Salmos 19

Salmos 19:7-14

Morris comments that… While the "revelation" in God's creation ("General Revelation") will condemn the soul, only the written revelation (described in Ps 19:7, 8, 9) can convert or "restore" the soul. Note also the emphasis on the regenerating power of the Scriptures in such verses as 2Ti 3:15, 16, 17, 1Pe 1:23, 24, 25, etc. (Defender's Study Bible - highly recommended) Spurgeon… Converting the soul. Making the man to be returned or restored to the place from which sin had cast him. The practical effect of the Word of God is to turn the man to himself, to his God, and to holiness; and the turn or conversion is not outward alone, "the soul" is moved and renewed. The great means of the conversion of sinners is the Word of God, and the more closely we keep to it in our ministry the more likely we are to be successful. It is God's Word rather than man's comment on God's Word which is made mighty with souls. When the law drives and the gospel draws, the action is different but the end is one, for by God's Spirit the soul is made to yield, and cries, "Turn me, and I shall be turned." Try men's depraved nature with philosophy and reasoning, and it laughs your efforts to scorn, but the Word of God soon works a transformation. (Ps19:7 Treasury of David) John Piper (The Bible Kindling for Christian Hedonism - recommended) writes that… Martin Luther knew as well as any man who ever lived that every day with Jesus is not sweeter than the day before. And according to Roland Bainton, he wrote these words in the year of his deepest depression: And though this world with devils filled Should threaten to undo us, We will not fear, for God has willed His truth to triumph through us. The prince of darkness grim, We tremble not for him— His rage we can endure, For lo, his doom is sure: One little word shall fell him. In his introduction to his discussion of "Idea of Revelation" Cameron writes… The central question of religion is that of revelation. May God be known? Has he revealed himself? If he may, if he has, where? In the Christian faith this question is asked side by side with that of salvation: If this God may be known, how may I come to him? What may be known of him? translates into How may I come to know him—for myself? To put these questions alongside each other is to show how central is the question of the knowledge of God. The Idea of Revelation. The claim of the Bible, from beginning to end, is that God has spoken. The repeated refrain, "And God said" tells how he called the universe into being and instructed his creatures to live. (Read the entire article) A well-turned phrase and words that rhyme Can give us inspiration, Yet nothing but the Word of God Can bring us His salvation. —Sper Many books can inform; only the Bible can transform. THE TESTIMONY OF THE LORD IS SURE It is "trustworthy" in the sense that his statutes are true in principle and are verifiable in the situations of life (cf. 93:5; 111:7). Testimony (05715)('edut) in Scripture always refers to the testimony of God and in this context refers the truth of God's law. The Ark of the Covenant was also referred to as the Ark of the Testimony, of that which bears witness to what is true. Consider the root word of 'edut which is 'ed which means witness and thus refers to someone (or some thing) who will be bear a true testimony in various situations for various reasons. 1828 Webster's Dictionary says that testimony is A solemn declaration or affirmation made for the purpose of establishing or proving some fact. Such affirmation in judicial proceedings, may be verbal or written, but must be under oath. Testimony differs from evidence; testimony is the declaration of a witness, and evidence is the effect of that declaration on the mind, or the degree of light which it affords. John writes that… If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater; for the testimony of God is this, that He has testified concerning His Son. (1 Jn 5:9). The testimony of men may or may not be true but that is not so with God. His testimony is certain. Spurgeon… The testimony of the Lord is sure. God bears his testimony against sin, and on behalf of righteousness; he testifies of our fall and of our restoration; this testimony is plain, decided, and infallible, and is to be accepted as sure. God's witness in his Word is so sure that we may draw solid comfort from it both for time and eternity, and so sure that no attacks made upon it however fierce or subtle can ever weaken its force. What a blessing that in a world of uncertainties we have something sure to rest upon! We hasten from the quicksands of human speculations to the terra firma of Divine Revelation. (Ps19:7 Treasury of David) Sure (0539) (aman which is the root of the more familiar amen [word study] = so be it, truly) speaks of that which conveys the idea of certainty or of firmness (compare a firm foundation Mt 7:24). As such God's witness (in His Word) is dependable. We can stake our present and our future on Jehovah's testimony or witness concerning Himself - His self-disclosure. God's testimony is worthy of trust because it corresponds to reality. At the heart of the meaning of "aman" is the idea of certainty. In the Qal aman expresses the basic concept of support and is used in the sense of the strong arms of the parent supporting the helpless infant. To be firm or sure; to lean on God; to trust His word. At the heart of the meaning of the root is the idea of certainty. Faith is not a blind leap into the dark. Rather, faith is a confident commitment to One about whom abundant evidence bears ample testimony. The basic root idea is firmness or certainty. In the Qal it expresses the basic concept of support and is used in the sense of the strong arms of the parent supporting the helpless infant. In the Hiphil (causative) as used in Ps 19:7, aman basically means "to cause to be certain, sure" or "to be certain about," "to be assured." In this sense the word in the Hiphil conjugation is the biblical word for "to believe" and shows that biblical faith is an assurance, a certainty, in contrast with modern concepts of faith as something possible, hopefully true, but not certain. God's testimonies are so sure, so certain that one can stake their life on them and thus they prove a source of unshakable wisdom in a soon to be shaken world (cp our sure foundation in Heb12:28). God's covenant contains a clear, reliable witness to His moral character and His just demands. Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness. Abram (later changed to Abraham) leaned (so to speak) on God's promise, trusting that it was firm, faithful, steadfast. God spoke a promise and then illustrated the "fruit" of the promise in Ge 15:4,5. Abram responded to God's Word with in essence a loud "Amen!" I wonder how often when we say "amen" we truly understand what we are saying?! Simply repeating "Amen" can easily become a rote, ritualistic rut into which we can all easily slip! The Word does not change; it is sure and steadfast, Ps. 119:89. Forever, O LORD, Thy word is settled in heaven. It is God’s testimony to man, His witness of what is true and right. See Mt. 5:18. Aman refers to that which is firm, steadfast & sure & is that which can be leaned on w/o falling. The corresponding Greek word used here is pistos which refers to God's Word (Titus 1:9 "faithful word") as well as to THE WORD, our Lord Jesus Christ Who is called "Faithful (pistos) & True" in [Rev 19:11,13]. The books men write are but a fragrance blown From transient blossoms crushed by human hands; But high above them all, splendid and alone, Staunch as a tree, there is a Book that stands. —Frazee-Bower Making wise (Ps119:97-104 Isa 8:20 Jer 8:9 Col 1:9 Jas 1:5) Parallel thought in [2Ti 3.15] = "sacred writings" The wise man fears God and lives in accordance with what God expects. Wise (02449)(hakam/chakam, see discussion of Greek word for wisdom - sophia) refers to learning and applying God's truth to every situation in life. The opposite of the hakam is the "fool" or wicked person, who stubbornly refuses God's counsel and depends on his own understanding to their own destruction… For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them [Pr 1:32 3:35 Dt 32:5, 6] God's Word makes us wise an effect that should be distinguished from intelligent. Wisdom has nothing to do with intelligence. Wisdom is the ability to respond correctly to life's situations. Wisdom gives you the ability to solve problems and get results. Wisdom is the insight into the true nature of things. Knowledge is the mental possession of powers of perceiving objects, wisdom is the power of right reasoning concerning them and forming right decisions accordingly. Wisdom is the ability to judge correctly and to follow the best course of action, based on knowledge and understanding. Spurgeon… Making wise the simple. Humble, candid, teachable minds receive the word, and are made wise unto salvation. Things hidden from the wise and prudent are revealed unto babes. The persuadable grow wise, but the cavillers continue fools. As a law or plan the Word of God converts, and then as a testimony it instructs; it is not enough for us to be converts, we must continue to be disciples; and if we have felt the power of truth, we must go on to prove its certainty by experience. The perfection of the gospel converts, but its sureness edifies; if we would be edified it becomes us not to stagger at the promise through unbelief, for a doubted gospel cannot make us wise, but truth of which we are assured will be our establishment. (Ps19:7 Treasury of David) Boice… The one who is open enough to God's instructions to do that will become wise. On the other hand, the one who thinks himself too wise to adhere to God's wisdom will show himself to be a fool. (Ibid) Baker New Testament Commentary… Letters of the alphabet (even when they are learned from the Bible!), the mere ABC, cannot make one wise for salvation; the sacred writings can! It is "the testimony of Jehovah" and His "commandments" which make a man wise (Ps 19:7; Ps 119:98; in both cases the same verb (sophizo) is used in the Septuagint as is used 2Ti 3:15-note). It is these that lead a person to choose the best means in order to achieve the highest goal. And that is real wisdom! (Exposition of Thessalonians, the Pastorals, and Hebrews) Herbert Hoover had a good definition for wisdom as "knowing what to do next." A wise person sees through the haze of the problem to the solution on the other side. There are times in life when the choice between right and wrong may not always be clear. There are times when the choice between good and best are not clear, either. What do you need when you find yourself in those situations? You need wisdom. Where do you receive wisdom? You receive it as you read the Bible. Spiritual wisdom is godly wisdom (contrasting with worldly wisdom - study and make a list of the contrasts in Jas 3:13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 1Cor 1-2) which involves living life in the light of the revelation of God’s will in His Word (where is will is often clearly stated - 1Th 4:3-note, 1Pe 4:2-note, Eph 5:17-note, Ps 143:10, Col 1:9-note, Col 4:12-note, 1Th 5:18-note, Ro 12:2-note, Jn 7:17, 1Jn 2:17-note, Mt 7:21-note, etc) and applying this knowledge to specific situations. Biblical wisdom can also be succinctly summed up as skill for living. Spiritual wisdom is given only by the Holy Spirit. In the Old Testament, Solomon exemplified this wisdom (Mt 12:42). Simple (06612)(pethiy from root = to open; Lxx = nepios [word study]) describes one who is gullible, easily susceptible to good or bad influence, weak-willed, irresponsible, but still correctable. The Lxx translates pethiy with the Greek noun nepios which means childish or silly. In context this word appears to refer to "the [morally] naive," that is, the one who is young and still in the process of learning right from wrong and distinguishing wisdom from folly. J H Jowett Daily Meditation - LET me listen to the exquisite chimes of this wonderful psalm as they ring out the blessedness of the man whose delight is in the law of the Lord. What shall he find in the ways of obedience? He shall find restoration. “Restoring the soul.” He shall find new stores of food along the way. In every emergency he shall find fresh provision; every new need shall discover new supplies. When one store is spent, another shall take its place. “Thou re-storest my soul.” In the ways of righteousness the good Lord has appointed ample stores for the provision of all His faithful pilgrims. He shall find joy. “Rejoicing the heart.” In the way of obedience there shall be springs of delight as well as stores of provision. “With joy shall ye draw waters out of the wells of salvation.” Fountains of delicious satisfaction rise in the realm of duty, the satisfaction of being right with God, and in union with the eternal will. There is no day without its spring, and “the joy of the Lord is our strength.” He shall find vision. “Enlightening the eyes.” The eyes of the obedient are anointed with the eye-salve of grace, and wondrous panoramas break upon the sight. Visions of grace! Visions of love! Visions of glory! Octavius Winslow (Evening Thoughts - Oct 1) "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul." Psalm 19:7 - Emanating from a Being infinitely perfect in every moral perfection, it follows as a natural sequence from this truth, that the law, designed to be a transcript of what God is—a copy of Himself—must be in every respect a most perfect law. How could it be otherwise? Is it rational to suppose that a Being of infinite holiness, wisdom, and goodness would form a rule for the government of moral creatures, that would fail to place before their eye the loftiest standard of excellence, and that should not demand and secure their supreme obedience and happiness? It follows, then, that the law being essentially and perfectly holy, all its requirements must be equally so. It cannot change, nor compromise, nor soften down either the nature or the outline or the enforcement of a single enactment. It demands of every creature the profoundest homage, the most implicit obedience, and the most perfect love. In requiring this, the creature shall have no ground for impeaching the Divine goodness. He shall have no reason for alleging of God that He is harsh and austere. As if fearful of perplexing the mind with a multitude of enactments, our Lord has presented one precept of the law, the perfect keeping of which resolves itself into a virtual fulfillment of all—"Jesus said unto him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment." Who but an infinitely wise Lawgiver could have embodied all the requisitions of an extended code in a single one? What an unfolding of the wisdom of God is here! In securing to Himself the supreme love of His creatures, He wins a willing obedience to every precept of His law. Such is the all-commanding, all-constraining power of love to God! Employing no other than this gentle and persuasive motive, God asks your intellect—your time—your service—your rank—your substance—your person—your life—your all. In demanding this complete surrender, His law stands forth, in view of all created intelligences, as a rule worthy of Him from whom it emanates. Oh yes! it is a most righteous law. (Evening Thoughts) Psalm 19:8 THE PRECEPTS OF THE LORD ARE RIGHT, REJOICING THE HEART; THE COMMANDMENT OF THE LORD IS PURE, ENLIGHTENING THE EYES. Precepts: Ps 105:45 119:12,16,80,171 Ge 26:5 Ex 18:16 Dt 4:5,6 Eze 36:27 Right: Ps 119:128 Ne 9:13 Rejoicing: Ps 40:8 119:14,24,54,92,121,143 Dt 12:11,12 16:11,14 Ne 8:12 Isa 64:5 Jer 15:16 Ro 7:22 Pure: Ps 12:6 119:40 Pr 30:5 Ro 7:12, 13, 14 Enlightening: Ps 13:3 119:98, 99, 100,105,130 Pr 2:6 6:23 Ro 2:17, 18, 19, 20 3:20 7:7 Gal 2:19 3:10, 11, 12, 13,21) Greek Septuagint (Lxx): NOTE: The NT passages are NOT cross references but passages what use the preceding Greek word ta dikaiomata (a concrete expression of righteousness, of God’s requirements - ordinance, degree, regulation) kuriou eutheia (literally a roadway = straight; figuratively. of moral integrity = upright, right, correct Acts 8.21) euphrainonta (present tense [continually]: make glad, cheer up; spiritual jubilation Acts 2.26) kardian e entole kuriou telauges (Mk 8:25: far-shining, bright visible from afar, conspicuous, distinctly) photizousa (present tense [continually]: continually giving light or illuminating ~ giving guidance and understanding, making clear & causing to understand; see Ep 1.18-note) ophthalmous Brenton's Translation of the Septuagint: The ordinances of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is bright, enlightening the eyes. Precepts of the LORD: Precept (Latin praeceptum, from praecipere, “to instruct”) = principle instructing to do a certain action. That which is mandated (by God); commandment. Precepts (06490) (piqqud from paqad = verb meaning to pay attention to persons, eg Ge 50:24, 25 [take care of], Ex 3:16 [concerned about]) refers to directions, orders, instructions. The root idea of this Hebrew masculine noun expresses the idea that God is paying attention to how He wants things ordered. God's precepts are sure (aman) (Ps111:7) and provide rules for daily living (rules given with the Father's love for our good and His glory and to be obeyed out of a heart of love for God, not out of a heart of legalism or license!) Piqqud - 24x - Ps19:8 103:18 111:7 119:4,15,27,40,45, 56, 63, 69, 78, 87, 93, 94, 100, 104, 110, 128, 134, 141, 159, 168, 173. Let me make a suggestion. First, recall the unchangeable principle that obedience to God's precepts always brings blessing, in the present context bringing joy to the heart. Given this benefit, consider enlarging your Biblical definition of "precept" by studying the preceding uses of piqqud in Scripture. Make a list of what you learn about precept. For example, ask what are the benefits associated with the precepts? What are the actions associated with the precepts? Apply these actions to your life! You will be blessed indeed! 1828 Webster's dictionary says that precepts are principles, commandments or orders intended as an authoritative rules of action particularly respecting moral conduct. Precepts commonly suggest something advisory and not obligatory and are communicated often through teaching. In the Scriptures a precept is generally a divine injunction in which man’s obligation obligation is set forth. Derek Kidner compares the 6 aspects of God's special revelation noting that while Law and testimony are the comprehensive terms for God’s revelation. Precepts and commandments indicate the precision and authority with which He addresses us, while fear, or reverence, emphasizes the human response fostered by His word. Ordinances, or judgments are the judicial decision he has recorded about various human situations. Spurgeon… The statutes of the Lord are right. His precepts and decrees are founded in righteousness, and are such as are right or fitted to the right reason of man. As a physician gives the right medicine, and a counselor the right advice, so does the Book of God. (Ps19:8 Treasury of David) Right (03477) (yashar from root meaning to make or be straight, smooth, upright, level) means "straight" (literal use = 1Sa 6:12), and figuratively refers to that which is righteous, upright, just, correct, straightforward. God's word is not perverse or crooked but "straight" (like a straight edge by which we can measure our "spiritual growth" much like a parent records a child's height on a door - How much have you grown [spiritually] this past year? If you say not much, what is "stunting" your growth… sin, failure to take in the precepts of Jehovah [sin usually has this effect -- blunts hunger for the Word]) and thus encourages upright living. Boice… Right does not mean correct as opposed to being wrong; that idea is seen more in the word trustworthy. Right means straight as opposed to being crooked and is linked to the idea of righteousness. Verse 8 teaches that walking in a straight path or in an upright manner brings joy. Charles Haddon Spurgeon saw a progression in these first three statements about the law of God that highlights the meaning of this one: conversion, leading to wisdom, leading to joy. He says of the latter: "Free grace brings heart-joy. Earthborn mirth dwells on the lip, and flushes the bodily powers; but heavenly delights satisfy the inner nature, and fill the mental faculties to the brim." (Ibid) Literally the text means that the Scriptures give us the right path to walk on in contradistinction to the way of man which leads to death (Pr 14:12, cp Ps 1:1-note). The glorious thing about this Book is that when the story is all told, when everything is said and done, it will all end up just as it is written in the Book. This Book is right and it is the way things really are, should be and will be! This is good news in a world of fraud and deception. It is news which should comfort the afflicted, but it will undoubtedly afflict the "comfortable" (comfortable in their sin, their gross indifference to God, etc). Spurgeon… Rejoicing the heart. Mark the progress; he who was converted was next made wise and is now made happy; that truth which makes the heart right then gives joy to the right heart. Free grace brings heart joy. Earthborn mirth dwells on the lip, and flushes the bodily powers; but heavenly delights satisfy the inner nature, and fill the mental faculties to the brim. There is no cordial of comfort like that which is poured from the bottle of Scripture. "Retire and read thy Bible to be joyful." (Ps19:8 Treasury of David) John Phillips (Exploring Psalms Volume One)… Martin Luther tells us that when the words: "The just shall live by faith" first dawned upon his darkened soul it was "like entering into paradise." The words are his. "Before those words broke upon my mind, I hated God and was angry with Him because, not content with frightening us sinners by the law and by the miseries of life, He still further increased our torture by the gospel. But when, by the Spirit of God, I understood those words 'the just shall live by faith'—then I felt born again, like a new man. I entered in by the open doors into the very paradise of God. In very truth this text was to me the true gate of paradise." As the hymnwriter put it: Heaven above was deeper blue, Earth around was brighter green, Something lived in every hue. Christless eyes had never seen. The psalmist writes… Therefore I esteem right (yashar) all Thy precepts concerning everything, I hate every false way. (Ps 119:128) Habakkuk writes… Behold, as for the proud one, His soul is not right (yashar) within him, but the righteous will live by his faith. (Hab 2:4, quoted in Ro 1:17-note) Rejoicing the heart (Je15:16 Ps40:8 119:14, 24, 54, 92, 121, 143 Dt12:11,12 16:11,14 Ne8:10 Isa 64:5 Je15:16 Ro7:22) Rejoicing (08055) (samah - root meaning glad or joyful) means to be glad, to delight in. W E Vine…(samah/samach) usually refers to a spontaneous emotion or extreme happiness which is expressed in some visible and/or external manner. It does not normally represent an abiding state of wellbeing or feeling. This emotion arises at festivals, circumcision feasts, wedding feasts, harvest feasts, the overthrow of one's enemies, and other such events… The emotion expressed in the verb samah usually finds a visible expression. In Jer. 50:11 the Babylonians are denounced as being glad and "jubilant" over the pillage of Israel. Their emotion is expressed externally by their skipping about like a threshing heifer and neighing like stallions. The emotion represented in the verb (and concretized in the noun simhah) is sometimes accompanied by dancing, singing, and playing musical instruments. This was the sense when David was heralded by the women of Jerusalem as he returned victorious over the Philistines (1Sa 18:6). This emotion is usually described as the product of some external situation, circumstance, or experience, such as found in the first biblical appearance of samah: God told Moses that Aaron was coming to meet him and "when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart" (Ex 4:14). This passage speaks of inner feeling which is visibly expressed. When Aaron saw Moses, he was overcome with joy and kissed him (v. 27). Therefore, the verb samah suggests three elements: (1) a spontaneous, unsustained feeling of jubilance, (2) a feeling so strong that it finds expression in some external act, and (3) a feeling prompted by some external and unsustained stimulus. Samach refers to with one's whole disposition as indicated by its association with the heart (cf. Ex 4:14 Ps 104:15 105:3), the soul (Ps 86:4); and with lighting up of the eyes (Pr 15:30). The heartfelt joy is equivalent to inner peace and tranquility. The first use of this Hebrew verb samach give a sense of what David is saying the precepts of the LORD will do for the hungry heart (Lv 23:40). From an email I received from Grace Bible Church team ministering in Haiti Oct, 2000 helping establish Awana's (Bible memory program) among the poor children… an example of what God's precepts can do in real life "As he was video taping and filming the Awana training, Rod Henegar sensed an overwhelming appreciation of how Awana is going to minister to the children of Haiti. When the children first arrived at the new club, their faces showed visible apprehension, but as they studied the Scriptures and God's Word, their countenance seemed to take on an "angelic aura" and their desire to come back again was so apparent--"Such a transformation!" (Ed: Beautiful example of supernatural word producing a supernatural result = "rejoicing the heart"!) Heart (03820)(leb; Lxx = kardia) in Hebrew thought was the center of reason and decision, the deepest seat of emotions and decisions and encompasses the mind, emotions and will. The heart refers to the whole of our "inner-life", our thought-life, our values, our drives, our choices, and our sense of right and wrong, all of which find their seat in the "heart". Stated another way, the heart is the center of the human spirit, from which spring emotions, thought, motivations, courage and action--the springs of life (Pr 4:23-see notes). The great Puritan writer John Flavel wrote that… The heart of man is his worst part before it is regenerated, and the best afterward; it is the seat of principles, and the fountain of actions. The eye of God is, and the eye of the Christian ought to be, principally fixed upon it. The greatest difficulty in conversion, is to win the heart to God; and the greatest difficulty after conversion, is to keep the heart with God. Here lies the very force and stress of religion; here is that which makes the way to life a narrow way, and the gate of heaven a strait gate. (from Flavel's treatise on Proverbs 4:23 "Keeping The Heart" - This work has been called "one of greatest Christian books of all time" - Recommended Reading!) Heart is used in Scripture as the most comprehensive term for the authentic person. It is the part of our being where we desire, deliberate, and decide. It has been described as "the place of conscious and decisive spiritual activity," "the comprehensive term for a person as a whole; his feelings, desires, passions, thought, understanding and will," and "the center of a person. The place to which God turns." J C Philpot's Devotional (May 17) on Psalm 19:8 As without a revelation of the doctrine of salvation we would not know how a sinner could be saved, and thus could not glorify God by our faith; so without a revelation of the precept we would not know how to serve God, and thus could not glorify him by our obedience. Look at this point, believing child of God. You long to glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are his (1Cor. 6:20). You desire, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, to do all to the glory of God (1Cor. 10:31). There are times and seasons with you when you sigh and mourn over your barren, unprofitable heart and life, and earnestly long to think and speak and act to his honor and glory who has done so much for you in providence and grace. At least, if you have no such desires you are no Christian, and are at the best but a poor, worldly, dead professor. When, then, and how far do you live to God's glory? Only then, and only so far as your life, and walk, and conduct harmonize with, and are guided by the precepts of the word. For see the connection. We can only glorify God outwardly by doing his will; we can only know that will, as regards our practical obedience to it, by the express revelation which he has given of it. Where is that revelation? In his word, and chiefly in the preceptive part of it. It is this which makes it "a lamp unto our feet, and a light unto our path." David therefore cried--"Order my steps in your word;" "Make me to go in the path of your commandments;" "O that my ways were directed to keep your statutes!" as feeling that it was only by walking in the word and by the word that he could please God and live to his praise. We find thousands in this land who, as they think, are doing God service by plans and schemes of their own devising, priding themselves on their good works. But we may say of all these their duties and doings what Augustine said of the ancient Roman virtues, that they are but "splendid sins", or, to use the language of the Church of England, entitled, Works before justification, "for that they are not done as God has willed and commanded them to be done, we doubt not but they have the nature of sin." (May 1) THE COMMANDMENT OF THE LORD IS PURE Scripture is "sovereign" (Webster = Supreme in power; supremely efficacious, effectual). His commandment is obligatory. It is what we must do. Why? David says it is without alloy of hypocrisy or impurity. It is the sincere (pure) milk of the Word (see 1Peter 2:2). The “sacred books” of some world religions are anything but pure, but God’s Word is pure, even when dealing with sin! Nothing in the Bible, rightly understood, could or should lead a person into sin. Such could not be said true of the so-called "sacred" books of many of the false religions of the world. Commandment (04687)(miswa/miswah) is an authoritative directive or order, either written or verbal and given as instruction and/or prescription for subordinates. Many (if not most) OT uses of this word parallel the various meanings of torah and a number of passages use both words (Ge 26:5; Ex 16:28; 24:12; Lv 27:34; Nu 36:13; Dt 30:10 etc). Spurgeon… The commandment of the Lord is pure. No mixture of error defiles it, no stain of sin pollutes it; it is the unadulterated milk, the undiluted wine. (Ps19:8 Treasury of David) Pure (01249) (bar) means pure (morally - Job 11:4, Ps 24:4), clean, radiant. In the present context the commandment is "radiant" and by extension gives understanding. Bar - 7x in 7v in NAS - Job 11:4; Ps 19:8; 24:4; 73:1; Pr 14:4; Song 6:9, 10. NAS = clean(1), innocent(1), pure(4), who are pure(1). Henry Morris comments that… While the physical world gives mighty testimony to the existence of God, and His power in creation, only the written Word can give testimony to the power of God in salvation. Note that the Scriptures are “perfect,” “sure,” “right,” “pure,” “forever,” “true,” and “righteous altogether.” In a sense, God does have two books, but His written revelation is superior to His physical creation (note Psalm 138:2), and the latter can only be truly understood as expounded by the former. Many modern evangelicals are making the serious mistake of trying to make Scripture conform to current “science.” It should be the other way around. (Defender's Study Bible - highly recommended) Enlightening the eyes - The internal joy radiates through the eyes. It expresses the joy of being alive and of receiving God's blessings (cf. Ps 13:3). Thus Yahweh has made the sun for light in creation and has given His word for light in redemption. God's commands "turn the (spiritual) light on" so to speak and enable us to see (spiritual realities - cp 2Cor 4:17, 18). The liar Satan, the "god of this world" blinds the mind of the unbelievers so that they cannot see the light of the Gospel (2Cor 4:4). Study the following cross-references for a insights into what it means to enlighten the eyes -Pr 6:23 2Pe 1:19 Acts 26:18 2Co 4:6 Ps119:130 Ps 119:105. Enlightening (0215) (or/owr) is used most often in the OT with the literal meaning to give light, to shine, to become light. The Aaronic blessing has a figurative use, asking the Lord to "make His face shine on you." (Nu 6:25, for other figurative uses see Ezra 9:8, Ps 13:3). The eyes are commonly described in secular words as "the window of the soul" and indeed even dogs look for their master's intentions by looking at his eyes. Spurgeon… Enlightening the eyes, purging away by its own purity the earthly grossness which mars the intellectual discernment: whether the eye be dim with sorrow or with sin, the Scripture is a skilful oculist, and makes the eye clear and bright. Look at the sun and it puts out your eyes, look at the more than sunlight of Revelation and it enlightens them; the purity of snow causes snow blindness to the Alpine traveller, but the purity of God's truth has the contrary effect, and cures the natural blindness of the soul. It is well again to observe the gradation; the convert becomes a disciple and next a rejoicing soul, he now obtains a discerning eye and as a spiritual man discerneth all things, though he himself is discerned of no man. (Ps19:8 Treasury of David)