Psalm 19:14 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

NIV: May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

NASB: May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.

CSB: May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.

NLT: May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

KJV: Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.

NKJV: Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.

David wanted his words and the thoughts of his heart to be acceptable to the Lord. When a worshiper brought an animal to the sanctuary to be sacrificed to the Lord, a priest would examine it to see if it was free of blemishes. If a blemish was found, neither the animal nor the worshiper was accepted by the Lord (see Leviticus 1:3–10; 22:17–25).

Taking that concept of being "blemish-free" to heart, our words should comfort or edify those who hear them. Colossians 4:6 exhorts us to use speech that is "gracious, seasoned with salt, so that [we] may know how [we] ought to answer each person." Hebrews 10:25 summons us to encourage one another. Ephesians 4:15 directs us to speak the truth in love, and Ephesians 5:19 tells us to "[address] one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs."

Jesus taught that the heart is the source of our words. He declared, "For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks" (Matthew 12:34). It is important, therefore, to fill the heart with Scripture (Psalm 119:11).

In this Psalm, David addresses the Lord as his rock and his redeemer. He recognized that the Lord was the provider of his security and his salvation. By shedding His blood on the cross, Jesus is our Redeemer (1 Peter 1:18–19), and as our living Lord He keeps us safe (1 Peter 1:3–5).

Psalm 19:7–14 introduces the law of the Lord—meaning Scripture—as God's perfect revelation of Himself and His will. The prior passage identified nature as a revelation of God. Psalm 119, as well, extols God's Word as His perfect revelation and cites the blessings which come to those who love and obey it.

David refers to the details of creation as evidence for God's power and design. The appearance and function of nature are evidence of God's majesty. The second half of this psalm also celebrates God's revelation, but in the form of His Word. The law, precepts, and commandments of God are hailed for their perfection and benefit.

This psalm of David celebrates two separate revelations which God has given human beings. He has revealed Himself in nature and in Scripture. Psalm 8 is a companion psalm because it, too, refers to nature as revealing God's majesty. Romans 1:18–25 also points out that God revealed himself through nature, but the passage indicates that disobedient people rejected this revelation.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.