Christian writer C. S. Lewis once said about Psalm 19: ″I take this to be the greatest poem in the Psalter and one of the greatest lyrics in the world.″⁵ It's a symphony of praise to God's Word in three movements.

First, we hear the silent voice of God (vv. 1-6). The heavens declare, proclaim, and pour forth divine knowledge. So, when David says, ″they have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them″ (v. 3), he is saying that while creation's voice is inaudible to the human ear, its message can be clearly heard: God still speaks through it. That's why, says Paul, men and women have no excuse for not giving Him the glory (Romans 1:18-20). The danger for us is that we, too, can be deaf to the glorious music of creation that the Lord plays for us every day.

Second, David rejoices at the voice of God in His Word (Psalm 19:7-10). Of course, both voices-creation and Scripture-sing the same song: the glory of God. Where creation reveals God's glory, Scripture follows by providing greater detail. While David is focusing on the Law of Moses (v. 7), what he says is true of all Scripture. David describes the Bible's life-changing impact: it refreshes the soul, makes us wise, gladdens the heart, and gives light to the eyes (vv. 7-8). No wonder David sings that the Word is worth more than the world's gold, and tastier than the most delicious food (v. 10).

Finally, David responds to the God who speaks (vv. 11-14). He describes one feature of the Word's ministry in the life of the righteous: the conviction of sin. David asks God for forgiveness for both his hidden faults and his deliberate sins (vv. 12-13). God's Word announces our sinfulness and speaks of our need for cleansing. But the wonderful climax of its message is that God's Word became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14). This living Word made us clean by His death and rules us by His gospel. By His Word and Spirit, God changes lives, and by reading and obeying all of God's word, ″there is great reward″ (Psalm 19:11), even into eternity.

⁵C. S. Lewis, Reflections on the Psalms (New York: Harper One, 1958), 73-74, https://reiterations.wordpress.com/2017/07/26/c-s-lewis-on-psalm-19/.