Daily Devotion – January 19, 2022 – Dr. Pat Taylor Ellison

Psalm 19
19:1 The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
19:2 Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge.
19:3 There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard;
19:4 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,
19:5 which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy, and like a strong man runs its course with joy.
19:6 Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them; and nothing is hid from its heat.
19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the decrees of the LORD are sure, making wise the simple;
19:8 the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is clear, enlightening the eyes;
19:9 the fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
19:10 More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey, and drippings of the honeycomb.
19:11 Moreover by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.
19:12 But who can detect their errors? Clear me from hidden faults.
19:13 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.
19:14 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 is richly filled with multiple images. It is so rich in fact, that it is confusing to read.  Many scholars have given up on it as three poems badly patched together. But Old Testament scholar Rolf Jacobson believes it is, in fact, a coherent and gorgeous poem – all about speech: the speech of Creation, the speech of the Scriptures, and finally the speech of the psalmist. And none of these three is sufficient to the task of adequate praising of God. No one can deny the beauty of the images in it. There are just so many. If we took them one at a time, we’d be at it for a week. C.S. Lewis loved it. And he knew something about imagery.

But let’s look simply at the ending, the words about the speech/writing of the psalmist. He wants to be kept from errors and from tripping accidentally over things he cannot even see that might trip him up. He also wants to be kept from the insolent, those who show no respect for either the “speeches” he has praised or the God who spoke them. So the writer is saying that he will feel safe as long as no accidental fault and no disrespectful person controls him. Having said that, he utters the last line which many of us have heard quoted countless times:

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, oh Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.”

Here is a person so intent on finding good words to use in praise of God that he looks everywhere for the right comparisons and metaphors and meanwhile watches out for bad company and hidden pitfalls. How wonderful if we, too, were so intent on praising God that we searched our vocabulary and experience so deeply!

What if we did that just today and tomorrow? Spent a little time in meditation or prayer just searching for words or images that could come close to how much we respect and love God, our loving parent, redeemer, and companion of spirit? What words or images would you come up with? I’m going to try it.

Gracious God, Thank you for loving us. Help us to spend some energy and creativity this week looking for ways to praise you for yourself and for all you have done for us.  Amen.