Romans 15:4 "For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."
12 “Honor (respect, obey, care for) your father and your mother, so that your days may be prolonged in the land the Lord your God gives you.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Adeste Fidelis. Venite Adoremus. Dominum.
Gloria. In Excelsis Deo. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.
The fifth commandment is simultaneously a simple instruction and an indispensable element of the well-being of entire societies.
When the Lord gives the command “Honor your father and mother,” He is laying down the essential blueprint for maintaining the stability of families, communities, the Body of Christ and His churches and hosts of all nations.
What does it mean to honor your parents?
The word for “honor” carries the notion of weight and heaviness; children ought to feel the weight of respect for their parents.
By this fifth commandment, God places the full weight of responsibility for the lifetime of moral and ethical upbringing of the children and their instruction in righteous living, firmly and squarely on the shoulders of the father and mother.
By this “God” weight, this weight of God, Parents are owed such high regard because God has placed upon them in their roles, the stewardship of such a role, accountability to such a role, to raise the next generation of children, is worth many times over, far beyond its utmost maximum possible weight in honor.
While children are in view here, the Bible also has much to say about parenting that honors God (see also Ephesians 6:4; Colossians 3:21). — More on this later.
How does a child display this honor?
In several ways.
For one, a child ought to show practical respect to his or her parents.
This can be as simple as speaking well of our parents, showing them courtesy, looking them in the eye, and addressing them with a due sense of deference.
Second, it involves genuine love; there should be heartfelt expressions of affection between parents and their children.
Third, unless it would involve disobeying God, a child ought to obey what his or her mom and dad say.
This expectation is found all over Proverbs: for example, “Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching” (Proverbs 1:8).
Fourth, a child should submit to their parents’ discipline and authority.
All good parents discipline their children (though it must not be done in anger nor vindictively or disproportionately), and children should ought to be taught to implicitly trust such discipline is for their long-term good (Hebrews 12:5-11).
In ancient Israel, respect for ones parents was valued so highly that those who disregarded it flagrantly or persistently faced the death penalty (Deuteronomy 21:18-21).
Why such a significant consequence?
Because the home provides the most essential and vital training ground, the success of which affects how the child will relate to authorities of all kinds.
We never outrun authority in our lives.
There are political authorities we are called to obey (Romans 13:1-7).
Spiritual authorities we are to respect (Hebrews 13:17; 1 Thessalonians 5:12).
And those of advanced years we are commanded to honor (Leviticus 19:32).
Most significantly, when children are taught how, when they learn over time to honor their parents, even despite their parents’ many imperfections, they learn what it too means to learn how to honor our ABBA, our perfect heavenly Father.
Reverence for parents is an integral part of reverence for God.
Because parental authority is God-given, for children to learn to honor their parents is to come to that place of spiritual maturity and honor God Himself.
So if you are a parent [age not specific] with children [age?] at home, it is not loving (though it may be easier) to fail to insist that your children honor you.
If you are an adult with parents still living, it is a matter of obedience to God you still show them the honor they are due, not according to how well (or other- wise) you feel they raised you but according to the position the Lord gave them.
As you honor them, you will be pleasing Him and showing those around you that God-given authority, when exercised in a godly way, is a blessing to all.
Honoring Parents …
It may come as a surprise to many of us this commandment is not age-specific.
It’s a commandment not just for the young but for children of all ages.
God asks parents be worthy of honor in the way they relate to their children.
And God commands that children obey and show respect for their parents in line with doing what is right.
This means both are to act appropriately at each stage of their lives together.
This commandment came to a society without the support systems that many of us are used to.
Adult children were totally responsible to look after aging parents.
God reminds us that as long as we have parents, we are to honor them, seeing that their living is respectable and they are well cared for.
It’s not just a matter of doing what our parents tell us to do when we are young.
It’s a matter of showing our utmost respect, life-long honor to the parents who gave us life, sacrificed incredibly all to raise us, launched us upon life’s journey.
The apostle Paul calls this “the first commandment with a promise.”
God indicates when we honor the parents with whom we are in relationship, he will honor us and He will surely and certainly bless us.
Some parents are easier to honor than others.
But respecting to the utmost those whom the Lord has chosen to place over us opens a door to abundant blessings.
By honoring our parents and others whom God places in authority over us, we honor and glory and our utmost worship and praise unto our Father in heaven.
Which is what each and everyone of us were created, shaped by God, to do …
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.
Let us Pray,
Heavenly Father, ABBA Father, thank You for my parents and for giving me life. My First ABBA, Thank You for the lessons I have learned and the good times we have shared together. Forgive me for the times when I have not honored my father and mother as I ought – for I am aware that this is dishonoring to You. From this day forward, I pray that I may honour You in all my interactions with my family and my friends, and may my whole life be honoring unto You. This I pray in Jesus’ name.
Adeste Fidelis. Venite Adoremus. Dominum.
Gloria. In Excelsis Deo. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.
God our Creator, God the Author of our very lives reveals Himself to us in two ways—through the immeasurable expanse of nature and in His written Word.
What do we feel when we encounter God? How do we feel in recitation of this psalm?
We stand in awe of God’s creation and the God who is behind it all. At the same time, our hearts are filled with wonder, admiration, delight, and appreciation for the Word of God. Opening the Bible is like entering a cavern filled with gold, silver, and precious jewels. As we behold the glory, beauty, and holiness of our God, can we not help but be humbled? We hardly belong here. But yet we are all here by the grace of God for His glory. But that is where God’s salvation comes in to play. The psalm ends with confession of sins, a prayer for God’s cleansing, a prayer that our thoughts and our words are pleasing and glorifying unto God.
Psalm 19 The Message
19 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.
3-4 Their words aren’t heard, their voices aren’t recorded, But their silence fills the earth: unspoken truth is spoken everywhere.
4-5 God makes a huge dome for the sun—a superdome! The morning sun’s a new husband leaping from his honeymoon bed, The daybreaking sun an athlete racing to the tape.
6 That’s how God’s Word vaults across the skies from sunrise to sunset, Melting ice, scorching deserts, warming hearts to faith.
7-9 The revelation of God is whole and pulls our lives together. The signposts of God are clear and point out the right road. The life-maps of God are right, showing the way to joy. The directions of God are plain and easy on the eyes. God’s reputation is twenty-four-carat gold, with a lifetime guarantee. The decisions of God are accurate down to the nth degree.
10 God’s Word is better than a diamond, better than a diamond set between emeralds. You’ll like it better than strawberries in spring, better than red, ripe strawberries.
11-14 There’s more: God’s Word warns us of danger and directs us to hidden treasure. Otherwise, how will we find our way? Or know when we play the fool? Clean the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh! Keep me from stupid sins, from thinking I can take over your work; Then I can start this day sun-washed, scrubbed clean of the grime of sin. These are the words in my mouth; these are what I chew on and pray. Accept them when I place them on the morning altar, O God, my Altar-Rock, God, Priest-of-My-Altar.
The Word of God for the Children of God. Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Amen.
In his famous dissertation The End for Which God Created the World, Jonathan Edwards, the great American theologian, proclaimed God’s ultimate end is the manifestation of His glory. This glory is God’s unique excellence—the totality of His intrinsic perfections on display. We cannot pursue life’s ultimate purpose until we realize God created us to discover and declare His glory (1 Cor. 10:31).
The overarching theme of Psalm 19 is the glory of God displayed through the world He created (19:1–6) and the Word He spoke (19:7–14)—or through what we call natural and special revelation. All of creation declares the glory of God!
God’s Glory Is Declared Through His World
Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
The Psalmist David begins by asserting that all of creation displays the glory of God. The entire heavenly panorama—the sun, stars and planets—is telling the story of His glory. The endless expanse of His creation is the work of His skillful hands. All nature shouts that God alone is divine, all-powerful, and all-wise.
Psalm 19:2–3 Authorized King James Version Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.
Every hour of everyday God’s message gushes forth like a mighty spring of water. Volumes are being communicated 24/7 about the knowledge of God. There is no language on earth that doesn’t hear God’s voice. He is not silent! If anyone claims to be an atheist, it is because he is deaf to the voice of creation.
Nevertheless, He left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness. (Acts 14:17)
Psalm 19:4–6 Authorized King James Version 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 Psalmist David brilliantly uses the sun to illustrate how nature reveals God’s wisdom. The psalmist describes the heavens above the earth as a huge tent with the sun lighting the space like a torch. When the sun rises in the morning, its radiant brilliance is like a bridegroom who comes out of his tent beaming with happiness. And when the sun moves in its circuit around the earth, it is like an Olympic winner who genuinely enjoys running his course.
By pointing to the sun as God’s creative handiwork, David also dismantles the idol worship of the day represented in the sun gods. The Heavens declare the Glory of a living God not a god represented by our handiwork. (Acts 17:22-29)
God’s Glory Is Declared Through His Word
We can know that God exists through creation, but general revelation is insufficient for knowing the fullness of God’s character. It is only through Scripture that we are able to more fully comprehend the nature of God.
In Psalm 19:7–9 David gives us, as described by Spurgeon, “six descriptive titles of the word, six characteristic qualities mentioned, and six divine effects declared.” It is as if David picks up a diamond, turns in six different ways, and expresses the brilliance of each facet. https://archive.spurgeon.org/treasury/ps019.php
Psalm 19:7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
Authorized King James Version
The Hebrew word for law is Torah. It refers to the first five books of the Old Testament (Genesis through Deuteronomy). However, it doesn’t refer merely to laws, but rather to the doctrines or teachings emanating from these books. The law is fully sufficient (“perfect”) for all the needs of the spiritual life of God’s children and is effective to turn back and restore (“converting”) us when we sin and stray from God. (Exodus 15:22-26)
Psalm 19:7 Authorized King James Version The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
A testimony is a principle found in the law that requires obedience and serves as a warning if not kept. These regulations are pure, right and reliable. The Bible’s narratives consistently show what happens when people obey and disobey God. God gave His children these testimonies to guide the young and the naïve into and unto all God’s greater and greatest wisdom concerning our righteous living.
Psalm 19:8 Authorized King James Version The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart:
When a doctor gives you the right medicine to deal with your sickness, it makes you happy. In an even more important way, God’s precepts are true medicine for our souls. They are right for us and bring joy and happiness when followed.
Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart. (Jeremiah 15:16)
Psalm 19:8 The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eye.
Authorized King James Version
God’s commands are pure, directing our lives morally and doctrinally into the light of God. Otherwise, we stumble along in darkness. As the psalmist prayed, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105).
Psalm 19:9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever:
When we spend quality time deep in the Word of God, it creates within us a reverential respect for God and a deep hatred for sin. This attitude toward sin is not hopelessly old-fashioned but eternally relevant for all people in all times.
Psalm 19:9 The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
God’s declarations about what is right and wrong are reliable and trustworthy. You can build and mature your life on all the divine standards of the Scriptures.
Psalm 19:10–11 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.
David ends this section by stating the immeasurable value of the Word of God.
As we feed or souls on God’s truth, we discover that our souls are satisfied and delighted. It’s like having the sweet taste of honey perpetually in our mouths.
As we dig into God’s truth, we find that what we are mining is the purest gold possible. The Bible enriches those who engage in studying it and learning it. God’s Word too also protects us by admonishing us to avoid the destructive lifestyles and pathways of sin. Finally, God promises abundant, rewarding consequences if we but make a deliberate choice to strive to keep His Word by weaving it in and throughout our lives, preserving, protecting and obeying it.
Conclusion: Our Declaring the Glory of God
David’s eloquent conclusion to Psalm 19 links back to its introduction—God’s perfections have been put on display. He concludes with His desire to conform to that glory and not one single ounce of his own. As David turns his eyes from the world and the Word back to himself. Suddenly he becomes acutely aware of his own limitations and sinfulness. In light of this astonishing knowledge of God, David realizes what little knowledge he has of himself compared to God.
So the psalm concludes with a penetrating question and an earnest prayer.
Psalm 19:12 Who can understand his errors?
Ask yourselves these questions, as David came to question his place in the universe, and coming to the conclusion of his own insignificance, can anyone really comprehend God’s glorious perfections? Can anyone truly discern his own mistakes in the light of his ignorance of God’s glory? The starting point of conforming to God’s glory is our answering of David’s question with humility.
Psalm 19:12 Cleanse thou me from secret faults.
When we properly view ourselves in the light and glory of God’s perfections, we are “awakened” to the reality that we cannot hide our secrets. God knows, God comprehends, and God also judges everything about us. So, our earnest prayer should be for a deep, deeper still, cleansing of our own internal spiritual toxins.
Psalm 19:13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me.
Authorized King James Version
Knowing ourselves should also lead to fearing ourselves, just as Paul cried out, “O, wretched man that I am” (Romans 7:24). We must depend on God to protect us from ourselves! Knowing our flesh is weak, even when our spirit is willing (Matthew 26:41), we should echo what Christ taught us to pray, “Lead us [me] not into temptation, but deliver us [me] from evil” (Matthew 6:13).
Presumptuous sins are rooted in pride. The viewpoint of our flesh is “I can handle this. I can do this all on my own!” Self-reliance causes many failures. Therefore, our greatest protection from sin is glorious humility before God.
Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditations of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.
David’s earnest prayer here is for internal spiritual transparency before God. Hypocrisy is the religious man’s favorite sin. It is disingenuous to live one way before man, another way before God. David, even through his great mistakes, was passionate about living sincerely before God. He prayed that his verbal communications and internal meditations would be pleasing in God’s sight!
In the end this would not be possible without God’s being our strength (rock), our deliverer and restorer (Redeemer).
Where can you rest your heart? Where can you find some respite for your own soul? Let me suggest that Psalm 19 helps. There are two voices, two qualities, and two responses that can bring the spirit of Psalm 19 to truest life for you.
1. Seek the Two Powerful Voices of God
The first voice is the heavens or the firmament. Psalm 19:1-6 teach the heavens speak daily and speak every language on earth. There is not one person who does not hear the voice. It further describes the heavens as the tent for the sun.
Every person alive is under its influence as it daily makes its way across the sky.
So, what does it say? It declares the glory of God – it points people to God’s eternal power and divine nature (Romans 1:20).
Every day as we go outside and see or feel the effects of the sun on our faces, it is a blessed and true reminder to us of God’s eternal power, His divine nature.
Our response is to recognize the glory of God.
The second voice is the Word of God – the Bible. Psalm 19:7-9 states that as we read and study God’s Word, it transforms us. It restores us, makes us wiser, rejoices the heart, enlightens the eyes, helps us with truth and righteousness.
God’s Word tells us the story of mankind’s creation and fall, the possibility of redemption only in Jesus Christ, and future redemption. Through it we receive wisdom, grow in discernment, and are transformed into the image of God.
2. Explore the Two Qualities of God’s Word
The first quality is intrinsic value. Psalm 19:10 states, “They [God’s words] are of greater value than gold, than even a great amount of pure gold; they bring greater delight than honey, than even the sweetest honey from a honeycomb.”
The psalmist used two very valuable objects to describe the intrinsic value of the Bible. It is of far greater worth than a great amount of the finest gold. In addition, it is sweeter – and thus more desirable – than the finest honey. When the Bible was written, before modern times with all the sweets available today, honey was a delicacy. Here, the psalmist says that God’s words are even of greater delight than that.
The second quality is personal value. Psalm 19:11 teaches that by them you are warned (or in other words, reminded, instructed, and exhorted) and in keeping them through obedience there is a great reward.
So, the Bible provides you two incredible benefits – you receive a warning to help you guard your heart and life, plus you receive great rewards when you follow what the Bible teaches. This instruction and reward, of course, begins with Jesus – the warning of rejecting Him and the reward of accepting Him to receive forgiveness of sin. However, the instruction and reward are actually so much greater as the Bible’s teachings touch every part of life.
3. Respond Daily in Two Life-Changing Ways to God’s Word
The first response is the PRAYER of personal repentance. In Psalm 19:12-13 the psalmist prays the following prayer, “Who can know all his errors? Cleanse me for the sins I am unaware of. Plus, keep me from committing flagrant sins, and do not let those sins control me. Then I will be blameless and innocent of blatant rebellion.”
In this prayer, there is a sense of self-awareness and self-reflection. The idea is that you read God’s Word and then use its teachings to carefully consider your heart and life. You desire to follow God in every way. Therefore, you ask God to cleanse you from those sins you are unaware of that exist and to keep you from allowing the sins you are aware of to control and dominate you.
The second response is the prayer of personal surrender. The prayer of Psalm 19:14 is a PRAYER for all of us to pray each and every day after we have stopped to read and consider God’s voice in the Scriptures. “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.”
In this simple, yet ever so eloquent prayer, you essentially dedicate your words and your thoughts to God throughout your day.
Your goal is that God will be glorified and honored in all that you think and all that you say. By implication, this prayer means that there are no thoughtless moments or no idle words. Instead, you purposefully engage your mind throughout the day and intentionally use your words to bring honor to God.
Your thoughts reflect an unyielding spirit of worship (Psalm 42) that comes from your love of Christ; your words demonstrate a love of Christ and love of others as they seek to encourage, enrich, and embolden others.
Furthermore, this prayer reflects a humility that recognizes from Whom your strength actually comes – the power that only God provides in Christ through the indwelling Spirit.
Feel Renewed in Your Response to Our World
As I personally, studiously reflect on Psalm 19, I want to live today in awareness of the two voices of God, two qualities of the Word, and the two responses to the Word. As you do this and daily become aware of God’s voice, the quality of God’s Word, and appropriate responses in prayer, your life will most definitely change.
It is impossible to reflect on God and His Word, to increasing desire His Word, and to pray in reflection of God’s Word without changing to become more like Christ.
What are some helpful ways you can remind yourself of this?
Go outside at the crack of dawn and the darkest night and walk around some. Look at the sun, trees, grass, stars, sky. Remind yourself of God’s voice. Take along your Bible or your Bible app and read some of your favorite Scriptures.
Write out the prayer of Psalm 19:12-14. Try to read it every morning in prayer to God, try rehearsing it throughout your day, read it before bed as a nighttime prayer (at night you might add “and the dreams of my night” to the prayer).
Before long, you will have memorized it, and it will become a daily part of your prayer life. And along the way, will give all the glory you stored up for yourself and in turn heave it upon the God of all Creation, the Author of each of our lives.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Your work, O God, is glorious. You light up the sunrise, and spread out the sunset. You place the distant stars throughout the universe, and kindle the sun to warm the earth. There is no work as wonderful as yours, Lord. Nothing on earth compares with your craftsmanship.
Yet, in your inscrutable wisdom, you have created human beings as workers, as those who uniquely bear your divine image. We have been honored to share in your divine work, helping this world to be fruitful, guarding it from damage and distress.
Indeed, I am a worker, made to be like you, reflecting your image along with all people. My work will never be anything as amazing as your work, O God. But may what I do through my work, in some small way, reflect your glory, your love, your truth, your beauty.
Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Amen.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 