Psalm 19:14
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.
May the words of my mouth
This phrase begins with a personal plea, emphasizing the importance of speech in the life of a believer. The Hebrew word for "words" is "imrah," which often refers to spoken words or promises. In the biblical context, words hold significant power, as seen in the creation narrative where God speaks the world into existence. The psalmist acknowledges that what we say reflects our inner thoughts and desires, and thus, he seeks divine guidance to ensure his speech aligns with God's will.

and the meditation of my heart
The term "meditation" comes from the Hebrew "higgayon," which implies a deep, reflective thought process. This phrase highlights the connection between one's inner contemplations and outward expressions. In ancient Israel, the heart was considered the center of thought and emotion, not just feelings. The psalmist is aware that true righteousness begins internally, and he desires that his innermost thoughts be pleasing to God, recognizing that God sees beyond outward appearances.

be pleasing in Your sight
"Pleasing" is translated from the Hebrew "ratson," which conveys the idea of acceptance or favor. The psalmist seeks not just to avoid sin but to actively delight God with his thoughts and words. This reflects a heart posture of worship and submission, aiming to live a life that is in harmony with God's desires. The phrase "in Your sight" reminds us of God's omnipresence and omniscience, encouraging believers to live transparently before Him.

O LORD
The use of "LORD" in all capitals indicates the Hebrew name "Yahweh," the covenant name of God. This name is deeply personal and relational, reminding the reader of God's faithfulness and His intimate involvement in the lives of His people. By invoking this name, the psalmist acknowledges God's authority and his own dependence on Him.

my Rock
"Rock" is translated from the Hebrew "tsur," symbolizing strength, stability, and protection. In the ancient Near East, rocks were often seen as places of refuge and safety. By calling God his "Rock," the psalmist expresses trust in God's unchanging nature and His ability to provide security amidst life's uncertainties. This metaphor reassures believers of God's steadfastness and reliability.

and my Redeemer
The term "Redeemer" comes from the Hebrew "goel," which refers to a kinsman-redeemer, someone who restores or rescues a relative in distress. This concept is rooted in the Levitical laws where a family member could redeem property or even a person. By calling God his "Redeemer," the psalmist acknowledges God's role in delivering him from sin and restoring him to a right relationship. This reflects the ultimate redemption found in Christ, who fulfills the role of the kinsman-redeemer for all humanity.

Persons / Places / Events
1. David
The author of Psalm 19, King David, is expressing a heartfelt prayer to God. Known as a man after God's own heart, David often sought to align his life with God's will.

2. LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant name of God, emphasizing His eternal nature and faithfulness to His people.

3. Rock
A metaphor for God, symbolizing strength, stability, and protection. In the Hebrew context, "rock" (tsur) conveys the idea of a solid foundation.

4. Redeemer
This term refers to God as the one who delivers and saves. In Hebrew, "redeemer" (go'el) is a kinsman-redeemer, highlighting God's role in rescuing and restoring His people.
Teaching Points
The Power of Words
Our words have the power to build up or tear down. As believers, we should strive for our speech to reflect God's love and truth.

The Importance of Meditation
What we meditate on shapes our character and actions. We should fill our minds with God's Word and His truths to align our hearts with His will.

God as Our Foundation
Recognizing God as our Rock provides us with stability and security. We can trust Him to guide and protect us in all circumstances.

Redemption and Relationship
Understanding God as our Redeemer reminds us of His saving grace and the personal relationship we have with Him. This should inspire us to live lives that honor Him.

Pleasing God in All Aspects
Our ultimate goal should be to please God in both our words and thoughts. This requires intentionality and reliance on the Holy Spirit.
Bible Study Questions
1. How can we ensure that the words of our mouths are pleasing to God in our daily interactions?

2. What practical steps can we take to meditate on things that align with God's will?

3. In what ways can recognizing God as our Rock influence our response to life's challenges?

4. How does understanding God as our Redeemer impact our identity and purpose as Christians?

5. How can we apply the principles of Psalm 19:14 to our use of social media and digital communication?
Connections to Other Scriptures
James 3
Discusses the power of the tongue and the importance of controlling our speech, which connects to the desire for our words to be pleasing to God.

Philippians 4:8
Encourages believers to meditate on things that are true, noble, and praiseworthy, aligning with the meditation of the heart mentioned in Psalm 19:14.

Romans 12:1-2
Calls for believers to offer themselves as living sacrifices and to be transformed by the renewing of their minds, which relates to the desire for our thoughts and words to be pleasing to God.
A Sacrifice and a PrayerC. Short Psalm 19:14
Acceptable WordsW. Garrett Horder.Psalm 19:14
Consecration of Word and ThoughtHenry Reynolds, D. D.Psalm 19:14
David's DesireWilliam Jay.Psalm 19:14
Mental PrayerW. H. Hutchings, M. A.Psalm 19:14
Pious DesireAnon.Psalm 19:14
The Acceptableness of the Words of the Mouth and the Meditation of the Heart in God's SightJohn Nance, D. D.Psalm 19:14
Words and ThoughtsCharles Voysey.Psalm 19:14
Nature as a PreacherW. Forsyth Psalm 19:1-14
The Voice of Jehovah in His WordC. Clemance Psalm 19:8-14
Man's Relation to the Divine LawC. Short Psalm 19:11-14
People
David, Psalmist
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
Acceptable, Chief, David, Heart, Meditation, Mouth, Musician, O, Pleasing, Psalm, Redeemer, Rock, Salvation, Sayings, Sight, Strength, Thoughts
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Psalm 19:14

     1205   God, titles of
     1240   God, the Rock
     1315   God, as redeemer
     1513   Trinity, mission of
     4354   rock
     5017   heart, renewal
     5038   mind, the human
     5167   mouth
     5549   speech, positive
     6185   imagination, desires
     8460   pleasing God
     8662   meditation

Psalm 19:7-14

     5376   law, purpose of
     5830   delight

Psalm 19:12-14

     8478   self-examination

Library
Secret Faults
'Who can understand his errors? cleanse Thou me from secret faults.' PSALM xix. 12. The contemplation of the 'perfect law, enlightening the eyes,' sends the Psalmist to his knees. He is appalled by his own shortcomings, and feels that, beside all those of which he is aware, there is a region, as yet unilluminated by that law, where evil things nestle and breed. The Jewish ritual drew a broad distinction between inadvertent--whether involuntary or ignorant--and deliberate sins; providing atonement
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Open Sins
'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.'--PSALM xix. 13. Another psalmist promises to the man who dwells 'in the secret place of the Most High' that' he shall not be afraid for the terror by night, nor for the arrow that flieth by day, nor for the pestilence that walketh at noonday,' but shall 'tread upon the lion and adder.' These promises divide the dangers that beset us
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

"The Sun of Righteousness"
WE SHOULD FEEL QUITE JUSTIFIED in applying the language of the 19th Psalm to our Lord Jesus Christ from the simple fact that he is so frequently compared to the sun; and especially in the passage which we have given you as our second text, wherein he is called "the Sun of Righteousness." But we have a higher justification for such a reading of the passage, for it will be in your memories that, in the 10th chapter of the Epistle to the Romans, the Apostle Paul, slightly altering the words of this
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 17: 1871

Secret Sins
Now, David, having seen God's law, and having praised it in this Psalm, which I have read in your hearing, he is brought, by reflecting on its excellency, to utter this thought, "Who can understand his errors?" and then to offer this prayer, "Cleanse thou me from secret faults." In the Lateran Council of the Church of Rome, a decree was passed that every true believer must confess his sins, all of them, once a year to the priest, and they affixed to it this declaration, that there is no hope of pardon
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 3: 1857

Presumptuous Sins
I shall this morning, first of all, endeavor to describe presumptuous sins; then, secondly, I shall try, if I can, to show by some illustrations, why the presumptuous sin is more heinous than any other; and then thirdly, I shall try to press the prayer upon your notice--the prayer, mark you, of the holy man--the prayer of David: "Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins. " I. First, then, WHAT IS PRESUMPTUOUS SIN? Now, I think here must be one of four things in a sin in order to make it
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 3: 1857

Sin Immeasurable
The subject of this morning--our own sin, and the error of our own hearts, is one which we sometimes think we know, but of which we may always be quite sure that we have only began to learn, and that when we have learned the most we shall ever know on earth, the question will still be pertinent, "Who can understand his errors?" Now, this morning I propose first of all, very briefly indeed, to explain the question; then at greater length to impress it upon our hearts; and lastly we will learn the
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 6: 1860

Prayer and the Word of God (Continued)
"Some years ago a man was travelling in the wilds of Kentucky. He had with him a large sum of money and was well armed. He put up at a log-house one night, but was much concerned with the rough appearance of the men who came and went from this abode. He retired early but not to sleep. At midnight he heard the dogs barking furiously and the sound of someone entering the cabin. Peering through a chink in the boards of his room, he saw a stranger with a gun in his hand. Another man sat before the fire.
Edward M. Bounds—The Necessity of Prayer

The Heavens Declare the Glory of God. --Ps. xix.
The Heavens declare the Glory of God.--Ps. xix. Thy glory, Lord, the heavens declare, The firmament displays Thy skill; The changing clouds, the viewless air, Tempest and calm Thy word fulfil; Day unto day doth utter speech, And night to night Thy knowledge teach. Though voice nor sound inform the ear, Well-known the language of their song, When one by one the stars appear, Led by the silent moon along, Till round the earth, from all the sky, Thy beauty beams on every eye. Waked by Thy touch,
James Montgomery—Sacred Poems and Hymns

The Law and the Testimonies. --Ps. xix.
The Law and the Testimonies.--Ps. xix. Thy law is perfect, Lord of light! Thy testimonies sure, The statutes of Thy realm are right, And thy commandments pure. Holy, inviolate Thy fear, Enduring as Thy throne: Thy judgments, chastening or severe, Justice and truth alone:-- More prized than gold,--than gold whose waste Refining fire expels; Sweeter than honey to my taste, Than honey from the cells. Let these, O God! my soul convert; And make Thy servant wise; Let these be gladness to my heart,
James Montgomery—Sacred Poems and Hymns

the Spacious Firmament on High
[970]Addison's: John Sheeles, c. 1720 Psalm 19 Joseph Addison, 1712 The spacious firmament on high, With all the blue ethereal sky, And spangled heavens, a shining frame, Their great Original proclaim. The unwearied sun from day to day Does his Creator's power display, And publishes to every land The work of an almighty Hand. Soon as the evening shades prevail, The moon takes up the wondrous tale, And nightly to the listening earth Repeats the story of her birth; Whilst all the stars that round
Various—The Hymnal of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the USA

The Promises of the Law and the Gospel Reconciled.
1. Brief summary of Chapters 15 and 16. Why justification is denied to works. Argument of opponents founded on the promises of the law. The substance of this argument. Answer. Those who would be justified before God must be exempted from the power of the law. How this is done. 2. Confirmation of the answer ab impossibili, and from the testimony of an Apostle and of David. 3. Answer to the objection, by showing why these promises were given. Refutation of the sophistical distinction between the intrinsic
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion

Letter xxii. St. Ambrose in a Letter to his Sister Gives an Account of the Finding Of...
St. Ambrose in a letter to his sister gives an account of the finding of the bodies of SS. Gervasius and Protasius, and of his addresses to the people on that occasion. Preaching from Psalm xix., he allegorically expounded the "heavens" to represent the martyrs and apostles, and the "day" he takes to be their confession. They were humbled by God, and then raised again. He then gives an account of the state in which their bodies were found, and of their translation to the basilica. In another address
St. Ambrose—Works and Letters of St. Ambrose

The Progress of the Gospel
Their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the end of the world. T he heavens declare the glory of God (Psalm 19:1) . The grandeur of the arch over our heads, the number and lustre of the stars, the beauty of the light, the splendour of the sun, the regular succession of day and night, and of the seasons of the year, are such proofs of infinite wisdom and power, that the Scripture attributes to them a voice, a universal language, intelligible to all mankind, accommodated to every capacity.
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 2

The Dryness of Preachers, and the Various Evils which Arise from their Failing to Teach Heart-Prayer --Exhortation to Pastors to Lead People Towards this Form Of
If all those who are working for the conquest of souls sought to win them by the heart, leading them first of all to prayer and to the inner life, they would see many and lasting conversions. But so long as they only address themselves to the outside, and instead of drawing people to Christ by occupying their hearts with Him, they only give them a thousand precepts for outward observances, they will see but little fruit, and that will not be lasting. When once the heart is won, other defects are
Jeanne Marie Bouvières—A Short Method Of Prayer And Spiritual Torrents

Of Deeper Matters, and God's Hidden Judgments which are not to be Inquired Into
"My Son, beware thou dispute not of high matters and of the hidden judgments of God; why this man is thus left, and that man is taken into so great favour; why also this man is so greatly afflicted, and that so highly exalted. These things pass all man's power of judging, neither may any reasoning or disputation have power to search out the divine judgments. When therefore the enemy suggesteth these things to thee, or when any curious people ask such questions, answer with that word of the Prophet,
Thomas A Kempis—Imitation of Christ

The Pietist and the Perfectionist.
"He chastens us for our profit, that we might be partakers of His holiness."--Heb. xii. 10. Sanctification is a gracious work of God, whereby in a supernatural way He gradually divests from sin the inclinations and dispositions of the regenerate and clothes them with holiness. Here we meet a serious objection which deserves our careful attention. To the superficial observer, the spiritual experience of God's children seems diametrically opposed to this professed gift of sanctification. One says:
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit

Concerning Continence Also Itself Hath it not Been Most Openly Said...
43. Concerning continence also itself hath it not been most openly said, "And when I knew that no one can be continent unless God give it, this also itself was a part of wisdom, to know whose gift it was?" [2177] But perhaps continence is the gift of God, but wisdom man bestows upon himself, whereby to understand, that that gift is, not his own, but of God. Yea, "The Lord maketh wise the blind:" [2178] and, "The testimony of the Lord is faithful, it giveth wisdom unto little ones:" [2179] and, "If
St. Augustine—Of Holy Virginity.

Regeneration.
In the examination of this subject I will-- I. Point out the common distinction between regeneration and conversion. 1. Regeneration is the term used by some theologians to express the divine agency in changing the heart. With them regeneration does not include and imply the activity of the subject, but rather excludes it. These theologians, as will be seen in its place, hold that a change of heart is first effected by the Holy Spirit while the subject is passive, which change lays a foundation for
Charles Grandison Finney—Systematic Theology

The Knowledge of God Conspicuous in the Creation, and Continual Government of the World.
1. The invisible and incomprehensible essence of God, to a certain extent, made visible in his works. 2. This declared by the first class of works--viz. the admirable motions of the heavens and the earth, the symmetry of the human body, and the connection of its parts; in short, the various objects which are presented to every eye. 3. This more especially manifested in the structure of the human body. 4. The shameful ingratitude of disregarding God, who, in such a variety of ways, is manifested within
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion

The Need of Scripture, as a Guide and Teacher, in Coming to God as a Creator.
1. God gives his elect a better help to the knowledge of himself--viz. the Holy Scriptures. This he did from the very first. 2. First, By oracles and visions, and the ministry of the Patriarchs. Secondly, By the promulgation of the Law, and the preaching of the Prophets. Why the doctrines of religion are committed to writing. 3. This view confirmed, 1. By the depravity of our nature making it necessary in every one who would know God to have recourse to the word; 2. From those passages of the Psalms
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion

The Word
The third way to escape the wrath and curse of God, and obtain the benefit of redemption by Christ, is the diligent use of ordinances, in particular, the word, sacraments, and prayer.' I begin with the best of these ordinances. The word . . . which effectually worketh in you that believe.' 1 Thess 2:13. What is meant by the word's working effectually? The word of God is said to work effectually when it has the good effect upon us for which it was appointed by God; when it works powerful illumination
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

The Shepherd-King
'And the Lord said unto Samuel, How long wilt them mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel! fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Beth-lehemite: for I have provided Me a king among his sons. 2. And Samuel said, How can I go? If Saul hear it, he will kill me. And the Lord said, Take an heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice to the Lord. 3. And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Conversion of all that Come.
"Turn Thou me and I shall be turned." --Jer. xxxi. 18. The elect, born again and effectually called, converts himself. To remain unconverted is impossible; but he inclines his ear, he turns his face to the blessed God, he is converted in the fullest sense of the word. In conversion the fact of cooperation on the part of the saved sinner assumes a clearly defined and perceptible character. In regeneration there was none; in the calling there was a beginning of it; in conversion proper it became a
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit

Effectual Calling
'Them he also called.' Rom 8:80. Q-xxxi: WHAT IS EFFECTUAL CALLING? A: It is a gracious work of the Spirit, whereby he causes us to embrace Christ freely, as he is offered to us in the gospel. In this verse is the golden chain of salvation, made up of four links, of which one is vocation. Them he also called.' Calling is nova creatio, a new creation,' the first resurrection. There is a two-fold call: (1.) An outward call: (2.) An inward call. (1.) An outward call, which is God's offer of grace to
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

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