What does Psalm 19:14 mean?

David wanted his words and the thoughts of his heart to be acceptable to the Lord. When a worshiper brought an animal to the sanctuary to be sacrificed to the Lord, a priest would examine it to see if it was free of blemishes. If a blemish was found, neither the animal nor the worshiper was accepted by the Lord (see Leviticus 1:3–10; 22:17–25).

Taking that concept of being "blemish-free" to heart, our words should comfort or edify those who hear them. Colossians 4:6 exhorts us to use speech that is "gracious, seasoned with salt, so that [we] may know how [we] ought to answer each person." Hebrews 10:25 summons us to encourage one another. Ephesians 4:15 directs us to speak the truth in love, and Ephesians 5:19 tells us to "[address] one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs."

Jesus taught that the heart is the source of our words. He declared, "For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks" (Matthew 12:34). It is important, therefore, to fill the heart with Scripture (Psalm 119:11).

In this Psalm, David addresses the Lord as his rock and his redeemer. He recognized that the Lord was the provider of his security and his salvation. By shedding His blood on the cross, Jesus is our Redeemer (1 Peter 1:18–19), and as our living Lord He keeps us safe (1 Peter 1:3–5).