Listen to a meditation on Psalm 19 for the Third Sunday of Lent
Meditation on Psalm 19
Psalm 19 divides into three distinct sections.
The first reflects upon the wonders of God’s creation, the second upon the perfection of God’s law, and the third upon our relationship with both that wondrous creation and that perfect law.
Psalm 19 reminds us that our interaction with both nature and the law is essential if we are to come anywhere near a full revelation of God in our lives.
The image of the sun in the first section of this psalm has been interpreted by many Christians as a prophecy of the Christ who was yet to come.
From ancient times the sun was viewed as both the giver and the sustainer of life and justice.
The fulfilment of the mission of Jesus Christ can be seen in the psalmists imagery of the sun in the words: Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them; and nothing is hid from its heat.
From recognizing the wonder of God’s creation and the perfection of God’s law we are called to reflect upon our own words and action in the final words of the psalm.
Many people lead a double life in the sense that they say the right things about living in the light of God’s creation and under the jurisdiction of God’s law, but the reality of their daily live is very different.
Human beings create a whole language of self-justification and obfuscation for themselves.
When we are contemplating the words of our mouth and the meditation of our heart, a good rule of thumb for us all to employ is this: ‘If what I am saying, thinking and doing is OK in the sight of God, why am I keeping it a secret?’
The final verse of Psalm 19 is often used by preachers as a prayer before they deliver their sermon … it is certainly a prayer I often use in the pulpit.
Those words are a prayer that we might remind ourselves of our call to remain true to the wonders and the perfection of God’s nature and law.
They remind us not to re-interpret the God’s truth for our own ends.
They remind us of the responsibility we have to lead others along the true path of Christian discipleship.
Those words are saying: ‘Lord, keep me honest in what I say; keep my words true to your law. May my words always glorify you.’
I pray that those words may be on the hearts and lips of all of us as continue our journey through this holy season of Lent.