The Heavens Declare The Glory of God

“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.” (Psa.19:1)

In these times of distress among nations and so much confusion everywhere Psalm 19 is good to read. We had a sermon on it last Sunday at church and I realized how much it can help today. There are times when the awesomeness of God can overwhelm us. It has happened to me a number of times. A few of those times was when I was on a small island in Fiji and also in Australia and New Zealand when you’re away from the city lights. The whole night sky reveals the wonderful stars of the southern hemisphere. It was truly magnificent, and the Southern Cross took my breath away. Living here in Vancouver, British Columbia, there is an abundance of beauty around us and we are blessed to live here. It is at such times as these that the words of Psalm 19 are truly revealed. God reveals Himself through His creation and when you can truly see His creation in all its glory it is a very humbling experience and it makes you realize what an awesome God we worship and praise. He deserves all of it. His creation speaks to us through all that we see and hear. “Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.” (Psa. 19: 2-3). His creation is new every morning and something new is revealed to us every day.

As wonderful and beautiful as the natural beauty is though it cannot change our hearts. Only the Word of God and His laws can do that. That is why we cannot worship nature; we must worship God for His creation. “His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof. 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 for ever: 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.” (Psa. 19: 6-10) The law of the Lord is perfect and it reveals who God is. His ways are not our ways and our ways are not His and that’s why we need His law to show us what is good and what is bad. Our natural desire to do it our way but God’s law restores us and gives us life. Romans 7:12 says, “Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.” There are times we don’t even realize something we have said or done is inappropriate, but we ask God to forgive us for these sins and reveal them to us. “Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.” (Psa. 19:11-14). Through His law we are warned of the consequences of not keeping His law and of the rewards when we do. Presumptuous here appears to mean proud and arrogant, self-righteous, think we know it all. These are sins of the heart and we must deal with them and keep them under control by the powerful grace of God to help us. Pride cometh before a fall and David here appears to be praying “Lord keep me humble” which is what I believe all Christians should be praying every day. I have always loved verse 14. To me it expresses all of who we are in Christ. The words that come out of our mouth, what are we saying, what are they revealing of what’s in our heart? What are we meditating on in our heart? Is it acceptable to the Lord who is our strength and our Redeemer? David is praying that his life both inwardly and outwardly would be acceptable to God; good and holy.

It is through worship and praise that we honour God and in the way we live our lives on a daily basis shows how much we love and trust Him. Luke 6:45 says “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.” It is our heart that reveals to God what we really are. Of course, our redeemer is Jesus Christ our Lord. We will notice in David’s writings that most of them end in David recognizing the LORD for who He really is. 2 Corinthians 12:9 says, “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” In Psalm 19 God reveals Himself through the Heavens and Creation, through the Scriptures, and shows us the reality of having Him speak to us. It is an important Psalm for us to look at.

These final words from Hebrews show that our relationship with Jesus Christ should be our priority. His delight is to reveal Himself to us, but we have to have a personal desire to do this. “Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” (Heb. 4:11-16).

“To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.” (Jude 1:25)