14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

Psalms 19:14

Explanation:

What an incredible prayer the psalmist prays at the end of this psalm. It comes at the end of the psalm after we have seen that with God this can be possible.

What is the prayer?  It mentions two behaviors- Words of my mouth and meditation of my heart.

The scripture says…

Proverbs 13:3

3 He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.

 James 3:2

2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

The aim of the Word of God is to help make us righteous. The aim of the scripture is to shape our behavior and conform us into the image of Christ. The scripture is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. But it isn’t just aimed at behavior modification. How does it change our behavior?  It seeks to change our heart.

Luke 6:45

45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

The heart has to be changed for the behavior to be changed. The meditations of the heart lead to the words of the mouth, the actions of the hands, and the direction of the feet.

Application:

We need God to transform our hearts. Now at this point you might be saying, “So, you’re telling me that all I have to do is read the Bible and try to obey it and God will make me obedient?” Well, yes and no. 

Let’s look that last verse one more time.

14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. Psalms 19:14

The psalmist calls God by three titles in that last verse.  O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer”. 

• O LORD- He recognizes who God is.
• My strength- The psalmist is claiming that God Himself is the one who will give him the strength and the ability to be transformed.  How does that happen?
• My redeemer- To be redeemed means to be bought back. 

Jesus Christ made us. We sinned.  Our sin separated us from God. So, God had to buy us back. Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins to pay for those sins on the cross with His blood. He rose again from the dead, and says to us, “Because I live, you shall live also.”

We don’t need mere behavior modification.  We need redemption.  We need indwelling. We need regeneration. When we respond to God’s gracious offer of salvation and put our trust in Christ, God’s Spirit comes to live inside of us. He redeems us.

But that is not the end.  It is the beginning of our relationship with Him. The same Word of God that made us wise unto salvation is the Word that God uses to change our heart and make us obedient to Him. But if you merely try to keep God’s commands on your own without Him in your life, you’ll fool yourself at best, and fail miserably at worst.

If you are saved, God’s desire is for you to grow in your relationship with God, in your faith in Him, and in your obedience to Him.  He wants to make you like Jesus.  God’s plan is to use His Word to do that in your life. You should read God’s Word daily because of the Quality of the Scripture, The Effect of the Scripture and the Aim of the Scripture- to transform us!

Response

14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. Psalms 19:14