Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comKeil and Delitzsch Commentary - Psalms 19:7 - 19:7
(Show All Books | Show All Chapters)
This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
(Heb.: 19:8-10) No sign is made use of to mark the transition from the one part to the other, but it is indicated by the introduction of the divine name יהוה instead of אֵל. The word of nature declares אֵל (God) to us, the word of Scripture יהוה (Jahve); the former God's power and glory, the latter also His counsel and will. Now follow twelve encomiums of the Law, of which every two are related as antecedent and consequent, rising and falling according to the caesural schema, after the manner of waves. One can discern how now the heart of the poet begins to beat with redoubled joy as he comes to speak of God's word, the revelation of His will. תֹּורָה does not in itself mean the law, but a pointing out, instruction, doctrine or teaching, and more particularly such as is divine, and therefore positive; whence it is also used of prophecy, Isa 1:10; Isa 8:16, and prophetically of the New Testament gospel, Isa 2:3. But here no other divine revelation is meant than that given by the mediation of Moses, which is become the law, i.e., the rule of life (νόμος), of Israel; and this law, too, as a whole not merely as to its hortatory and disciplinary character, but also including the promises contained in it. The praises which the poet pronounces upon the Law, are accurate even from the standpoint of the New Testament. Even Paul says, Rom 7:12, Rom 7:14, “The Law is holy and spiritual, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.” The Law merits these praises in itself; and to him who is in a state of favour, it is indeed no longer a law bringing a curse with it, but a mirror of the God merciful in holiness, into which he can look without slavish fear, and is a rule for the direction of his free and willing obedience. And how totally different is the affection of the psalmists and prophets for the Law, - an affection based upon the essence and universal morality of the commandments, and upon a spiritual realisation of the letter, and the consolation of the promises, - from the pharisaical rabbinical service of the letter and the ceremonial in the period after the Exile!
The divine Law is called תְּמִימָה, “perfect,” i.e., spotless and harmless, as being absolutely well-meaning, and altogether directed towards the well-being of man. And מְשִׁיבַת נָֽפֶשׁ restoring, bringing back, i.e., imparting newness of life, quickening the soul (cf. Pil. שֹׁובֵב, Psa 23:3), to him, viz., who obeys the will of God graciously declared therein, and enters upon the divine way or rule of salvation. Then in the place of the word תורה we find עֵדוּת, - as the tables of the Ten Commandments (לֻחוּת הָעֵדוּת) are called, - from עוּד (הֵעִיד), which signifies not merely a corroborative, but also a warning and instructive testimony or attestation. The testimony of Jahve is נֶֽאֱמָנָה, made firm, sure, faithful, i.e., raised above all doubt in its declarations, and verifying itself in its threatenings and promises; and hence מַחְכִּימַת פֶּֽתִי, making wise simplicity, or the simple, lit., openness, the open (root פת to spread out, open, Indo-Germ. prat, πετ, pat, pad), i.e., easily led astray; to such an one it gives a solid basis and stability, σοφίζει αὐτὸν, 2Ti 3:15. The Law divides into פִּקּוּדִים, precepts or declarations concerning man's obligation; these are יְשָׁרִים, straight or upright, as a norma normata, because they proceed from the upright, absolutely good will of God, and as a norma normans they lead along a straight way in the right track. They are therefore מְשַׂמְּחֵי לֵב, their educative guidance, taking one as it were by the hand, frees one from all tottering, satisfies a moral want, and preserves a joyous consciousness of being in the right way towards the right goal. מִצְוַת יהוה, Jahve's statute (from צִוָּה statuere), is the tenour of His commandments. The statute is a lamp - it is said in Pro 6:23 -and the law a light. So here: it is בָּרָה, clear, like the light of the sun (Son 6:10), and its light is imparted to other objects: מְאִירַת עֵינַיִם, enlightening the eyes, which refers not merely to the enlightening of the understanding, but of one's whole condition; it makes the mind clear, and body as well as mind healthy and fresh, for the darkness of the eyes is sorrow, melancholy, and bewilderment. In this chain of names for the Law, יראת ה is not the fear of God as an act performed, but as a precept, it is what God's revelation demands, effects, and maintains; so that it is the revealed way in which God is to be feared (Psa 34:12) - in short, it is the religion of Jahve (cf. Pro 15:33 with Deu 17:19). This is טְהֹורָה, clean, pure, as the word which is like to pure gold, by which it is taught, Psa 12:7, cf. Job 28:19; and therefore עֹמֶדֶת לָעַד, enduring for ever in opposition to all false forms of reverencing God, which carry their own condemnation in themselves. מִשְׁפְּטֵי ה are the jura of the Law as a corpus juris divini, everything that is right and constitutes right according to the decision of Jahve. These judgments are אֱמֶת, truth, which endures and verifies itself; because, in distinction from most others and those outside Israel, they have an unchangeable moral foundation: צָֽדְקוּ יַחְדָּו, i.e., they are צַדִיקִים, in accordance with right and appropriate (Deu 4:8), altogether, because no reproach of inappositeness and sanctioned injustice or wrong clings to them. The eternal will of God has attained a relatively perfect form and development in the Law of Jahve according to the standard set up as the law of the nation.