Psalm 19 revisited

 For centuries Psalm 19 has been read with two distinct ideas. In verses 1-6 God speaks about his "general revelation" to the world. Verses 7-14 instruct us to undertake an ethic to reading the Scripture. When this chapter is explained it is splint into these respective sections.

I am not going to suggest that Psalm 19 does not tell us something about God, and his creation of the world - it does. I am also not going to suggest that vv. 7-14 cannot inform us about how to approach the text of Scripture. Here are three verses that point to this: "The law of the Lord is perfect reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether" (ESV vv. 7-9). These verses, indeed the entire chapter, should be an encouragement to Christians. However, to explain or preach about “general revelation” and a reading ethic from this chapter misses the main point of the text. When this chapter is split into two parts an ability to reach the main point is exasperated. Let me work backwards and then suggest and alternative reading of the text.

The fastest way to send a congregation down the path of legalism is to say they have a moral obligation to do something. This is not to say that God does not set down moral guidelines for his people to follow – he does. However, Psalm 19:7-14 is held hostage by the pretense of morality and the main point of the Psalmist (David) is missed, and the hearer is misinformed. An easy way around this nonsense is to rethink what this text actually highlights—namely something about God and not the reader. Far too often this text (and much of Scripture) is first interpreted to require the reader to do something. Instead let’s ask these questions: What does vv. 7-14 tell us about God? About his character? About the sufficiency of his laws; testimonies; precepts; commandments; and rules? Once these questions have been answered only then can the reader ask, “what about me?”

 

Now let’s consider vv. 1-6 and the distinct theological category of “general revelation” which has been attributed. “General revelation” is a fine category but it again has the reader in mind. What do these verses tell us about God? Or about the creation account in Genesis? And this last question leads me to a more robust reading of Psalm 19.

A more robust interpretation of Psalm 19 does not exclude a reading ethic or God’s “general revelation” but enhances it. What if the Psalmist wrote reflecting of God’s creative acts in Genesis 1-3 and the giving of the Law (e.g. Exodus 20)? Would this not enhance one’s interpretation of the text which leads to a fuller knowledge of God? What if the giving of the Law from the Pentateuch was primarily a means of grace and mercy and not a rule causing obedience? I’ll take that kind of Law. Of course, how you understand Biblical Theology informs your reading of Law. Nonetheless, the often applied legalistic approach to Psalm 19 is a misinterpretation because the wrong question is asked. Also, the interpretation of "general revelation" only allows the reader to think about God's creation in light of themselves.The right question for the entire chapter is this: In what way does the Pentateuch inform how David understands God and ultimately what does this text say about God?

Let’s revisit Psalm 19 with this question in mind.