5/26/24:
Psalm 19:7-14 Devotional,

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.

We noted before the strictness of the law, and the sincere and ardent endeavors of believers after true holiness, which is not found merely in externals, which their own conscience or others approve of, but in the law of God, which is exceedingly broad, and easy for us to offend in. We also noted the two-fold utility of this passage, showing our need for pardon and purification according to the doctrine of the law and gospel. For when the law has done its work in conversion, as the passage saith above, “the law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul” then is pride beaten down, and humility engendered, which divine grace doth not strive against God, but sweetly complies with whatsoever He demands of us. Thus the Psalmist being one who has been thoroughly humiliated by the law, confesses his need for cleansing and preservation, praying to God for help in the same, knowing that he cannot of his own strength perform what is acceptable in the sight of God. We ought also to look at the closing remark of the prophet, who attributes the work and glory to God, and shows the nature of true obedience which reaches not only to external actions, but even to his words and thoughts, so that as nothing escapes the notice of God, and all things will be judged in His sight on the last day, so the true believer is sensitive not to offend even, and especially in matters of the heart. Therefore it is not enough for us not to lift our hands to idols, or join with the heretical contradictions of wicked men, but our hearts must be free from idolatry, and we must be pure in our understanding and devotion to Him. Therefore the church today is doubly condemned inasmuch as they are wicked in their heart and in their tongue, but they love nothing more than to justify themselves and excuse the wicked despite their contradictions. When men openly impugn holy scripture and speak incorrectly concerning sound doctrine, they justify them and say that they don’t mean what they say. Men say, “I believe in free will” and the men of the church today say, “what he really means is free grace!” Oh wretched, miserable liars! For even among those who profess sound doctrine, only those who truly understand and believe it will be saved, so that none are saved apart from a true and sound confession. David saith truly, “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.” which is a necessary element of true devotion, and all else besides is but hypocrisy.
Let us therefore with David come before God as before a struct judge, and examine our hearts in His sight, that we might be found pure and spotless, neither harboring any false opinions regarding His holy doctrine, nor undue affections towards that which is lawful, nor any affections at all towards that which is sinful. As Paul also exhorts, saying, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.” Then David concludes by giving praise to God and magnifying Him by those titles which do marvelously show forth His work for us.” My strength and my Redeemer” He is our Strength inasmuch as He supplies us with the ability to resist inward temptation. He is our redeemer inasmuch as by His precious blood He has delivered us from everlasting death and promised us victory.

Calvin,
David asks still more expressly to be fortified by the grace of God, and thus enabled to live an upright and holy life. The substance of the verse is this: I beseech thee, O God, not only to keep me from breaking forth into the external acts of transgression, but also to frame my tongue and my heart to the obedience of thy law. We know how difficult it is, even for the most perfect, so to bridle their words and thoughts, as that nothing may pass through their heart or mouth which is contrary to the will of God; and yet this inward purity is what the law chiefly requires of us. Now, the rarer this virtue — the rarer this strict control of the heart and of the tongue is, let us learn so much the more the necessity of our being governed by the Holy Spirit, in order to regulate our life uprightly and honestly. By the word acceptable, the Psalmist shows that the only rule of living well is for men to endeavor to please God, and to be approved of him. The concluding words, in which he calls God his strength and his redeemer, he employs to confirm himself in the assured confidence of obtaining his requests.

Poole,
Having prayed that God would keep him from sinful actions, he now prays that God would govern and sanctify his words and thoughts, wherein he had many ways offended, as he here implies, and oft in this book confesseth and bewaileth. And this he the rather doth, because this caution was very necessary to preserve him from presumptuous sins, which have their first rise in the thoughts, and thence proceed to words and expressions, before they break forth into actions.

Be acceptable in thy sight, i.e. be really good and holy, and so well-pleasing to thee.

My strength: O thou who hast hitherto strengthened me, both against my temporal and spiritual enemies, and whose gracious powerful assistance is absolutely necessary to keep me from my own corrupt inclinations, and from all temptations to sinful thoughts, and words, and actions.

My redeemer: this expression seems to be added emphatically, and with special respect to Christ, who was certainly much in David’s eyes, to whom alone this word Goel can here properly belong, as may appear See Poole “Job 19:25”, to which I refer the reader, and by whose blood and Spirit alone David could and did expect the blessings and graces for which he here prayeth.

And so, coming before God in worship who pardons us and purifies us from sin, let us hear the word with reverence and sincerity, knowing that grace and infinite blessing is wrapped up therein, and God doth not ordinarily bestow any blessing apart from it.

Opening Prayer.

Lesson 20.

The necessity of understanding the historical and religious atmosphere in which we live. Part 1. Old Testament History.

Intro.
Thomas Manton is quoting another author at length, showing the agreeableness of approving of others in the faith.
Church History is a necessary study.
Matthew 16:1-4, Rom. 15:4

I. The Holy Scripture is part History. (therefore history is necessary)
i. Old Testament History.
Gen.-Esther, Psalm 78, 105, 106, 136.
Conclusion.

Closing Prayer.

YouTube Audio: https://youtu.be/PFgD6zg6D54