Psalm 19 · a question people ask
Why does the psalm turn from the sky to the law?
It doesn't say. After "There is nothing hidden from its heat" (19:6), the next line is "The LORD’s law is perfect, restoring the soul" (19:7), with no word between. What the text does show is words that run across the turn. The heavens' speech in 19:2 and 19:3 and "the words of my mouth" (19:14) are in Hebrew one word, omer, which Brown-Driver-Briggs lists as "utterance, speech, word"; Strong's gives the form in 19:14 the number 561, and the form in 19:2-3 its own number, "the same as 561". "There is nothing hidden from its heat" (19:6) and "Forgive me from hidden errors" (19:12) share the verb satar (tap hidden). And the first half names God once (19:1), while the second says "the LORD" seven times (19:7-14). The psalm sets the two halves side by side and doesn't explain how they fit, and these notes don't add a reason.
The verses
“For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. The heavens declare the glory of God. The expanse shows his handiwork. Day after day they pour out speech, and night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard.”
“His going out is from the end of the heavens, his circuit to its ends. There is nothing hidden from its heat. The LORD’s law is perfect, restoring the soul. The LORD’s covenant is sure, making wise the simple.”
“Who can discern his errors? Forgive me from hidden errors.”
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, LORD, my rock, and my redeemer.”