Psalms 19
June 10, 2018
Psalm 19
READ: Psalm 19
Psalm 19 is a beautiful, critical, and sobering reminder of who our Creator is and what we are not. Ask the Lord to make this more clear for you as you study this Psalm.
You may be like me and from time to time need to be reminded how little power we actually have. Simply go to the beach and look out. The water meets the horizon and you have played no part in it. The waters teem with creatures humans have yet to discover. The sky is a masterpiece changing from moment to moment, a profound display of grace, power, authority, splendor, mercy, and obedience. Go to the foot of a high mountain and look up. The peaks reach the sky with rocks placed just so, and you have had nothing to do with it. In the middle of rocky terrain, sturdy and beautiful trees grow with no toil from a gardener. Creation everywhere demonstrates God’s mighty hand, splendor, provision, and authority.
What in God’s creation produces a sense of awe in you? How does this created thing display God’s authority, splendor, and provision?
Psalm 19 says the precepts of the Lord are right, making the heart glad; the command of the LORD is radiant, making the eyes light up (v.8). My sinful heart often doesn’t take too warmly to these words. Often I want to do life my way rather than obey Jesus. But as a follower of Jesus, I must ask: what does He command? What does He demand of me?
He commands you and I to die to ourselves everyday by taking up our cross to serve Him. He commands that I forgive, just as He forgives me. Creation obeys His commands. The sun, on His cue, rises and sets, and the stars sparkle for a given time. The clouds form, the wind blows, the leaves change, and flowers bloom at His command. If creation’s obedience to its Maker shows His splendor, how much more does a human’s obedience to their Creator give glory to God?
When creation is in line with its Maker’s commands, it blooms, flourishes, and is breathtaking. How much more is that true of a person who follows the LORD’s commands? With His commands, He is taking every piece of me that doesn’t look like Jesus and is working moment by moment to make me more like Jesus. He is taking our dry bones and bringing them to life, washing our sin-stained hearts white as snow, renewing our minds to be like that of Christ. How radiant, breathtaking and awe-inspiring is a heart that submits to the Creator. It produces a fear, a holy reverence, about the transformative work of Christ. Psalm 19 calls us to fight our sinful inclinations in pursuit of being more like our Savior. We must take up our Ephesians 6 armor given to us as believers at the moment of our salvation.
REFLECT:
1. What are three commands God has given to creation that you can see with your eyes?
2. What are some commands that God has spoken in His word that you have a hard time submitting to? Why do you have a hard time submitting?
3. What are some areas of your life that you can see God working to make you look more like Jesus? How has this made your heart glad or your eyes light up?
MEMORIZE: Psalm 19:1-2
GO FURTHER: Read Ephesians 6:10-18.
Instead of just seeing a day as that, a day, let's be challenged to really see creation. Look outside and see our Maker’s mighty display; be reminded that He is over and in every detail. He has all authority and power. He makes galaxies, created the sweet aroma of a brilliant white gardenia, and designed the fuzzy little caterpillar, but in that authority and power He has chosen to have mercy. What is His greatest display of mercy? He has mercy on our sin-stained hearts and has sent Jesus to atone for them. His commands are meant to bring us to life by showing us how to live and pointing us to our only hope in Him. So sometimes it hurts to have our sinful nature put to death, but we can trust that His ways are more desirable than gold; our hearts will be made glad and our eyes will light up when we follow His commands.
Psalm 19
1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the expanse proclaims the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour out speech; night after night they communicate knowledge.
3 There is no speech; there are no words; their voice is not heard.
4 Their message has gone out to the whole earth, and their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun.
5 It is like a bridegroom coming from his home; it rejoices like an athlete running a course.
6 It rises from one end of the heavens and circles to their other end; nothing is hidden from its heat.
7 The instruction of the Lord is perfect, renewing one’s life;
the testimony of the Lord is trustworthy, making the inexperienced wise.
8 The precepts of the Lord are right,
making the heart glad; the command of the Lord is radiant, making the eyes light up.
9 The fear of the Lord is pure,
enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are reliable and altogether righteous.
10 They are more desirable than gold—than an abundance of pure gold; and sweeter than honey dripping from a honeycomb.
11 In addition, your servant is warned by them, and in keeping them there is an abundant reward.
12 Who perceives his unintentional sins? Cleanse me from my hidden faults.
13 Moreover, keep your servant from willful sins; do not let them rule me.
Then I will be blameless and cleansed from blatant rebellion.
14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.