The feast day liturgy yesterday, Tuesday, presented portions of Psalm 19 for the Responsorial Psalm. The link is to the entire psalm which may be helpful.    Look a verse 1:  King David announces that the heavens tell us of God's glory.  The firmament put for his handiwork. So what does that mean to you?  Is it often that we think about this universe and ask "What is God telling us?"  Why did God make a day and a night?  What are these realities for you, for me?  Did you ever think that it is in the daylight that most speaking occurs and that in the darkness of night the mind and heart have an opportunity to think about what was said earlier in the day?  To me it is interesting that King David describes how God's handiwork keeps the universe in order and then turns to the ways God gives humankind what we could call his handiwork to humanity.  The moon, the stars, the sun, the oceans and rivers, etc. all play a significant role in the day-to-day "running of God's world."  At the same time, note what David writes about very real "structures" that keep humanity running:  the law of the Lord, the testimony of the Lord, the precepts of the Lord, the commandment of the Lord,  the ordinances of the Lord.  I suspect that at first reflection perfect law does not link to reviving the soul; the Lord's testimony making the simple wise, the hearts rejoicing because of the precepts of the Lord, the commandment opening up the human eye etc.  All of these King David writes are "more to be desired than gold, even much fine gold."  All of these divine creations both those that regulate the earth and those that guide humanity are around us 24/7 but do we even take five minutes to realize their importance and their giftedness to us each day?

Let's consider "the commandment" David mentions.  It is the first and greatest commandment.  You know that one, don't you?  "I am the Lord, your God ...."  The line stopped there purposefully.  Why?  What is to be garnered here is this:  It is to be understood as God saying to you and me, "I work for you."  Sound strange?  How often in Old and New Testament does God remind us  "I am here for you."  "I will walk with you."  We seem to forget that connection, don't we ... until someone asks us what that first and greatest commandment is and what its meaning is.

At the end of the psalm the King moves from praise of God's craftsmanship (!!!) to words petitioning God to not only take care of the universe and humanity, he asks that God take care of you personally.  Yes, direct care for you.  "Clear me from hidden faults....Keep presumptuous sins away for us, preventing their dominion over us.  And, lastly, let whatever I say or whatever my prayer might be that both will be what is acceptable in his sight.  And why all of this?  David sees in this great creative God a firm foundation rock and a redeemer.  Could you ask for anything better?

Ask the Lord for what you want, for what you need.  King David is asking God to be freed from whatever willful faults might damage our hearts and our lives.