Psalm 19 – The Heavens Declare!
The psalmist seems to shout the first three words of Psalm 19 – the heavens declare! They declare the glory of the Lord, but what does that mean? And what else do they declare?
Psalm 19
The first part of Psalm 19 speaks of the glory of the Lord as found in nature
“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[b] 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.” (1-6)
The second part speaks of the glory of God as found through God’s laws.
“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 fear of the Lord is pure,
enduring forever.
The decrees of the Lord are firm,
and all of them are righteous.” (7-9)
How are the two connected?
God’s Law Shines through the Sun
God’s law is written in nature, in the sun. In verses 8-11 we see six synonyms for God’s revelation: The law of the Lord is perfect; the statutes trustworthy; the precepts are right; the commands are radiant; the fear of the Lord is pure; the decrees are firm.
Speaking about God’s laws the psalmist states:
“They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the honeycomb.” (10)
In verse 11, the psalmist adds this about the laws of God: “By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward.”
The Hebrew word for warn means both warn and shine. Daniel, 12:3, states, “But those with insight shall shine brightly like the splendor of the firmament.”
In other words, God’s word shines like the sun in the sky. “In other religious literature the sun is a judge and lawgiver since it sees all in its daily course.” (commentary NAB) As the sun traverses across the sky, giving light to the world below, God’s law shines on all.
Eclipse, April 8, 2024
For the past week, the top news story has been the eclipse that occurred on Monday. Why so much excitement? There has been much speculation about this event. Some claim it is God’s warning to the earth, foretelling doom. Others see it as a manifestation of God’s glory. Our God who controls all of nature, can take away the light of the sun in a moment, then restore it.
In Scripture it has been seen as God taking God’s favor away from God’s people. “He said: I will hide My countenance from them, and see how they fare in the end. For they are a treacherous breed, children with no loyalty in them” (Deut. 32: 18-20).
Just as it is dangerous to look directly into the sun, it is dangerous to look directly at God. As Jeffrey Saltkin writes: “So, God is in eclipse. It is not that God is not there; it is merely(!) that we cannot sense God’s presence. God is still there; it is simply that God is not palpable. It is dangerous — to directly experience the hidden nature of God can sear itself into your eyes, and into your soul.”
(Is the eclipse good for the Jews? (religionnews.com)
Psalm 19 – The Heavens Declare!
The heavens continue to declare the wonder of our God, through God’s revelation in nature and in word. The psalm ends with the words:
“May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” (14)
The experience of God’s glory in nature and God’s law results in the desire to keep our thoughts and words pure, focused on God.
The heavens are declaring. What do you hear?
(For another take on this psalm see: Psalm 19 – God’s Glory Shines in Heaven and in God’s Law – Patricia M Robertson)
This post is part of a series of blog posts on the Psalms. Sign up to follow this blog and receive a free copy of Still Dancing, the second book in my Dancing through Life Series. click here to sign up
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