It is inscribed "To the chief musician: a psalm of David." It is the witness of creation, especially of what is heavenly, and therefore universal. The heavens, with the day, the night, and the sun, bear their testimony for God to all mankind. Here we may note the beautiful propriety of the apostle's citation in Rom. 10 for sovereign indiscriminate mercy in the gospel; as of our Lord in Matthew 5:45, when enjoining grace to the worst, independently of desert and in contradistinction from legal injunctions. Here therefore "God" only is spoken of. Man is in view.

But there is another testimony to the greater value and more restricted character of the law of Jehovah, which is set out in the rest of this striking psalm. Here not the work of God is in question, but His word Who has covenant with His people on earth. It is the godly man's estimate of what was divinely given to act on the conscience. Its excellent powers are confessed, not only in its intrinsic qualities but as expressive of God's nature and authority, and hence above all pleasant and prized. There is needed admonition, God's people being what and where they are, and serving Him withal. Hence one cannot discern his wanderings, but desires cleansing, and entreats to be kept from what, is presumptuous, feeling that secret snares unjudged expose to great transgression, and that what is acceptable to God in word and heart is above all to be cultivated. But if He be rock and Redeemer, why distrust?