1/7/2025
Elijah McSwain, Sr.
Psalm 19:7-11 NKJV — The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover, by them Your servant is warned, and in keeping them there is great reward.
A commandment is a directive or order given by an authoritative figure or entity to be followed and accepted as a guiding principle. Commandments serve as rules of order relating to a set pattern of ethical and moral standards for any given society, culture, and religious entity. These directives are provided as a code of conduct to be complied with and obeyed. The ultimate purpose of commands involves the notion to direct with a sense of authority and direction to steer individuals in the proper way to go. Here in Psalm 19:8, the psalmist wrote of God’s commandment enlighten the mind and way of life for mankind. God’s commandment purifies the way of humanity by enlightening the eyes of all who will submit and adhere to it authoritative power. As we consider the illuminating effects of God’s commandment, let us first observe the purity of God's commandment.
The Purity of God’s Commandment
The latter part of Psalm 19:8 addresses that the commandment of the Lord is pure. The phrase “commandment of the Lord” is synonymous with God’s Word. The Word of God is characterized as being pure in its form, structure, intent, and purpose. This underlines that God’s commandment is without error, falsehood, contamination, doctrinal pollution, corruption, impurities, or fabrications. Scripture is unadulterated and it is not dictated by human intuition, logic, or reasoning.
The original autographs of Scripture are not subject to anything impure or corrupt in its nature.
Charles Spurgeon wrote “the commandment of the Lord is pure. No mixture of error defiles it, no stain of sin pollutes it; it is the unadulterated milk, the undiluted wine.” 1 The is nothing that blemishes, stains, or taints the pureness of God’s Word. Proverbs 30:5 (ESV) states that “every word of God proves true.” Other translations render the word “true” as “pure”. This declaration emphasizes the purity of God’s Word as that which is accurate, infallible, inerrant, a definite constant, perfect, wholesome, and a trustworthy source. The commandment of the Lord is unmodified and free from anything that will diminish its purity. Therefore, it is true and pure as God is true and pure.
The embodiment of Scripture reflects the embodiment of God.
Psalm 12:6 (NKJV) mentions “the words of the LORD are pure words, like silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.” If the words of the Lord are pure then the source from which those words flow are pure as well. John MacArthur explained “the purity of God’s Person assures the purity of His promises.” 2
God’s Word is as pure as His Person.
In essence, the Bible itself is pure as its divine author is pure and it essentially serves as the purifying agent for mankind. John 17:17 (NKJV) reiterates the sentiment of God’s cleansing effect on the people who hear His Word by the expression “sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.” The commandment of the Lord has a purifying effect and application. Psalm 119:9 as I paraphrase it asks a profound question and gives the answer. How can a person cleanse his or her way? By taking heed according to Your Word.
The commandment of the Lord fulfills the purpose that it is designed to when the human heart is willing to undergo spiritual cleansing by being obedience to His Word.
Furthermore, the commands of the Lord advise us on what activities we should engage in and what activities we should avoid. Adam Clarke commented “the commandment of the Lord is what God has ordered man to do, or not to do. What He has commanded, and what He has prohibited. All God’s commandments lead to purity, enjoin purity, and point out that sacrificial offering by which cleansing and purification are acquired. This is its character.” 3 The Lord’s commandment is characterized by holiness, purity, and righteousness that is the desired end for all to live by. The person that yields to God’s commandment takes upon the character of God and live in accordance with His Word.
William MacDonald concluded that “a pure-hearted person is one whose motives are unmixed, whose thoughts are holy, and whose conscience is clean.” 4 The purity of God’s Word takes root or form in the life of every person who surrenders to the governance of the Lord. Thus, the purified person will experience the presence of God in his or her life. Matthew 5:8 (NKJV) profoundly states “blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” The Lord’s commands are evident in the lifestyle of everyone who has been enlightened by the Word of God. His imprint is clearly seen and noticeable in the lives of those who have been enlightened.
The Enlightening Effects of God’s Commandment
Psalm 19:8 ends with the proclamation that God’s commandment “enlightens the eyes.” The eyes are considered windows through which we perceive things and the premise that helps to reveal our inward nature. Matthew 6:22-23 (NLT) is written “your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. But when your eye is unhealthy, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!
The Life Application Study Bible explains “having good spiritual vision means having the capacity to see clearly what God wants us to do and to see the world from His point of view. This perspective can be easily obscured by self-serving desires, interests, and goals. Serving God is the best way to restore it. A healthy eye stays fixed on God.” 5
A person that has been enlightened by God’s commandment has a mindset to continuously behold the things of God. The individual that is enlightened by God has clarity pertaining to God’s reveal truth. The illuminating effect of the Bible shows humanity the right steps to take after our minds are made consciously aware of what God requires of us. Albert Barnes asserted “enlightening the eyes means giving us light and knowledge. The eyes are mentioned, as it is by them that we see where to go. The reference here is undoubtedly to the mind or soul as being enlightened by the truth of God. We are made by these commandments to see what is right and proper; to understand what we should do.” 6
Proverbs 6:23 (NKJV) records “for the commandment is a lamp, and the law a light; reproofs of instruction are the way of life.” Psalm 119:130 (NKJV) further relates that the entrance of the Lord’s Word gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. God’s Word enlightens our eyes to gain understanding, and it directs us on the paths of righteousness.
Adam Clarke gave the explanation that Scripture “shows men what they should do, and what they should avoid. It is by God's commandments that we see the exceeding sinfulness of sin, and the necessity of redemption, so that we may love the Lord with all our heart, and our neighbor as ourselves. For this is the end of the commandment, and thus to enlighten the eyes is its use.” 3
Through the process of enlightenment sin is exposed and God’s plan of redemption is made manifest unto the world. The end result of the Lord’s divine directives leads us to holy reverence for God and righteous living, to abstain from sin, and to walk in the light and purity of God. The illumination that we receive enables us to take the proper actions in living life on God’s terms.
Our souls have been spiritually awakened to abide by God’s moral and ethical standard.
The mentality of an enlightened mind is moved away from works of the flesh and darkness to the fruitfulness of spiritual things. Philippians 4:8 (NKJV) is penned “finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” A mind that is illuminated by God’s light desires things that are centered on the truth, honesty, purity, worthy of admiration, goodness, and virtue.
Enlightened thinking is the transformative work of God's Word.
The purity of God’s Word is able to shift the trajectory of mankind’s activity from what is vile to what is wholesome in nature. God’s Word becomes an illuminating presence to our course of action and lot in life when we freely and willing follow it. Psalm 119:105 (NKJV) implies the Lord’s Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. Every act of our obedience to His commandments enables us to live a life of reasonable service that is holy and acceptable unto God in alignment with the purity and enlightenment effect of His Word.
If we truly desire to be enlightened, let the eyes of our body be subject to the spiritual influence of the pureness of the commandment of the Lord.
Resources
Spurgeon, C. H. n.d. The Treasury of David: Psalms 1-26. Vol. 1. London; Edinburgh; New York: Marshall Brothers.
The MacArthur Study Bible
Clarke, Adam. “Commentary on Psalms 19:8”. “The Adam Clarke Commentary”. https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/acc/psalms-19.html. 1832.
The Believer’s Bible Commentary
The Life Application Study Bible
Barnes, Albert. “Commentary on Psalms 19:8”. “Barnes’ Notes on the Whole Bible”. https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/bnb/psalms-19.html. 1870.