Psalm 19

Reflection Written by Janet Ketteringham

1 The heavens are telling the glory of God,
    and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
2 Day to day pours forth speech,
    and night to night declares knowledge.
3 There is no speech, nor are there words;
    their voice is not heard;
4 yet their voice goes out through all the earth
    and their words to the end of the world.

In the heavens he has set a tent for the sun,
5 which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy,
    and like a strong man runs its course with joy.
6 Its rising is from the end of the heavens
    and its circuit to the end of them,
    and nothing is hid from its heat.

7 The law of the Lord is perfect,
    reviving the soul;
the decrees of the Lord are sure,
    making wise the simple;
8 the precepts of the Lord are right,
    rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is clear,
    enlightening the eyes;
9 the fear of the Lord is pure,
    enduring forever;
the ordinances of the Lord are true
    and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold,
    even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey
    and drippings of the honeycomb.

11 Moreover, by them is your servant warned;
    in keeping them there is great reward.
12 But who can detect one’s own errors?
    Clear me from hidden faults.
13 Keep back your servant also from the insolent;
    do not let them have dominion over me.
Then I shall be blameless
    and innocent of great transgression.

14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable to you,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

This Psalm of David has provided so much source material for anthems, hymns, songs and books that it would take more than these few lines to list them all.

However, one of my recent surprise finds was reading the final verse of this psalm etched in granite on the side of the Scottish parliament building.

We were there for a wedding and the sheer joy of those first six verses of the psalm starting “The heavens declare the Glory of God” was echoed throughout the day as we celebrated being together. We saw real joy when bride and groom swore devotion and fidelity through thick and thin and were traditionally handfasted in front of families and friends forever.

Those first six verses, rejoicing in creation, tell us the music of the heavens is all there for us to wonder at. It goes on to then tell us how to live, saying we will find personal joy by following God’s laws and this will be “sweeter than honey”. How amazing.

And finally, there’s a prayer asking to be kept from error, from wilful sin. And we echo that in our prayers each time we say The Lord’s Prayer which Jesus gave us. And we can also, with sincere hearts, repeat the final verse written in stone on that Edinburgh wall:

May the words of my mouth

And the meditation of my heart

Be acceptable in your sight,

O Lord, my strength and my redeemer

Amen.