PSALM 19:1-10 – The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy. Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat. The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts 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 forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.”
One of the greatest challenges we face as Christians is the ability to let life consume us and we actually miss living life. Let me explain. Why were we created? To know God. Why do we exist? To know God. Why did Jesus come to earth? For us to know God. What is going to be the chief activity for believers in eternity? Knowing God. Yet, we can become so earthly-minded and earthbound that we simply go through our daily routines in life and may easily miss the purpose of life–knowing God. Now I am not saying, “Sell the house, quit the job, move to a mountain, become a hermit (monk) and just let the world go by as we seek to know God.” This is not God’s desire for us. But what He does want of us is to know Him in life as we do life. That means developing a mindset and even “heart-set” of seeing God through the course of our days and that points us to the scripture of the day.
Psalm 19 is known as “The Revelation Psalm”, no, not as in the book of Revelation, but as the Psalm revealing God to us. As we read it, it clearly breaks in two areas of revelation. Theologians call the first six verses “God’s general revelation through creation.” And it is easy to see why. David is proclaiming the wonders of God’s creative hand in the world. He mentions the heavens, the sky, day, night, and the sun as God’s “speech” to us. This revelation won’t save us but it does point us to the God who is there. As Christians, don’t let life becomes so busy, we fail to be lost in the wonder of creation. Go to the ocean (if you are close), go to the mountains, observe a flower, hike through a meadow with the prayer that the Lord would show us more and more of the splendor of His creative mind and hand.
The second part of Psalm 19 is known as “special” or specific revelation and that through scripture. This, too, is easy to see. The focus shifts from the physical world to the Word of God. And this is saving. This brings us from general knowledge of God to relational knowledge of God. But the same principle of observation applies. Don’t let life get so full and busy we neglect the scriptures for to neglect God’s Word is to neglect knowing God specifically and intimately. Take time to ready, study, and meditate on God’s Word regularly. After all, He has given it to us to live life pursuing its chief purpose–to know God.
God has graciously revealed Himself to us–in creation, in scripture. Let’s honor Him by pursuing Him through both. That is why we exist!
PRAYER: “Father, I praise You for making Yourself known to me in creation and Your Word. Help me seek You in both.”
QUOTE: “Spend time observing God’s creation. Spend time in the scriptures to know Jesus. Both point us to Himself.”
Because of Him,
Pastor Jim