Psalm 19:7-14 (NRSV)
Read Psalm 19:7-14 on biblegateway.com
Verse 7The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the decrees of the Lord are sure, making wise the simple;
Verse 8the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eyes;
Verse 9the fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
Verse 10More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey, and drippings of the honeycomb.
Verse 11Moreover by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.
Verse 12But who can detect their errors? Clear me from hidden faults.
Verse 13Keep back your servant also from the insolent; do not let them have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression.
Verse 14Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
Devotion
I grew up hearing, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord,” as the invocation for the sermons that my pastor was about to preach. I never connected these words, spoken with deep sincerity and repeated every Sunday, to my life in the world.
Eugene Peterson’s paraphrase sets a more inclusive context: “These are the words of my mouth; these are what I chew on and pray. Accept them when I place them on the morning altar, O God, my Altar-Rock, God, Priest of My Altar.”
Prayed at the beginning of each new day, these words can serve as the invocation for ministry in daily life. They are the invocation for our lives as sermon. At the end of the day, they can be the final verse in praise for God’s revelation in creation and in the Word.
Prayer
God of creation and of the Word, may the words of my mouth be what I chew on and pray from the beginning of the day to its end. May they be words of life-giving praise, encouragement and guidance, a living sermon for myself and for others. Amen.