely for the world and the flesh: but little consider what a charge is committed to them, and what it is to bring up a child for God, and govern a family as a sanctified society.

O how sweetly and successfully would the work of God go on, if we would but all join together in our several places to promote it! Men need not then run without sending to be preachers; but they might find that part of the work that belongeth to them to be enough for them, and to be the best that they can be employed in. Especially women should be careful of this duty; because as they are most about their children, and have early and frequent opportunities to instruct them, so this is the principal service they can do to God in this world, being restrained from more publick work. And doubtless many an excellent magistrate hath been sent into the Commonwealth, and many an excellent pastor into the Church, and many a precious saint to heaven, through the happy preparations of a holy education, perhaps by a woman that thought herself useless and unserviceable to the Church. Would parents but begin betimes, and labour to affect the hearts of their children with the great matters of everlasting life, and to acquaint them with the substance of the doctrine of Christ, and, when they find in them the knowledge and love of Christ, would bring them then to the pastors of the Church to be tried, confirmed, and admitted to the further privileges of the Church, what happy, well-ordered Churches might we have! Then one pastor need not be put to do the work of two or three hundred or thousand governors of families, even to teach their children those principles which they should have taught them long before; nor should we be put to preach to so many miserable ignorant souls, that be not prepared by education to understand us; nor should we have need to shut out so many from holy communion upon the account of ignorance, that yet have not the grace to feel it and lament it, nor the wit and patience to wait in a learning state, till they are ready to be fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God.

Lesson 19. The Necessity of Education to the right establishing of souls in the Christian faith.

I. It is the great work of ministers to labor to bring up souls in the faith.
i. And to evaluate their faith by their ability to comprehend doctrine.
a. And by the purity of their lives.
[1]. Whether they love the world or Jesus Christ.
[2]. Whether they order their daily lives aright.
[3]. Whether they attend the word as is due.

II. It is the great work of parents to prepare their children for the evaluation of their souls.
i. By a proper education.
ii. By religious education.
[1] The fundamentals.
[2] Godly Material.
[3] Family Worship.
[4] Catechisms.
[5] Parental evaluation.

III. It is the great duty of children to learn from their parents and the ministers of the gospel.
i. Because of the authority of God.
ii. Because of the authority of their parents.
iii. Because of the authority of the ministry.
iv. Because of the value of the soul.

[William Gurnall]

Conclusion.

Closing Prayer.

YouTube Audio: https://youtu.be/Y5fn-MIw29A