The Heavens Declare His Glory

THE HEAVENS DECLARE HIS GLORY

Praise the Lord! Ye Heavens, Adore Him

Praise the Lord! ye heavens, adore Him; Praise Him, angels, in the height; Sun and moon, rejoice before Him; Praise Him, all ye stars of light.

Praise the Lord! He hath spoken; Worlds His mighty voice obeyed; Law which never shall be broken For their guidance hath He made.

“Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: He calleth them all by names by the greatness of His might, for that He is strong in power; not one faileth.” Isaiah 40:26

[ ] 4/26/2009 #826 THE GOD WHO SPEAKS Psalms 19:1-14

INTRODUCTION: The late Francis Schaeffer, referring to God, wrote, “He is there, and He is not silent.” Creation declares the existence of God. The Bible provides a clearer view of God. God continues to speak through creation, the Bible, and through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus in Scripture often stated: “If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.” Are you hearing what God has spoken by His creation, by His Word, and by His Son? If so, what are you doing in response to what you have heard?

I. WITNESS OF CREATION

A. MAJESTY OF CREATION. Creation is a witness to the Majesty of the Creator. It reveals the glory of the Creator. We marvel at the things God has made, but the Creator is greater than His creation. God’s glory is so great and glorious that there will be no need of the sun in heaven. (Rev. 22:5) We can easily understand why Isaiah, John and others in the Bible were overcome in the presence of the Lord. (Isa. 6:1-8; Rev. 1:12-18)

“When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?” (Psalm 8:3-4)

B. MARVEL OF CREATION. We have lost the marvel of creation. When we take His creation for granted, we lose sight of God and His awesome power and presence. In George McDonald’s commentary he wrote: “Think, first of all, what they tell about the immensity of the universe. If we traveled at the speed of light—186,000 miles a second or roughly six trillion miles a year—it would take us ten billion years to reach the farthest point we can see with a telescope. But this would still be far from the outermost limits of space. Now astronomers think that space may have no bounds at all! Our earth is nothing but a tiny speck in a limitless expanse!”

“For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him.” Col. 1:16

C. MESSAGE OF CREATION. (v. 2-4) The message of creation is unrelenting and universal. David states that “Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge.” Everything in creation declares God’s glory and presence. Paul declared in Romans 1:20 “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.” We are confronted 24/7 with the fact that God exist. No one is excluded because the message of creation is universal. “There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.” The creation gives an infallible witness to the presence of God. As a house reveals there is a carpenter, creation reveals there is a Creator. The message of creation is understandable by man. Paul said, “they are without excuse.” John Calvin, writing in his famous Institutes of the Christian Religion said: “the greater part of mankind walk blindfold in this glorious theatre.” We see the sun marching across the sky in verses 5-6 being used as an image of majesty. However, these are but symbols indicating the broader sweep of creation. Everything in creation declares God’s glory and presence. Creation tells us of the existence of God and His creativity. The Bible gives us a greater revelation of God showing us that He is holy, righteous, loving, and gracious.

II. WORD OF REVELATION

The Bible is God’s revelation of His holy character and man’s hopeless condition. The Word of revelation exalts God and enlightens man. In this Psalm, David gives us six descriptions of the Word of God and the purpose the Word achieves. The apostle Paul pointed out that “the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, and just, and good.” (Rom. 7:12)

A. WORD DESCRIBED. (v. 7-9) 1) “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul.” God’s Word is a perfect treasure of truth. It has the power to convict of sin and the power to convert (transform) the sinner. The word “soul” refers to the whole person. The Word of truth can transform a person through the power of Christ living within the believer.

2) “The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.” The Word of God is sure just as the unchanging character of its Author. The word “simple” speaks of a person who is naïve, easily influenced, undiscerning. The Word gives “wisdom to the simple.” The person who has committed his life to Christ and His Word can grow in understanding, wisdom, and knowledge of God. He can learn how to live to please God.

3) “The statues of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart.” God has made the rules to give us instructions on how to live. Happiness and joy are the blessings that are ours when we live according to His Word. “Blessed (happy) are they that hear the Word of God, and keep it.” (Luke 11:28)

4) “The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.” The commandment of the LORD reveals what God requires. The word “pure” means that God’s Word is free from any imperfection or corruption.” The Word of God gives spiritual light to those who are in spiritual darkness.

5) “The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever.” Reverence and godly fear of God will cause a sinner to take a spiritual bath. The Word of God has a cleaning effect upon us. Jesus said, “Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.” (John 15:3) Philosophy and psychology of man becomes obsolete and are replaced by new ways of thinking. “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” Col. 2:8 The eternal Word of God never changes and is always relevant. The Word of God should control the thoughts, action, and attitude of the believer so he will be conformed to be more like Christ.

6) “The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.” The Word of God is true and right. The words of man is filled with lies and deceit. God’s law, judgments, ordinances puts forward what is best for His people. Many people are “Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (2 Tim. 3:7) These people never come to Jesus who is “Truth” as He is revealed in the Bible. (John 14:6) “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.” (John 5:39-40) The written Word of God reveals the Living Word who is Jesus, the one who gives eternal life to sinners.

B. WORD DESIRED. (v. 10-11) The psalmist places ultimate value on the Word of God. Its worth is greater than all earthly treasures and possessions. The Word of God is to be desired more than fine gold. Like gold, men must dig for its treasures. There are few people who are willing to put forth the effort or time to discover the precious truths in the Bible. God’s Word is sweeter than honey and the honeycomb. The Word brings refreshment and enrichment to the soul. The Word gives warnings. It guides the believer to stay on the straight and narrow path. The Word can give understanding to keep one from going astray from God. There are rewards for keeping God’s Word for the presence as well as the future. “Godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come” (1 Tim. 4:8).

III. WATCHFUL AGAINST SIN

A. WATCHFUL IN PRAYER. (v. 12-13) First, the psalmist requested cleansing from secret sins. He knew the danger and the destructiveness of those hidden faults. The person who loves God doesn’t want anything between himself and His Lord. Secondly, the psalmist requested restraint from willful sin. David prayed, “Keep thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me.” Jesus taught His disciples to pray: “And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.” (Matt. 6:13) Pride, self-reliance, rebellion, and ingratitude are all sins of presumption. The sin of presumption is the worst form of sin against God and like the psalmist we must ask for grace that these sins will not have dominion over us.

B. WATCHFUL IN PRACTICE. (v. 14) The psalmist wanted his words, his thoughts, and his actions to be acceptable to the LORD. In Psalms 119:9 the question is asked, “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way?” The answer is, “By taking heed thereto according to thy word.” The Word of God has the power to cleanse from sin. While our old sin nature is not eradicated, the Word of God will empower us to sin less. We can live blameless lives. “Thy Word have I hidden in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” (Ps. 119:11)

The psalmist referred to the LORD as “my strength, and my redeemer.” Jesus Christ is our strength and our redeemer. Jesus purchased the believing sinner out from the slave market of sin by His death and shed blood. (Rom. 3:24; 1 Cor. 6:19-20; Eph. 1:7; 1 Pet. 1:18-19; Rev. 5:9) Like the psalmist, we should desire to be pleasing to our Lord Jesus.

LESSONS FOR LIFE: 1. No one can plead ignorance to the existence of God. All are without excuse. 2. God has given us His Word so we may live to please Him. How much of the Word are you applying in your daily walk? 3. Presumptuous sins are costly. Are you presuming upon God? 4. God has spoken through His creation, through His Word, and by His Son. The Lord ”now commandeth all men everywhere to repent.” (Acts 17:30) Either you will turn from sin to the Savior or you will burn in hell. The choice is yours.