Resources

I once spoke to someone after a church service like this, and they said “God really spoke to me through that sermon this evening”. They didn’t tell me exactly how, but it had clearly made a lasting impression. And for those of us who are Christians, that kind of story is encouraging but unsurprising because we’re probably used to the idea that God is a speaking God; we’ve experienced him speak to us through his word, often in small ways, sometimes in bigger ways – like with that person I just mentioned. But what we should never do is take the fact that God speaks for granted. We should celebrate it, and that’s what Psalm 19 is; it is King David’s song of praise to a God who speaks! It shows us how he speaks, how precious that is, and how we should respond to it. So, before we go any further let’s thank God that he speaks to us, and pray that he’ll speak to our hearts through his word now. Our first point this evening is:

1. God speaks through creation (Psalm 19.1-6)

Reading Psalm 19.1-6:

The heavens declare the glory of God,and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.Day to day pours out speech,and night to night reveals knowledge.There is no speech, nor are there words,whose voice is not heard.

David's experience is that God speaks through his creation – the heavens declare the glory of God and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. So much so that (Psalm 19.2) each day and each night pour out their message. Like a pan left on the hob for too long bubbles over, creation cannot contain itself – it constantly proclaims the glory of God! To glorify someone is, to coin a phrase, "to make a big deal" of them. Creation makes a big deal of God. It shows off his glory – his power/wisdom/importance and how worthy he is of honour and worship. Creation is screaming of God's glory. Yet, at the same time, it's completely silent. (Psalm 19.3) there is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Have you ever given someone else a knowing look? Ever been kicked under the dinner table when you've said something you shouldn't have? Or maybe that’s just me! Nothing is said, but something clear and important is communicated. And, David focuses on one example of this silent communication – the sun. Reading from Psalm 19.4-6:

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,which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber,and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.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.

The vastness of the sky above, David says, almost playfully, to God it's just like a tent for the sun to live in. The sun bursts over the horizon and shines – like a joyous groom bounding out of his room on his wedding day! The sun's light goes on and on and on – like an athlete who runs an ultramarathon and finishes with loads of energy left in the tank! The sun touches everything, giving light, heat and life itself. The sun was worshipped as a god in ancient religions, but David says it’s created by God, and declares, "God is the creator of this world…And he is glorious!"

I went to the Kielder Observatory for an evening of stargazing with a friend a few years ago. We enjoyed stunning views over the forest as the sun glowed in the late evening sky. We looked through the observatory's telescopes at stars. We saw Saturn – a little pin, but its distinctive ring clearly visible 750 million miles from earth, a planet 95 times bigger than this one. Amazing. (And, I won't spoil the story by mentioning anything about the midges). When has creation bowled you over recently? Maybe that spectacular view…that beautiful flower…that stunning sunrise. Creation is shouting how glorious God is! David wants us to look at our amazing world and to say "God is behind all of this splendour. How glorious he must be!" And Psalm 19 is saying “don’t waste that”. So, next time you feel creation speak to you, stop, think, pray. Know that the God who made something so stunningly beautiful also made and knows, and wants a relationship with you.

Another part of my Kielder experience was a film presentation. It astonished us with photos, videos and facts. You’re made to feel small and insignificant in comparison to the vastness of space and yet, of course, there was no mention of a creator. Throughout history, humans have fallen short. We stop at creation – it’s a signpost to God the creator. But we stop and we worship the signpost. We worship creation: our jobs, our money, our holidays – travelling the world and gaining new experiences, our houses, our hobbies, maybe even our families and our friends…Creation can seem more glorious that the creator. Don’t let that be the case in your life. Only God is worthy of your worship. God speaks through creation, as it shouts of his glory, but David is saying, that’s only the beginning. For God speaks even more clearly, far more remarkably, through his word. So, secondly:

2. God speaks through his word (Psalm 19.7-10)

Reading Psalm 19.7-10:

The law of the LORD is perfect,reviving the soul;the testimony of the LORD is sure,making wise the simple;the precepts of the LORD are right,rejoicing the heart;the commandment of the Lord is pure,enlightening the eyes;the fear of the LORD is clean,enduring forever;the rules of the LORD are true,and righteous altogether.More to be desired are they than gold,even much fine gold;sweeter also than honeyand drippings of the honeycomb.

So, David is describing the character of God's word – i.e. what it's like, and what it does, its effect, how it can work in any believer's life. And it’s a stunning picture! Six times in three verses the word LORD (in capital letters) is used. That’s YAHWEH – the personal name of God. No longer is God just the cosmic creator! Now he’s the God who speaks to us personally. His word brings him close to us. So, Psalm 19.7: God's word is described as perfect – it has no flaws, it offers all that is needed. And because of that it revives the soul. It re-energises us to see, and love and live for him. It is sure – i.e. reliable. It makes wise the simple. Without God's word we do not know the right way to live. But God's word gives wisdom about our world and how to relate to God. That leads to blessing.

Psalm 19.8 the precepts of the Lord are right. Living God’s way works – we see and know that to be true, and that leads to rejoicing in our hearts.
God's word is pure – it's completely unpolluted. It enlightens the eyes, so we can be alert and fresh, to see clearly the right way to live. Psalm 19.9: God's word is clean. Nothing in this world lasts. But God's word endures forever. And it is true – it's completely dependable. Following it to the end, banking everything on it, will not be a waste of time. And it all builds to the delight of Psalm 19.10:

More to be desired are they than gold,even much fine gold;sweeter also than honeyand drippings of the honeycomb.

Gold is of immense worth in and of itself. King David knew that better than anyone. Lots of gold and you were rich and powerful. No gold, and you weren’t really much of a king at all. And yet, David says that he’d trade all the gold he had for God’s word. That’s how valuable it is. God’s word is the sweetest of all tastes! So, David saw God’s word as perfect and true. And he valued it for what it is in itself and for the effect that it had on his life… He desired the word of God and its benefits more than anything else in the world! So, what about us? What does David’s example show us about how we should value the complete word of God, the Bible, as we have it today? The value of the Bible lies in what it is: the accurate, sufficient and perfect word of God. Of course, our world dismisses that. The Bible is viewed at best as irrelevant. At worst it’s considered dangerously outdated. And I wonder if this penetrates our minds more than we realise? Have you ever opened your Bible and thought “Am I really going to understand what this says? Am really going to actually get anything from this for my day? Isn’t what I’ll read going to seem so distant from my reality? Isn’t it going to feel like such hard work? What’s the point? Maybe later…”

How do you find Bible studies or listening to sermons? Maybe sometimes, truthfully, you disengage for a while. Sometimes you struggle to listen and apply. As someone said to me a while back “The problem I have isn’t lack of Bible teaching – it’s making the most of the Bible teaching I do get”. And he meant both his own personal opportunities, and the opportunities that we all have together. For all sorts of reasons, we look at Psalm 19 and we think “Maybe only at my very best do I value God’s word like David does here – and I’m not at my best very often”, but that’s one reason why we need Psalm 19, because we don’t feel like David does here about God’s word enough! And, probably, neither did David. This is a highpoint – a song to be sung, a prayer to be prayed so that its truth steeps into our minds and our souls. When we want to praise God for his creation and his word we’ve got to open up Psalm 19. But when we’re struggling to delight in the word of God, I think we’ve got to open up Psalm 19 and pray through its words, and mediate on its truths. I’ve decided I want to try and do that when I’m struggling to keep going with the Bible.

Maybe we could open these verses from Psalm 19 and say:
God’s word is perfect – it revives my soul.
It is sure – it makes me wise.
It is right – it leads to rejoicing in my heart.
It is pure – it opens my eyes.
It is clean – it endures forever, when so much in my life won’t last.
It is true – it is totally righteous, and I need that.

And as we pray this, let’s ask God to help us believe what he says about his word. The Bible is also valuable because of the benefits for us of reading and studying it. It does make us wise, it does revive us, because it shows us Jesus. It reveals who he is, how we can know him, and live for him and gain eternal life through him. That makes the Bible and all that it reveals utterly priceless. Through the power of the Spirit the living God speaks to us, personally, through it and he speaks about Christ.

As Jesus sat and prayed through Psalm 19, which he would have done, he would have known that one day his teaching, and the account of his death and resurrection would be written down. He would have known that his apostles would complete the word of God which would go out to the entire world – telling people about him. Jesus and his work have given us the complete word of God as we have it today! Jesus, as our New Testament reading showed us, was involved in the creation of the world! And yet he came into our world to save us, to speak the definitive message about who God is, and how we can get into relationship with him. Jesus came to fulfil the law that David writes about in Psalm 19, and to bring about a new and better way of relating to God through his work on the cross – one where we do not follow the old law, but one where we live by grace! Psalm 19 is fulfilled in Jesus. Creation points to him, and the word points to him. He is there for us to discover in the Bible. His great message of eternal life! Here’s how John Wesley echoed David. He wrote:

I want to know one thing – the way to heaven; how to land safe on that happy shore. God himself has condescended to teach the way; for this very end he came from heaven. He hath written it down in a book. O give me that book! At any price, give me the book of God! I have it: here is knowledge enough for me. Let me be a man of one book!

May we too be people of the book; who open its pages to see Jesus and all that he is, and all that it means to live for him. Lastly, we see how David responds to how God has revealed himself. And it is:

3. A humble response (Psalm 19.11-14)

Psalm 19.11-14:

Moreover, by them is your servant warned;in keeping them there is great reward.Who can discern his errors?Declare me innocent from hidden faults.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.Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heartbe acceptable in your sight,O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

God’s glory is front and centre in this Psalm. God’s creation screams of his glory. God’s word is perfect and true – because he is perfect and true. Who can discern his errors? Nobody can. As the Psalm has gone on, David’s view of God has got bigger and bigger. And just as the sun’s heat hits every nook and cranny, the word of God has searched David’s soul. He can’t help but see his own shortcomings. He has been warned by the word of God. He is humbled when he looks at the glory of God, and he sees how far he has fallen short. He knows there’s lots about himself he isn’t aware of. Sins hidden in the depths of his heart that he can’t see. So, he pleads for forgiveness from hidden faults. And he prays for his presumptuous sins. He knows he is still prone to deliberate, “eyes-wide-open” sins, and they could easily gain dominion and rule over him. So, he asks for God’s help to be protected from them. Above all, David knows only God can declare him innocent and blameless. Neither creation, nor God’s word can save him. They are only signposts. His only hope is the mercy of God. How else can he respond expect to beg God for forgiveness?

What about us? Do we respond humbly to God’s word – seeing our sin and crying out to Jesus for forgiveness? Do we place our hope in his mercy, and ask him to protect us from sin? That is the humble response to the word of God – seeing who God is, seeing who we are. Knowing we can do nothing and trusting God’s grace for everything. Is there something you need to bring to God tonight? In a moment we’re going to pray Psalm 19.12-14. Why not make David’s prayer your prayer? For the Psalms are meant to be prayed. David prayed with confidence. Our confidence is greater, because through Jesus we will always be declared innocent and blameless. Take heart in that, and ask him for a fresh start tonight, whether for the first time or the millionth. God’s word is perfect, sure, right, pure, clean and true – and it promises there is always forgiveness for those who want it, through the cross of Christ. For, in him, the Lord truly is our rock and our redeemer! Let’s pray.