Psalm 19:12-14 - Blameless and Innocent

David looked up and saw the sun, the moon and the stars and he proclaimed, “There is a God and the heavens declare His glory” (vv. 1-6). David looked into the Word and experienced the living influence and impact on his life and came to the conclusion that it was better than the finest gold or the sweetest food (vv. 7-11). David then looked within his heart and knew there was a deep-rooted problem and that he needed a Redeemer (vv. 12-14). Unless we have a personal relationship with the Lord so that God is our Father and Jesus is our Redeemer, what we see in creation and what we read in the Bible will not do us much good. The Magi in Matthew 2:1-12 started on their journey in the East by following God's star, a special messenger in the sky to direct them. Then they consulted God's Word in Jerusalem, and found that the King was to be born in Bethlehem; so they went to Bethlehem and there found and worshiped the Savior. When you study God's creation with a Bible in your hand, you can't help but see Jesus! He is seen in the vine (John 15), the sun (John 8:12; Mal. 4:2), the stars (Num. 24:17), the lambs (John 1:29), the apple trees and lilies (Song 2:3, 16; 6:3), the seed planted in the ground (John 12:23-24), and the bread on the table (John 6:35). The Word in the hand is fine; the Word in the head is better; but the Word in the heart is what transforms us and matures us in Christ (119:11; Col. 3:16-17). The Word is a light (119:105) and a mirror (James 1:22-25) to help us see ourselves, search our hearts (Heb. 4:12), and recognize and acknowledge our sins. "By the law is the knowledge of sin" (Rom. 3:20; 7:7-14). "Secret sins" are those we don't even see ourselves. "Sins of ignorance" are ones we don't realize we've committed. The Old Testament law made provision for their forgiveness (Lev. 4; Num. 15:22-29) because the sinners were guilty even though they were ignorant of what they had done (Lev. 5:17). However, the law provided no atonement for “presumptuous sins” (Num. 15:30-36; Deut. 17:12-13). When David committed adultery and arranged to have Uriah murdered (2 Sam. 11-12), he sinned insolently with his eyes wide open and therefore could bring no sacrifice (Ps. 51:16-17). When he confessed his sins, God in His grace forgave him (2 Sam. 12:13), but David paid dearly for his transgressions. Unconfessed sins, even if committed ignorantly, can grow within the heart and begin to rule over us, and this can lead to our committing willful disobedience which is "great transgression” (v. 13). Creation is God's "wordless book," and the Scriptures are God's holy Word to us, but God wants to hear our words as "sacrifices" that please Him (Psalm 141:1-2; Hos. 14:2; Heb. 13:15). The word translated "acceptable" refers to the priest's examination of the sacrifices to make sure they were without blemish. If the sacrifice wasn't acceptable to the Lord, the worshiper was not accepted by the Lord (Lev. 1:1-9; 22:17-25; Mal. 1:6-8). The words we speak begin with the thoughts in our heart (Matt. 12:33-37), so it's important that we meditate on God's Word and God's works, the first two themes of Psalm 19. If we delight in God's Word, we will naturally meditate on it and give expression of His truth with our lips, and this will help to keep us from sin (Psalm 119:9-16, 23-24, 47-48, 77-78, 97-99). And when the Word reveals our sin, we must confess it (1 John 1:7-9). Because of our sin we need a Redeemer. Jesus is our “Redeemer” (Gal. 3:13; 4:5; Titus 2:14; Heb. 9:12; 1 Peter 1:18), and He became our "kinsman" when He came in sinless human flesh to die for us on the cross. Jesus is both our Rock (“Strength”) and Redeemer (v. 14), for He not only paid the price to set us free, but He also keeps us safe. God bless!