27 January 2013
I. Introduction
-- turn in
Bibles to Psalm 19:1-14
Psalm 19:1-14 (NIV)
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 display knowledge.
3 There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.
4 Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun,
5 which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion, 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 hidden from its heat.
7 The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving 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 fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous.
10 They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.
11 By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.
12 Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults.
13 Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression.
14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.
-- It wasn't until the end of the line, as the ambassador from
-- and if it bothers us this much, imagine how it bothers God -- imagine what God thinks when He speaks to us and we don't take the time to listen or we just rush through our prayers and our Bible readings and daily devotions and get on with life
-- that's why I felt led to start the "Exalt the Word" challenge in this new year -- to give you a chance to just slow down and read God's word in a deliberate, intentional fashion and to give you the chance to hear God speak -- to listen to His voice -- and to respond to His word
-- and, I've said it before and I'm going to say it again -- it's not so important that you read through the Bible in a year or that you finish each day's readings -- what is important is that you are listening for God -- that as you read you ask yourself, "What am I hearing? -- What is God saying to me? -- What does God want me to do with what I just read?"
-- the goal is to reach the place where it become second-nature to listen for God and to look for His presence -- not just when we are taking time out of our day to read His word -- but every moment of every day -- when we're walking through life and going through our daily routines to just stop and thing, "Where is God? -- What is He saying? -- What is He doing right now? And what does He want me to do?"
-- if
you're following along in the Bible reading plan that I gave you, then you
would have had the opportunity to read this Psalm last Sunday -- when I read
it, it just shouted out to me and confirmed what we were trying to do in this
"Exalt the Name" challenge -- so I wanted to take a few moments here
this morning to just look at this Psalm in a little more depth and see what we
can hear from God through His word
-- this
Psalm was written by King David -- the man after God's own heart -- a man who
knew God intimately -- who had a relationship with Him from the time he was a
boy and who continued to spend time with God throughout his long life
-- that's
not to say David was perfect -- the Bible tells us of the times he strayed from
God's commands and suffered the consequences -- but it also tells us of how
David returned to God and how God's word sustained him through trials and tribulations-- this Psalm reminds us that God is constantly speaking to us and that if we listen and respond to His word, we will experience renewing and revival and restoration in our lives -- let's look at this Psalm together again now
II. God's Revelation through Creation
-- verse
1-2
Psalm 19:1-2 (NIV)
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 display knowledge.
-- here in
the beginning of this Psalm, David reminds us that God speaks to us through His
creation -- he writes that the heavens declare the glory of God -- the skies
proclaim the work of His hand
-- all of
creation -- from the sun and moon -- from the stars and the heavenly bodies --
to the awesome splendors of this natural world -- everything reflects the glory
of God and proclaims His presence to all who see-- I have had the opportunity to see various places around this country and around the world -- I have seen the sun rise from the top of a mountain in Tennessee and watched as a new day began in Colorado -- I have stood at the base of waterfalls and marveled at the sheer power and grandeur of the water -- I have found myself on my hands and knees, engrossed at the striving of a beetle as it struggled to cross a moss-covered knoll -- and I cannot understand anyone who can look at this world and still say, "There is no God"
-- God speaks to us through His creation -- He has put Himself into this world so that might know Him and respond to Him
-- theologians call this "general revelation" -- God's self-disclosure to a watching world through His creation -- God making Himself known to all creation
-- we catch a sense of God's revelation through creation in Michael W. Smith's song, "Light of the World" -- "Light of the world -- You stepped down into darkness -- opened my eyes -- let me see"
-- that's exactly what David is saying here in these verses -- through God's creation, He opens our eyes and let's us see His glory -- His creation displays to us His power, wisdom, and divine nature -- it shouts to us through our everyday lives and tells us there is a God and we are not Him
-- the Bible tells us that God's general revelation is available to all people -- Matthew 5:45 tells us that God causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good and that He sends rain on the righteous and unrighteous
-- God's revelation is a means of grace by which He speaks to the world
-- verse
3-6
3 There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.
4 Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to
the ends of the world. In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun, 5 which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion, 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 hidden from its heat.
-- God's
revelation goes out to all people in all places -- it goes to the ends of the
world -- and the truth revealed about God through creation is enough to make
all people accountable to know about God and to worship Him -- and it is
sufficient to condemn those who plainly see there is a God but who refuse to
worship Him
-- Romans
1:19-20 says, "what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has
made it plain to them -- for since the creation of the world God's invisible
qualities -- His eternal power and divine nature -- have been clearly seen,
being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse"-- every single person from the beginning of time -- every man, woman, and child who has every lived -- knows there is a God because God has revealed Himself to them through His creation -- and since they know there is a God, they are required to acknowledge Him and worship Him
-- musician
Michael Card said in an interview with Discipleship Journal: "Again and
again in China I talked to people who had never heard of Christianity, never
heard of Jesus, never heard a single word from the Bible -- yet through nature
and their God-given conscience, many believed in God
--
"not only did they believe God existed -- they had derived some
understanding about His loving character because he provided food, water, and a
beautiful world. One old woman told me, "I've known him for years. I just
didn't know his name."[Source: Michael Card, from interview in Discipleship Journal (Nov/Dec 2002), p. 72]
-- David
writes here that God's word and His revelation of Himself is like the sun
rising over us -- it shines light on His presence and makes us responsible to
worship Him and to love Him, even if we don't fully understand the magnitude of
who He is and what He has done at this moment
-- and the
thing about God's creation is it is always there -- reminding of us of God and
illuminating our hearts-- as I was reflecting on this Psalm and God's revelation of Himself through creation, I was reminded of the faith of a Russian Christian around the turn of the century -- as the communists began to take over Russia, they began to tear down the churches and remove all the symbols of God that were in that country
-- this Christian was confronted by a member of the Soviet police, who proudly said, "We will crush your religion. We will remove everything that represents your God to you."
-- to which the Christian replied, "Oh really, how will you do that? Will you pull the stars from the sky? Will you darken the sun and the moon? Will you destroy God's handiwork in nature?"
-- the Soviet policeman was left standing there, speechless -- you see, he could destroy the man-made symbols -- he could pass laws declaring God was dead -- but the truth of the situation could not be changed -- God created this world and the heavens and the skies will continue to proclaim His glory and His presence until the end of the age
III. God's Revelation through His Word
-- now, while
general revelation is sufficient to make everyone accountable to the truth of
God's presence and to the requirement to worship Him, it is not sufficient for
salvation
-- general
revelation awakens our understanding of the need for salvation but does not
reveal the means of salvation -- for that we need God's special revelation
-- theologians
define God's "special revelation" as God's disclosure of Himself by
an act of direct revelation -- in other words, God's special revelation is the
way He communicates with us to reveal His plans of salvation and redemption and
restoration -- there are many examples of God's special revelation in the Bible -- we've already seen many of these just in the daily readings we've been doing this month
-- God has spoken through angels -- through dreams and visions -- through missionaries and special messengers -- through the prophets -- through His church -- through circumstances -- and through the Holy Spirit in response to prayer
-- but as we all know, the main way God speaks to us and reveals His plans for our lives is through His written revelation -- the Holy Scriptures
-- here in
this next section of Psalm 19 -- verses 7-10 -- David reminds us of God's
special revelation given to us through His written word
-- if you
read carefully, you'll see these verses follow a pattern -- first, David gives
us a different name for God's written word -- then he describes the character
of that particular understanding of God's word -- followed by the target of
God's word and the effect it can have in our spiritual lives-- as we go through this and as you look at this passage again at home, look for this pattern in this Psalm
-- let's
start at verse 7
7 The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The
statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.
-- remember
the pattern -- first, David gives us the name of the Word -- in this case, the
Law -- next, the character of the Word -- God's law is perfect -- this is
followed by the target and effect -- God's perfect law revives and restores our
soul
-- taken
together, we are told that God's law is perfect -- by following them our soul
is revived and restored -- it is brought back to life again -- made whole
through the power of His word in our lives
-- look at
the next one -- the statutes -- the testimony or witness of the word -- is
trustworthy -- sure -- reliable -- steadfast -- it makes the simple -- the
average person in this world -- wise in the ways of God
-- vs. 8
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.
-- vs. 9
9 The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The
ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous.
-- the fear
of the Lord -- reverential awe -- obedient respect -- worshipful submission --
and consideration of his ordinances and judgments -- affect our mind and our
will
-- this
verse reminds us God's word is true and righteous -- it is the standard by
which all else is measured -- it and it alone accurately reflects reality -- it
and it alone tells it like it really is-- we live in a world that constantly redefines what is right and what is acceptable -- we live in a world of shifting sand, where those in charge decide what is moral and right and just -- but God's word does not change -- it is permanent and relevant and never in need of alteration
-- while those around us may proclaim evil things "good" and immoral things "normal," God's word corrects and keeps us from following the wrong path or accepting a lie in place of His truth
-- as Adam Clarke put it, we find in God's word His "system of instruction, by which men are taught the knowledge of God and themselves -- directed how to walk so as to please God -- redeemed from crooked paths -- and guided in the way everlasting"
-- verse 10
10 They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.
-- God's word is more precious than gold and sweeter than honey -- many people in our day rush around trying to gain wealth and prestige and power -- but, in the end, all that they have accumulated will turn to dust
-- but David tells us that God's word is more precious than all the gold of the world -- it is sweeter than honey -- because it will never fade away -- it will never rust or be stolen or turn to dust -- God's word is the one thing in this world that we can depend on -- and the person who knows God's word and who follows God's commands is the wealthiest person there is
-- worldly knowledge and worldly wealth will only get you so far -- knowing God through His word will get you to heaven
-- before
we move on to the next section, I want to point out something I found really
interesting in this chapter -- if you go back to the original Hebrew, you'll
see that David changes how he calls on the name of God in this Psalm
-- in
verses 1-6, as David writes of God's general revelation through creation, he
uses the name Elohim for God -- Elohim is used to denote God's power and
majesty -- it is the same word used in Genesis 1 for God as we read of God
creating the heavens and the earth -- by using the name Elohim in the first section of this Psalm, David reminds us that God is Creator -- Maker -- Provider -- for all of creation -- for every man, woman, and child -- not just for the Christians -- not just for the Jews -- but for every person
-- the use of the name Elohim here speaks of God's prevenient grace that reaches out to all people at all times to call them into relationship with God
-- but here
in verses 7-10 David uses God's covenant name Yahweh -- the name by which the nation of Israel knew God -- this
is the name that God first gave Moses at the burning bush when Moses asked God,
"Whom do I say is sending me? -- Whom do I say You are?"
-- this
calls attention to the fact that God's written word is His special revelation
for His special people -- for those who know Him and for those He knows -- for
those who have a relationship with Him -- for those who responded to His
general revelation and who have come to know Him as Lord and Savior-- in other words, God speaks in creation to the entire world as Elohim so we might respond to Him as Yahweh -- Yeshua -- Jesus
IV. God's Revelation Demands a Response
-- let's
finish this up -- verse 11-14
11 By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is
great reward.
12 Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults. 13 Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression.
14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.
-- God
doesn't speak just for the sake of speaking -- He speaks to communicate His
will and His plans for our lives -- He speaks that we might respond to what He
is telling us
-- God's
word always demands a response-- David writes here that God's word serves two main purposes -- it guides our footsteps and keeps us on the right path -- it rewards us and leads us into God's blessings as we follow His words and His ways -- as we keep His law and His precepts
-- but, on the other hand, David writes that God's word also warns us when we have missed the mark -- when we have strayed away from God's path and are heading the wrong way -- God's word is like a warning light in our lives -- an alarm that lets us know something is wrong
-- it leads to recognition of who we are and of where we are at with Christ
-- in verse 12 it says that God's word reveals our hidden faults -- this is referring to unintentional sins and sins of omission -- as we read God's word, we grow into a deeper understanding of what is right and what is wrong -- and we start to realize that there are some things in our lives that we have been doing that are actually wrong and are hurtful to us or to others -- like Paul's example in the New Testament with the eating of meat sacrificed to idols
-- in verse 13 David writes that God's word not only reveals willful sins, but keeps us from committing them -- God's word becomes a boundary in our lives -- kind of like the sidelines on a football field -- by reading God's word -- by knowing what He is saying -- we know what is acceptable and what is not -- we know where we can go and what we can do and what crosses the line of God's law
-- when we come to know Christ as Lord and Savior -- when we hear Him and respond to His word and abide by His law -- then sin no longer rules over us and we are blameless in the sight of God -- innocent of all transgression
-- following God's word makes us pleasing in His sight and leads us to redemption, restoration, and rest in His eternal arms
V. Closing
-- The
American Bible Society recently reported on "The State of the Bible in
2012" -- and there's some good news and some bad news about Bible reading
and biblical literacy in -- First, here's the encouraging news -- 85 percent of all homes in
-- But here's the bad news -- even though most of the homes in America have a Bible, 36 percent of Americans read the Bible less than once a year and many only look at the Bible during worship services
-- how are we to hear God if we don't open His letters? -- we spend more time checking and reading e-mail, texts, and Facebook statuses than we do listening to the God of all creation
-- "One
day as Rabbi Akiva was shepherding his flocks, he noticed a tiny stream
trickling down a hillside, dripping over a ledge on its way toward the river
below -- Below was a massive boulder -- Surprisingly, the rock bore a deep impression
-- The drip, drip, drip of water over the centuries had hollowed away the
stone.
-- "Akiva
commented, "If mere water can do this to hard rock, how much more can
God's Word carve a way into my heart of flesh?" -- "Akiva realized that if the water had flowed over the rock all at once, the rock would have been unchanged -- It was the slow but steady impact of each small droplet, year after year, that completely reformed the stone."
[Source: Lois Tverberg, Walking in the Dust of Rabbi Jesus (Zondervan, 2012)]
-- we need
to learn to receive God's word like the boulder in this story received the
water from the stream
-- the
Bible is God's special revelation to us -- it tells us who God is -- what He
has done for us -- and what He want us to do for Him -- it is a living word that can touch our lives today -- it can transform us -- it can revive us -- it can renew us -- it can sustain us -- but it can't do any of that if we don't let it
-- we have to take it in daily -- let it become a part of us -- let it be the vessel by which we hear God speak to us -- so we will become the men and women He has called us to be and so we might walk in the blessings He promises in His kingdom
-- we're
one month into our "Exalt the Word" challenge -- and I don't know how
you're doing with that -- but if for some reason this challenge has been like
most New Year's resolutions and you've found yourself not having time to read
-- I want to encourage you to start over -- start today -- and spend some time
in God's word
-- maybe
don't try to read the whole Bible this year -- just read the New Testament
readings that are given for you in the reading plan I gave you-- the important thing is that we are in the Bible and we are listening for God and we are responding as He leads so we can be transformed and renewed in His presence
-- let us
pray
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