The Heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of His hands.
The Lord’s Word is Trustworthy – Psalm 19:1-9
1 The Heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of His hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they reveal knowledge.
3 They have no speech, they use no words;
no sound is heard from them.
4 Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
In the Heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.
5 It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,
like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
6 It rises at one end of the Heavens
and makes its circuit to the other;
nothing is deprived of its warmth.
7 The law of the Lord is perfect,
refreshing the soul.
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the Lord are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
9 The [reverent] fear of the Lord is pure,
enduring forever.
The decrees of the Lord are firm,
and all of them are righteous.
Psalm 19:1-9 Commentary
Both God’s Law and His creation make His existence known to the world. The knowledge of how great and magnificent God is turned the psalmist inward to examine himself and his beliefs. Ultimately this lead him to pray, praise and worship his Creator. Because of its powerful praises to Heaven and about the Law, Psalm 19 (along with Psalm 1 and 119) is called a Torah Psalm.
The opening stanza of King David’s Psalm 19 announces that Heaven and all the rest of creation relentlessly proclaim the work and glory of God. The great and vast wonders of creation function together as one big harmonious voice for mankind to witness to and increase in their faith (v 1-6). The sun is seen as the most astonishing example of God’s creative work. Think for a moment how the sun stays reliably and unexplainably in its perfect orbit and on perfect course. Or how about the sheer miracle behind its life-sustaining power and heat for all creation big and small. No worldly science can explain this phenomenon. That is because God is far above and greater than even the smartest science or scientist. He is the Creator … they His creation and, thus, all is made existent by His omniscient power, plan, divine design, and love of His creation.
In addition to acknowledging and praising the creation of God, the psalmist praised His perfect Law and instruction. God’s Law, His will for our lives, is the primary way in which He instructs us forward on the right path. In this psalm, the Divine Law as well as creation points solely to God — He who unites two seemingly totally different things together as one perfect guide. And while creation may not have an audible voice, its beauty and regularity point only to the Creator. The Law on the other hand, having been clearly written for us to follow, continues to enlighten and mystify all the senses today.
The magnificence of the Creator and His creation humbled the psalmist to a state of knee-bending pleas of mercy, worship and prayer. Today, take a moment to marvel at your Creator and the hand of His work. Take a moment to reflect on how incredible your God is, how much He loves you, and how you have been created in His image and for Him for eternity. As you spend time with Him today, standing amidst His creation, listen for His gentle whisper that continues to beckon you to go deeper with Him. Through the wind and the rain, He is speaking to you.
Psalm for Meditation
The Heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of His hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they reveal knowledge.
They have no speech, they use no words;
no sound is heard from them.
Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
In the Heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.
It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,
like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
It rises at one end of the Heavens
and makes its circuit to the other;
nothing is deprived of its warmth.
The law of the Lord is perfect,
refreshing the soul.
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
The precepts of the Lord are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
The [reverent] fear of the Lord is pure,
enduring forever.
The decrees of the Lord are firm,
and all of them are righteous.
Prayer
Lord, as I look around at Your incredible creation today, unencumbered by the world and its troubles I, like the psalmist, am also brought to a state of worship, praise and prayer. Thank You for giving me the gift of life; the opportunity to witness Your splendor and glory here on earth. Help me to always stay focused on You, Your Word and Your will for my life all the days of my life. Amen.
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