Psalm 19:7-14 The Revelation of God in Scripture

  Psalm 19:7-14 The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; 8 the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; 9 the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. 11 Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. 12 Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults. 13 Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression. 14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.   Here at the end of November, our hearts turn to the coming Thanksgiving holiday, as do many of the hymns in this morning's service. We begin worship with the hymn Come, Ye Thankful People Come, which reminds us of the Lord's provision for our earthly needs ("God, our maker, does provide"), and looks forward to the final harvest ("For the Lord our God shall come"), when all offenses are purged away. We sing from the Psalter O Thank The Lord For He Is Good— Psalm 118, praising God for His support and help in times of distress with the refrain "His gracious love endures." My Heart Is Filled With Thankfulness calls us to be thankful for Christ's atoning work of bearing our pain, crushing the curse of sinfulness, and giving us new life, while Let All Things Now Living asks all of creation to raise songs of adoration and thanks. The service closes with God Of Our Fathers, in which we declare that our "grateful songs" will ever rise before His throne. In a year that has been difficult for so many of us, I hope these hymns encourage our hearts to look up and give thanks to the God who, though our way may be toilsome, is faithful to lead us from night to never-ending day. —Henry C. Haffner Key Words: Law, Testimony, Precepts, Commandment, Rules, Perfect, Sure, Right, Pure, Redeemer Keystone Verse: The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. (Psalm 19:7)