The Skies, The Scriptures
As has become tradition, we’re taking a bit of the Summer to teach in The Psalms. The Psalms are an expertly and intentionally crafted collection of poems, songs, and hymns written by God’s people to reflect on the Story of God. If you haven’t already, we highly suggest you take a moment to watch the video overview our friends at Bible Project did for Psalms — it’s AMAZING!
For Week 4, we jumped into Psalm 19:
1 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.
The ESV Gospel Transformation Bible sums up Psalm 19 well: “ Ps. 19 As in Psalm 18, David calls the Lord his “rock” (19:14). Only here the “rock” is God’s revelation of himself. Through his handiwork, everyone gains knowledge of God’s glory (v. 1–2; cf. Rom. 1:18–23). Through the creation and within the creature, God has generally disclosed enough about himself that everyone has an obligation to turn toward him for salvation (Rom. 2:15; 10:18). God has revealed himself by natural revelation (Ps. 19:1–6), and since the fall of humanity he has revealed himself more perfectly in the special revelation of his inspired Word (vv. 7–13). When embraced by faith, the Scriptures are gracious, “reviving the soul” (v. 7). Because their “testimony” is sure, they make us wise by warning us away from danger (vv. 7, 11; James 1:25). Because they are refreshing, their “precepts” rejoice the heart (Ps. 19:8; Prov. 25:13). Because they are “clean,” “enduring,” “true,” and “righteous,” they are more desirable than gold or honey (Ps. 19:9, 10; Rev. 16:7). In essence, God’s Word is representative of his own character—a fitting reason why Jesus will be identified as God’s Word in the New Testament (John 1:1).
By faithful adherence to God’s Word, the believer may expect “great reward” (Ps. 19:11). The problem is that no one naturally repents or obeys. Rather than turn to God who graciously reveals himself in creation, everyone suppresses the truth (Rom. 1:18). Rather than heed warnings written on his heart, everyone rebels against the law through “hidden faults” if not by “presumptuous sins” and “great transgression” (Ps. 19:12–13). Like the scorching sun, the written Word exposes every meditation of the heart (v. 14; Heb. 4:12). How is it possible then to be “blameless,” “innocent,” and “acceptable” (Ps. 19:13–14)? Only through Christ. He himself is the Word through whom the world was created (John 1:1–3). He has ultimately become the “redeemer” (Ps. 19:14) whose righteous record is the “rock” of a believer’s life (Matt. 7:25).“
Give the sermon text a read and a listen as we close out the Book of Ruth and we hope to see you this week at a Family Meal and/or a DNA group to dive even deeper.