451_Our response to God’s revelation
Psalm 19 The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
2 Day to day pours out speech,
and night to night reveals knowledge.
3 There is no speech, nor are there words,
whose voice is not heard.
4 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,
5 which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber,
and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.
6 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.
7 The law of the Lord is perfect,
reviving the soul;
the testimony of the Lord is sure,
making wise the simple;
8 the precepts of the Lord are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is pure,
enlightening the eyes;
9 the fear of the Lord is clean,
enduring forever;
the rules of the Lord are true,
and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold,
even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey
and drippings of the honeycomb.
11 Moreover, by them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
12 Who can discern his errors?
Declare me innocent from hidden faults.
13 Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins;
let them not have dominion over me!
Then I shall be blameless,
and innocent of great transgression.
14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable in your sight,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
Several years ago, a group of scientists set up a telescope in a remote desert, far from the light pollution of the city, to capture a better view of the stars. On a cold, clear night, one of the researchers gazed at the night sky through the lens. After a long moment, he said to a colleague, “It’s so vast… it almost feels like Someone is trying to say something.” An atheist by conviction, he had stumbled across the truth that creation does speak. The question is: Are we listening?
Psalm 19 reflects on how God has revealed Himself to us—and more importantly, how we ought to respond to that revelation. The psalm opens our eyes to two primary ways God makes Himself known: through His creation and through His Word.
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.” The glory of God here refers not to something vague or mystical, but to the very essence of who God is—His love, power, creativity, intelligence, and wisdom. The universe is God’s canvas, painted with purpose and beauty. And the skies—the sun, moon, and stars—speak daily of His creative skill
This revelation is not limited to a privileged few but is given to all alike. The sun rises and sets every day, its presence and warmth experienced by all. The moon glows in the night, and the stars sparkle like diamonds across the heavens. No one on earth is beyond their reach. In fact, the psalmist says their voice goes out through all the earth, though they use no words.
He then paints a vivid picture of the sun, rising each morning with purpose, with consistency and delight, fulfilling its role as if with eager anticipation. Its light covers the earth’s surface, and nothing escapes its heat. It is fulfilling its creator’s desire with joy and precision.
And all creation follows suit. Jonah, the prophet who disobeyed God’s command to go and prophesy to Nineveh, found this out to his cost as he sailed instead to Tarshish. The wind and the sea obeyed God’s will to entangle the reluctant prophet in a storm. The great fish appointed by God to swallow Jonah did so, saving the prophet’s life and spitting him out on the dry land after three days. Later, God caused a plant to grow and provide shade to the prophet. And finally, he ordered a worm to destroy the plant bower. All alike obeyed the voice of their Creator.
Yet we who are made in His image and destined for eternity so often struggle to yield. We hesitate, negotiate, and resist.
The psalmist then turns to the Scriptures. Creation tells us that a God of splendor and might exists, but His Word tells us who He is—what He desires, what He promises, and how we can know Him personally.
David describes the Word of God with six rich expressions. First, it is perfect, reviving the soul. In its completeness, it expresses the fullness of God. Nothing is wanting, nothing is outdated. The Word of God is not flawed, nor does it fade. It gives insight for living and strength for trials. Unlike books that entertain or inform, the Bible transforms. It is alive and powerful, able to cut through the noise and reach our innermost being.
Next, he says God’s statutes are trustworthy, making wise the simple. Because scripture accurately reveals the nature of God, we can direct our thinking and our actions by it. Thus, anyone who lives by the knowledge of the God given in the Bible can gain wisdom, even without formal education or great intellect. It reveals the way of righteousness and eternal life. It shows us what it means to fear God.
The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. They are in accordance with the will of God, and therefore when we live by them things fall into order in our spirits and souls and minds. When our lives follow his design, we are richer and happier for it.
His commands are pure, giving light to the eyes. Their singleness of viewpoint shows us ourselves and our God in great clarity. This sight leads us to depend on his love and his power, and give him the glory that he deserves in our humble obedience.
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever. There is no impurity of motive or of character mixed with the revelation of the scripture, which explains why they stand forever, and are forever binding upon us though heaven and earth should pass away.
the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. The word of God expresses with complete accuracy the nature of God in his holiness, the sum of all that makes God God. The truth of his revelation in the law ensures that it is righteous and good and perfect, able to show us the path of holiness.
They are more precious than gold and sweeter than honey. God’s commands, often perceived as restrictive, are instead liberating and delightful to the one who understands their purpose.
And the Word also warns us that choices have consequences. There is great reward in keeping God’s commands, but also great danger in ignoring them. That awareness leads David into prayer.
“Who can discern his errors?” he asks. “Forgive my hidden faults.” The best intentions are not enough. We need forgiveness for the sins we know nothing about, but also to be kept from presumptuous, willful sins that brings irredeemable judgment. We need to be blameless, not in the eyes of men, but before God.
Thus he ends with the heartfelt plea, “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” Let every word, every thought, every motive be directed by the revelation of God that we too may be aligned with his will.
Creation listens. Creation obeys. Unceasing and never-failing obedience is manifest every day all around us. The stars never fail to shine, the sun never forgets to rise, the oceans respond to the moon’s pull without question. Yet we, the crown of God’s creation, often resist His voice. Why is it so?
Perhaps it’s because God has given us a choice. The sun is glorious, but it cannot love. The seas are powerful, but they cannot pray. The stars are consistent, but they cannot worship. Only we can do that. Only we were made to respond not just in obedience, but in love.
The psalm is a call to action. Let us not merely marvel at the heavens, forgetting the One who made them? Let us not just read His Word like any other book, but let it pierce our hearts and change our lives.
God has revealed Himself—through the rising sun, through the whisper of wind, through His enduring Word. Now is our brief window of opportunity to listen and obey. The world passes away, but those who heed His voice endure forever.
Let us then be people who listen—not just with our ears, but with our hearts. Let us seek to obey—not reluctantly, but joyfully. Let the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts reflect lives that are aligned with His will, in faithfulness and joy.