"The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether."
Psalm 19:9
David’s beautiful Psalm 19 is a look into God’s greatness. He shows us two tremendous testimonies that point to His perfections. The first testimony comes from His Creation (vv. 1-6). The second speaks to His Word, His perfect Law (vv. 7-14). The Hebrew word used here is tôrâh, “the law.” This is referring to so much more than a reference to the 613 laws of God in the Old Testament. Of course, those laws are contained in it, but it is all inclusive of the “law, direction,” and “instruction” as given by God in His Word [1] (see BDB).
“It is a rule, God’s testimony for the truth, His special and general prescription of duty, fear (as its cause), and judicial decision. It is distinct and certain, reliable, right, pure, holy, and true” [2] (JFB).
God tells us clearly in His Word what He expects of His creatures (humans). They can find the answers for whatever humans need in the Word of God. His Law fits each need perfectly. What God has given to us in His Word is “perfect” for us (v. 7).
“It has nine qualities: perfect in every part and in its wholeness trustworthy (7), reliable; right (8), upright, of moral rectitude; radiant, ‘pure,’ free from contaminant; pure (9), … of purity acceptable to God; enduring, changeless; sure … righteous, ‘true … right’, corresponding to the objective norms of truth; precious (10), ‘rightly desirable,’ full of intrinsic value; sweeter, full of true enjoyment” [3] (NBC).
Is there any wonder then why believers love the Word of God?
“The Fear of the LORD”
“Fear is here a synonym for the Law, for its purpose was to put fear into human hearts (Deuteronomy 4:10, KJV)” [4] (BKC).
“Specially the day that thou stoodest before the LORD thy God in Horeb when the LORD said unto me, Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children” (Deuteronomy 4:10).
God’s intent is for each human to live for Him in reverential awe, having a godly fear of God Himself and His Word.
“The Fear of the LORD is Clean”
The quality of this “fear of the LORD” is it is “clean,” that is, it “cleanses” us. “Clean” in the Old Testament can speak of the Levitical ceremonial cleanliness of an animal for sacrifice. It also points to things that are physically “pure,” as it does to moral and ethical “purity and cleanness” [5] (see BDB). As God purifies our hearts, this is a cleanness that meets God’s perfect standard. His Word cleanses us. And fearing Him “endures forever.”
“The Judgments of the LORD”
His “judgments” are His “judicial requirements” [6] (Bullinger). These are never to be ignored nor flippantly unheeded. These “requirements” must be met to meet His righteous standard and get into His Heaven. It does not matter how “good” a person thinks they are. His “judicial requirement” is for each one to be without sin, “perfect” to enter heaven. Are you “perfect”? “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). No, I’m not sinless, are you? But do not despair! There is a way that we can meet God’s standard of “perfection,” the “sinlessness” required for entrance! God’s “judicial requirements” can only be fulfilled through the Lord Jesus Christ. He is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (John 14:6).
“Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24).
God’s Word tells us how we can meet God’s standard – Jesus. He is God’s perfect Son, never sinned, and died for sinners so that if I put my faith (trust and confidence) in what He did for me, I can have redemption, and He will justify me! And as God gives you the faith to believe, so can you! Good News! And once we are redeemed by faith, His Law—His Word guides us in our living for Him.
“Are True and Righteous Altogether.”
The Harvest Study Bible translates this as, “The LORD’S judgments are right. They are completely fair” [7] (HSB). It is an absolute oxymoron for humans to argue with God’s Word foolishly. This never makes sense. It “does not compute!” Why, because His “judgments are true and righteous altogether!”
“These are truth (John 17:17); one and all they are in accordance with the standard of absolute justice (Deuteronomy 4:8)” [8] (CB).
These are reasons why we can wholeheartedly put our faith in God and His Word!
Quote: “The Law is pure.… sure, and righteous. It was designed to cause believers to obey God and lead righteous lives” [9] (BKC).
[1] BDB – Brown, Driver, Briggs. Brown-Driver-Briggs’ Hebrew Definitions, the electronic version in eSword.
[2] JFB, Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset, and David Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, vol. 1 (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997), 352–353.
[3] NBC, J. A. Motyer, “The Psalms,” in New Bible Commentary: 21st Century Edition, ed. D. A. Carson et al., 4th ed. (Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press, 1994), 498.
[4] BKC, Allen P. Ross, “Psalms,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 808.
[5] BDB, ibid.
[6] TCB – E.W. Bullinger. The Companion Bible, the electronic version in eSword.
[7] HSB is the Harvest Study Bible from Harvest Ministries in Guam.
[8] CB – Cambridge Bible, the electronic Bible notes in eSword.
[9] BKC, ibid.