Psa 19:13 | KingComments | STEP | The psalmist has been reflecting on God’s greatness in creation and in His Word. This leads him to statements about himself in his relationship to God and God’s revelation. In Psalm 8, where he also looks at the heaven and is impressed by it, the result is that he sees how insignificant man is ( ). Here, in Psalm 19, the greatness of God in creation and in Scripture leads to the recognition of man’s sinfulness. An encounter with the LORD brought Job to self-knowledge ( ). An encounter with the Lord Jesus brought Peter to self-knowledge ( ). This effect is what the instruction of God’s Word has on David as well as on us. Just as there is nothing on earth hidden from the glow of the sun ( ), so there is no one hidden from the Word of God, which brings everything to light. To Him, “all things are open and laid bare” ( ). Here it is not about fear of punishment, but about being afraid to have to miss the joyful fellowship with God because of the presence of sin. He does not want anything to come between him and God (cf. ). David realizes through the instruction of the Word of God that God knows him down to the very bottom of his heart. Therefore, he adds some important aspects that have to do with his own relationship with God. He speaks of hidden sins, confession, cleansing and being acquitted of great transgression ( ). He looks at sin from two points of view. First, he is aware that he is not able to name all his sins. He doesn't recognize them enough for that ( ). Who will dare to claim that he has not committed unconscious sins when he, like David, has been impressed by the majesty of God in creation and by His omniscience through His Word that examines hearts? Those who are aware of this will not speak highly of their sinlessness, as taught in the extreme sanctification doctrine. It is important to be aware of nothing, but that does not mean we are justified by it ( ). The awareness of God’s majesty and omniscience will keep us humble. At the same time, there will be the desire to be cleansed from hidden sins. This is what David is asking for. For unintentional sins, the law offers reconciliation and forgiveness ( ; ). Secondly, David sees the terribleness of presumption, the sin of pride ( ). He longs to be kept back from it. Pride is the primal sin. Pride means wanting to be like God. David abhors the thought of committing that sin. It shows self-knowledge that he realizes he is capable of it and prays for the LORD to keep him back from it, so that it will not rule over him. If he is kept from that sin, he will be blameless, sincere, and “acquitted of great transgression”. Pride is not just any sin, it is a terrible sin, it is a willful sin. His prayer to be acquitted of it or to remain free from it means that he is not guilty of committing that sin. David finishes the psalm with the desire that the words that come out of his mouth and the meditations that he has in his heart will be acceptable or pleasing to the LORD ( ). He is not concerned only with his outward words or only with his inward piety, but with both aspects of his person. To make this true, he addresses God as his rock, his solid foundation and as his Redeemer, Who in His grace has redeemed him from his sins. The rock refers to Christ ( ) Who had to be stricken so that the water of life can flow freely to all who thirst. David returns here to his starting point in Psalm 18, where he spoke of the rock ( ). He loves the LORD ( ) and longs to be acceptable or pleasing to Him ( ). The Hebrew word for “Redeemer” here is go’el . This is an indication that God had to become Man, for go’el is a family member, that is, a man. God the Creator ( ) had to become God the Redeemer ( ). How the latter took place is explained in Psalm 32.

‏ Psalms 19:13

Prayer for a Holy Life

The psalmist has been reflecting on God’s greatness in creation and in His Word. This leads him to statements about himself in his relationship to God and God’s revelation. In Psalm 8, where he also looks at the heaven and is impressed by it, the result is that he sees how insignificant man is (Psa 8:4). Here, in Psalm 19, the greatness of God in creation and in Scripture leads to the recognition of man’s sinfulness. An encounter with the LORD brought Job to self-knowledge (Job 42:5-6). An encounter with the Lord Jesus brought Peter to self-knowledge (Lk 5:4-8).

This effect is what the instruction of God’s Word has on David as well as on us. Just as there is nothing on earth hidden from the glow of the sun (Psa 19:6), so there is no one hidden from the Word of God, which brings everything to light. To Him, “all things are open and laid bare” (Heb 4:12-13). Here it is not about fear of punishment, but about being afraid to have to miss the joyful fellowship with God because of the presence of sin. He does not want anything to come between him and God (cf. Psa 139:23-24).

David realizes through the instruction of the Word of God that God knows him down to the very bottom of his heart. Therefore, he adds some important aspects that have to do with his own relationship with God. He speaks of hidden sins, confession, cleansing and being acquitted of great transgression (Psa 19:12-13).

He looks at sin from two points of view. First, he is aware that he is not able to name all his sins. He doesn't recognize them enough for that (Psa 19:12). Who will dare to claim that he has not committed unconscious sins when he, like David, has been impressed by the majesty of God in creation and by His omniscience through His Word that examines hearts? Those who are aware of this will not speak highly of their sinlessness, as taught in the extreme sanctification doctrine.

It is important to be aware of nothing, but that does not mean we are justified by it (1Cor 4:4). The awareness of God’s majesty and omniscience will keep us humble. At the same time, there will be the desire to be cleansed from hidden sins. This is what David is asking for. For unintentional sins, the law offers reconciliation and forgiveness (Lev 4:2 ; 13; Num 15:22-31).

Secondly, David sees the terribleness of presumption, the sin of pride (Psa 19:13). He longs to be kept back from it. Pride is the primal sin. Pride means wanting to be like God. David abhors the thought of committing that sin. It shows self-knowledge that he realizes he is capable of it and prays for the LORD to keep him back from it, so that it will not rule over him.

If he is kept from that sin, he will be blameless, sincere, and “acquitted of great transgression”. Pride is not just any sin, it is a terrible sin, it is a willful sin. His prayer to be acquitted of it or to remain free from it means that he is not guilty of committing that sin.

David finishes the psalm with the desire that the words that come out of his mouth and the meditations that he has in his heart will be acceptable or pleasing to the LORD (Psa 19:14). He is not concerned only with his outward words or only with his inward piety, but with both aspects of his person. To make this true, he addresses God as his rock, his solid foundation and as his Redeemer, Who in His grace has redeemed him from his sins. The rock refers to Christ (1Cor 10:4) Who had to be stricken so that the water of life can flow freely to all who thirst.

David returns here to his starting point in Psalm 18, where he spoke of the rock (Psa 18:2). He loves the LORD (Psa 18:1b) and longs to be acceptable or pleasing to Him (Psa 19:14).

The Hebrew word for “Redeemer” here is go’el. This is an indication that God had to become Man, for go’el is a family member, that is, a man. God the Creator (Psa 19:1-6) had to become God the Redeemer (Psa 19:7-14). How the latter took place is explained in Psalm 32.