Psalm 19:14 NLT: May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
These words from David serve as the conclusion of a beautiful song that begins with “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.” He spends time contemplating the wonder of sunrises and sunsets, then considers the just system of laws that God has asked His people to follow. Here, at the end of the song, he shifts his focus inward to pray for his own behaviors and attitudes.
The first part is straightforward – let my speech, including how I talk to my family, friends, and even strangers, be pleasing. The Hebrew word for ‘pleasing’ comes from a word meaning ‘delight.’ That’s a tall challenge when I consider whether my words usually bring delight and goodwill.
The second part is even more challenging because it is a part of me that remains unseen. It’s interesting to note that the Hebrew word translated as “meditation” is higgayon, a musical term with roots in an Arabic word meaning a deep, vibrating sound. This describes an intangible, unspoken sentiment that literally vibrates from deep within my spirit.
Even though we might believe our internal attitudes, whether kind or critical, are hidden and safe inside us, they actually do seep out. They subtly vibrate into our world as we interact with those around us.
I chose to illustrate the concept of this prayer in a situation everyone can relate to, and while it’s a bit extreme, I hope it reminds you of your own moments of challenge and difficult situations.
The man in the middle of the chaos isn’t calm because the situation is pleasant—he is at peace because something deeper has been settled within him.
Our words can’t be pleasing until we are transformed internally, and David shows that this only comes through prayer. I believe he concludes by calling God both rock and redeemer for a reason. For our behaviors and attitudes to delight others, we need the fundamental power of God, our rock, to transform us. But we also need the grace and forgiveness from God, our redeemer, for all the times we fall short.
As Thanksgiving approaches, let’s invite God to reshape our inner world so profoundly that our words, reactions, and even our silent presence become instruments of grace.
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