Psalm 19 is a celebration of the resplendent glory of God in both creation and the written Word of God. The imagery of light is the key strand that connects the two halves of the psalm. In the first half, in which the psalmist calls us to recognise the greatness of God in the physical universe, the focus is on the sun and the penetrating light of the sun. This picture is then carried through into the second part of the psalm which focuses on God’s Word. God’s Word is like the sun in that it gives life and also brings everything to light. The final prayer of the psalm flows out of this. The psalmist prays that God’s Word would indeed give him life by bringing to light the things in him that cause the death of his soul. In this sense, he is praying that the glory of God, that is reflected in the light of the sun, would shine in his heart. God wants to light up your heart. When he does this, you will see your own faults very clearly. But you will also see everything clearly. You will live your life with so much more clarity. You will make better decisions and you will be able to recognise and appreciate many things you would otherwise be blind to. Many people resist seeing their faults, and, as a result, they live blindly. You can’t selectively delude yourself. If you won’t see one thing clearly, you won’t see anything clearly. If you deny one truth, you deny all truth.
Ask God to shed his light in your heart.
Read Psalm 19 along with 1 John 1:5-10.
