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PSALM 19

To him that presides over the music, a Psalm of David.

1. The heavens declare the glory of god, and the firmament displays the work of his hands.
2. Day to day utters speech, and night to night shows knowledge.
3. There is no speech, nor language in which their voice is not heard.
4. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world; in them has he set a tabernacle for the sun;
5. Which, as a bridegroom, goes forth from his chamber, and rejoices as a strong man to run his course.
6. His going forth is from one end of the heavens, and his circuit to the other end thereof; and there is nothing hidden from his heat.
7. The law of jehovah is perfect, restoring the soul; the testimony of jehovah is sure, making wise the simple.
8. The statutes of jehovah are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of jehovah is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9. The fear of jehovah is clean, enduring for ever; the judgements of jehovah are truth; they are altogether just.
10. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much pure gold; sweeter also than honey and the dropping of honey-combs.
11. Also by them is your servant clearly instructed, in keeping them there is great reward.
12. Who observes his errors? Cleanse you me from secret sins.
13. Keep back your servant also from wanton sins, that they may not have dominion over me; then shall I be upright and innocent from much transgression.
14. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O jehovah, my rock and my redeemer.

Verse 1. The heavens declare the glory of God. By heavens are signified the angelic heavens; and whereas the heaven of the Lord in the earth is the church, by heaven is also signified the church; but by the angelic heavens are signified Truths Divine, inasmuch as the angels are receptions of Truths Divine proceeding from the Lord. Divine truth proceeding from the Lord as a sun is the light in heaven, which gives sight to the angels there, and at the same time intelligence and wisdom; from that Divine light is all glory in heaven, which is such as to exceed all human apprehension. AC 9408. 9429.

Verse 4. In them has he set a tabernacle for the sun. By the sun is here meant the lord as to Divine Love, because in the good of his love he dwells in the heavens, therefore it is said, "He set for the sun a tabernacle in the heavens." Tabernacle being there the lord's heaven from the good of love. AE 799.

Verses 7, 8, 9. The law of jehovah is perfect, restoring the soul; the testimony of jehovah is sure, making wise he simple; the statutes of jehovah are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of jehovah is pure, enlightening the eyes; the judgements of jehovah are truth, they are altogether just. In several passages mention is made of testimonies, and at the same time of law, precepts, commandments, statutes and judgements, and by testimonies and commandments are signified such things as teach life, by law and precepts such things as teach doctrine, and by statutes and judgements such things as teach ceremonies. AE 392.

Verses 9, 10. The judgements of jehovah are truth, and are altogether just; more to be desired are they than gold, yea than much fine gold, and sweeter than honey and the dropping of honey-combs. By judgements are signified the truths and goods of worship, wherefore it is said that the judgements of jehovah are Truth, and altogether just, just signifying the good of life, and thence of worship; and whereas good is also signified by gold and fine gold, therefore it is said, that they are more to be desired than gold, and than much fine gold, gold denoting celestial good, and fine gold spiritual good; desirable denotes what is of the affection and love; inasmuch as the goods with which man is affected are also delightful, therefore it is said, that they are sweeter than honey and the dropping of honey-combs. AE 619.

Verses 9, 10. The fear of jehovah is clean, enduring for ever, the judgements of jehovah are Truth, they are altogether just. The fear of jehovah being clean denotes love, and the judgements of jehovah being truth denotes faith. AC 2826.

Verse 14. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O jehovah, my rock and my redeemer. By jehovah a rock the same thing is signified as by jehovah god, namely: the lord as to Divine Good and Divine Truth, and he is called redeemer from regeneration which its effected by Divine Truth: the words of the mouth signify the understanding of truth, and the meditation of the heart the perception of Good. AE 411.

Verses 7, 8, 9. The law of jehovah is perfect, restoring the soul; the testimony of jehovah is sure, making wise the simple; the statutes of jehovah are right, rejoicing the heart, the commandment of jehovah is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of jehovah is clean, enduring for ever; the judgements of jehovah are truth, they are altogether just. It must be plain to every intelligent reader, that the holy word is here described under the several titles and characters of the law, the testimony, the statutes, the commandment, the fear, the judgements of jehovah, as that Word has respect to the several orders and degrees of divine good and truth contained in it, and expressed by it. It must also be equally plain to every such reader, that in all these orders and degrees of good and of truth, a reference is made to the marriage of those principles, or to that undivided union, by which they subsist in god Himself, and in all that comes from Him, Thus, when the holy word is called the law of jehovah, it is marked by the two distinct names of perfect, and giving rest to the soul, the first name being intended to denote the principle of good, and the second the principle of truth which enter into its composition: When again this holy word is called a testimony, it is marked by the two distinct titles of sure, and making wise the simple, the first title having respect to the principle of good, and the second to the principle of truth: and both titles united being intended to mark the Divine and Heavenly Marriage of both those principles: Again, when this holy word is described by the term statutes, it is denominated as being right and rejoicing the heart, because the term right has relation to the principle of truth, whilst the term rejoicing the heart has more relation to the principle of good, and both terms united are expressive of the Marriage of truth with its good, and of good with its truth. Again, when this holy word is called the commandment of jehovah, it is said to be pure and to enlighten the eyes, and thus to be a compound of the above principles of divine Good and divine truth, inasmuch as to be pure is a title more characteristic of the former principle, and to enlighten the eyes is more characteristic of the latter, and thus both titles united are figurative of the above Divine and Heavenly Marriage: The holy word is further announced under another title, the fear of jehovah, and it is said of it, under this title, that it is clean and endures for ever, presenting again a two-fold reference to the distinct principles of the good and the true, and thus a reference to the union or marriage of those principles; the principle of good being more marked by the term clean, and the principle of truth by enduring for ever: Lastly, the holy word is characterised under the title of the judgements of jehovah, which judgements are said to be true and altogether just, impressing thus on the reader's mind the interesting idea of the marriage referred to above, one party in the above marriage being truth and the other good, the former being unequivocally designated by the term true, and the latter by the term just.

Thus then it is that the holy word, whether regarded as a law, or as a testimony, or as statutes, or as a commandment, or as the fear of jehovah, or as judgements, in short, as a rule of life for the direction either of man's will, or of his understanding, or of his actions, and this in reference both to spiritual, moral, and civil life, bears indisputable evidence of its being written in relation to a divine and heavenly marriage, and of thus carrying along with it a proof of its divine original, which is not to be found in any other writings whatever.