Metaphysical Bible Interpretation of Psalms Chapter 19
Metaphysically Interpreting Psalms 19:1-14
For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.
19:1The heavens declare the glory of God;
And the firmament showeth his handiwork.19:2Day unto day uttereth speech,
And night unto night showeth knowledge.19:3There is no speech nor language;
Their voice is not heard.19:4Their line is gone out through all the earth,
And their words to the end of the world.
In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,19:5Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,
And rejoiceth as a strong man to run his course.19:6His going forth is from the end of the heavens,
And his circuit unto the ends of it;
And there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.19:7The law of Jehovah is perfect, restoring the soul:
The testimony of Jehovah is sure, making wise the simple.19:8The precepts of Jehovah are right, rejoicing the heart:
The commandment of Jehovah is pure, enlightening the eyes.19:9The fear of Jehovah is clean, enduring for ever:
The ordinances of Jehovah are true, and righteous altogether.19:10More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the droppings of the honeycomb.19:11Moreover by them is thy servant warned:
In keeping them there is great reward.19:12Who can discern his errors?
Clear thou me from hidden faults.19:13Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins;
Let them not have dominion over me:
Then shall I be upright,
And I shall be clear from great transgression.19:14Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in thy sight,
O Jehovah, my rock, and my redeemer.
August 21, 1949: Psalms 19:1-6
From what do we first conceive the idea of the universality of law? From the vastness of the sky with its systems of planets and galaxies of stars. In magnitudes that defy human comprehension we nevertheless behold evidences of law, order, plan. It is all under law.
Where is the handiwork of God most plainly evident? In the heavens and the earth.
What “speech” is uttered “day unto day”? “Day unto day” and “night unto night” all nature speaks of God’s loving provision for His creatures.
What is meant by the words “Their line is gone out through all the earth, And their words to the end of the world”? The unvarying perception of universal law is evident in the earth as well as in the heavens. The heavens reveal the “line” or unchanging law of motion in the rays of light (words) of the revolving worlds and their satellites.
Why is the sun represented as of supreme importance in the physical universe? Because of its proximity to us and the light and heat that reach the earth from it making our earth life possible.
October 15, 1950: Psalms 19:7-11
How do we recognize the divine law (the law of Jehovah) with respect to ourselves? Whatever restores us to our best self, leaving us at peace, self-possessed and confident, is in harmony with the law of our being and is therefore that phase of the divine law which applies to us.
What is “the testimony of Jehovah”? This is the evidence of Divine Mind before our mind’s eye or to our inmost thought. We perceive Truth, and it enlightens us unmistakably.
How can we tell that “the precepts of Jehovah are right”? Because they appeal to our instinctive understanding of Truth, and we rejoice over the recognition of Truth in the world around us that corresponds to the Truth within us. In this recognition we know our kinship with universal life.
Why are “the commandment,” “the fear”, and “the ordinances of Jehovah” described as “pure… clean… true, and righteous altogether”? Because whatever is of Divine Mind is perfect of its kind and in its place.
How do these things serve us as a warning? They enjoin us to keep the way of constructiveness and goodness, which is the way of life. To depart from the way is to invite misfortune.
How do we develop discernment of divine law? By entering into consciousness of Divine Mind and having that Mind in us. “Then shall I know fully even as also I was fully known”.
September 21, 1919: Psalms 19:7-14
Define the terms, “The law of Jehovah,” and “the testimony of Jehovah.” “The law of Jehovah” is the unchangeable rule of action of the spiritual Mind, which inspires all things, and which is ever at work to bring into the manifest world a perfect creation.
“The testimony of Jehovah” is the unmistakable results which come as evidence of the outworking of the spiritual law, and which always enlighten and simplify.
What is the meaning of “The precepts of Jehovah,” and the “commandments of Jehovah”? “The precepts of Jehovah” mean the manner of arrangement in which Spirit works to bring into activity righteousness, joyfulness, self-abandonment.
“The commandments of Jehovah” are the declarations of the executive powers of Divine Mind, which dissolve and cast into nothingness walls of doubt and fear, that have been obstructing sight, thus broadening and enlightening the spiritual vision.
Explain the terms, “The fear of Jehovah,” and “The ordinances of Jehovah”. Sacred fear has the qualification of reverence - it means to hold in minded love and honor. “The fear of Jehovah” is that sublime reverence in which the Father of Lie holds us all. The holy reverence of God is pure, clean, and endures forever.
“The ordinances of Jehovah” signify the act of ordaining, or giving power to. To be ordained of Jehovah is more to be desire than much fine gold.
February 3, 1929: Psalms 19:7-14
Our text today exalts the law of Jehovah. Can you put the law of Jehovah in words? The law of Jehovah cannot be given in words. The Ten Commandments given by Moses cover some points of the law, but not all. The law of Jehovah as spiritually discerned is far more than is written in all the Scriptures. John says that if all the things that Jesus did were recorded “the world itself would not contain the books that should be written.”
How does the law of Jehovah restore the soul to its original perfection? The law of Jehovah does a redemptive work in the soul of man: first, by changing his thoughts; this work is followed by the purifying power of Spirit working in both soul and body. Jesus called this process the regeneration.
The testimony of Jehovah is sure, making wise the simple.” What is the testimony of Jehovah? The testimony of Jehovah is the evidence of Spirit in manifestation. One who has been quickened of Spirit does not require external authority of any kind to prove his case. The proof is not a matter of scholarship, but of demonstration. Jesus said in John 5:34.36, “But the witness which I receive is not from man… for the works which the Father hath given me to accomplish, the very works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.”
In today’s lesson it is written that the precepts and commandments of Jehovah rejoice the heart and enlighten the eyes. What do the receipts and commandments of Jehovah represent? The receipts and commandments of Jehovah represent the rules of action to be followed by those who incorporate divine ideas into consciousness and carry out these ideas. Adherence to these rules brings inner satisfaction (rejoicing the heart) and spiritual understanding (enlightening the eyes).
In verse 9 it is written that “the fear of Jehovah is clean, enduring for ever.” Explain. Bible scholars say that the word “fear” does not occur in the original text. Ferrar Fenton renders verses 9 and 10 thus:
The plans of God are right,
They make the heart rejoice;
The Lord’s commands support,
More than the eyes can see.
The Lord intends perfection,
The Lord decrees for aye,
Unity True and Right.
How does man cleanse his soul from hidden faults? The Psalmist gives a definite denial to be used for this cleansing process. Clear thou me from hidden faults. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; Let them not have dominion over me: Then shall I be upright, And I shall be clear from great transgression.
Jesus says that a man is held accountable for his lightest word. In today’s lesson what instruction does the Psalmist give on this subject? The Psalmist gives an affirmation for word discipline:
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart,
be acceptable in thy sight,
O Jehovah, my rock, and my redeemer.
April 28, 1935: Psalms 19:7-14
What is divine law? The term divine law embraces the entire body of absolute truth, both that already discovered by man and that yet to be discerned and understood.
What is the chief testimony of Jehovah, and what does it establish? The affirmation “I AM THAT I AM” is the chief testimony of Jehovah, and it establishes the absolute standard of being.
Where are the precepts of Jehovah to be found? They may be found in the Scriptures or in the constitution of man as working rules of conduct.
How does the commandment of Jehovah enlighten the eyes? When the thought and desire of the heart is for what is just and right, man receives enlightenment and guidance. He must above all else desire right for right’s sake.
Has fear any place in the mind of a son of God? None whatever. The “fear of Jehovah” is a symbolic expression, meaning a remembrance of Jehovah as instinctive as fear is in the mind of natural man.
How is remembrance of Jehovah to become instinctual? By obeying the commandment “Thou shelf love Jehovah thy God with all they heart, and with all they soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be upon they heart; and thou shalt teach them diligently unto they children, and shalt talk of them when thou sit test in thy house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou list down, and when though risest up” (Deut. 6:4-7)
What are the ordinances of Jehovah? These are the established rules of Truth and righteousness operative in the life of the planet. They form a standard of more value to man than any material possession.
What great reward comes to the one who keeps these ordinances? One who keeps the law that insures his well-being in the fullest, best sense, reaps the reward in more abundant life and in freedom from all the handicaps and limitations of sense.
How is one kept from presumptuous sins? “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart, Be acceptable in thy sight, O Jehovah, my rock, and my redeemer.”
August 28, 1949: Psalms 19:7-14
Why is the law of Jehovah said to be “perfect”? Because it is perfectly suited to the constitution of life of man and by observing it man lives the perfect life. His soul is continually “restored” by living in harmony with the law of his being.
What is the “testimony” of Jehovah? Whatever bears witness to the truth of life is a testimony of Jehovah. A quickened conscience is such a testimony, as is also every recognition of God at work in the life or in the world, and the truths that have been discerned by others and recorded for our enlightenment (“making wise the simple”).
How can we discern the “precepts” and “commandments” of Jehovah in the innumerable statements made by various writers down the ages? The precepts of Jehovah are those which square with Truth, and the commandments of Jehovah is that which enjoins completeness of love for God and man. Both enlighten the understanding and rejoice the heart.
How can “the fear of Jehovah” be eternal? The fear of Jehovah “endureth for ever” because it consists in reverence for right and zeal to follow it without the adulteration of selfish desires or motives. Such fear is “clean” and is in fact a wholesome regard for the law.
What course of action enables us to keep the divine law? Watching over our words and our meditations to insure their constructiveness and acceptability in Truth.
August 11, 1940: Psalms 19
What shows the universal nature of the divine law? The visible universe and the inner life of man together, which show the evidences of plan, purpose, and order that underlie both.
What are the “words” of the heavens and the firmament, of day and night, that are uttered without speech or language? The universal call or appeal of these manifestations of God to the heart and soul of man are the words of Truth that are heard by all men who are awake to values beyond the material.
In the visible universe what symbolizes thoughts? Light, the universal bond, is a symbol of thought or mind.
What is the “testimony of Jehovah”? This term includes all the commandments of God, since these witness to God’s character and requirements. In the inner realm they are the convictions of Truth that impel man to manifest the highest good that he knows.
Are the phrases “the law,” “the testimony,” “the precepts,” “the commandments,” “the fear” and “the ordinances” related in meaning? These phrases refer to shades of meaning of one idea, that of universal law.
What are the attributes of the idea? The law is perfect, sure, right, pure, clean, and true.
Do these attributes insure certain definite effects? Perfection restores the soul, certainty makes wise the simple, rightness rejoices the heart, purity enlightens the eyes, cleanness is bound up with eternal life, and the truth of the law is its constant vindication.
How is man kept from hidden faults and presumptuous sins? By letting God control his words and his thoughts and by keeping his meditations in accord with divine law man avoids both unconscious and intentional wrongdoing.
Transcribed by Tracie Louise on 11-04-2013
