Creation and the Word

Let’s meditate on Psalm 19 to see how the psalmist teaches us about God’s natural and special revelation. To start off, Psalm 19:1-6 describes how creation (general revelation) declares God’s glory and his work. ​

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.
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.

Creation can’t help but reveal the power and majesty of its Maker. God speaks and the heavens are created, and the heavens reveal his divine nature (Romans 1:20). Time reveals God’s glory and wisdom as day and night pour out their praises. The earth speaks to every human being, showing them who their Creator is. The sun, as it generates heat and light, follows the path that our Creator has determined, and joyfully completes the task given. We cannot escape the influence of the sun’s rays, and we cannot hide from the sight of our Creator. 

Creation reveals God to us. When we see God’s glory, majesty, power, and wisdom, we must respond. We will respond with indifference, which is rebellion against the Creator? We can insist that the heavens, stars, and sun came to be through a random string of events. We can pretend that we aren’t accountable to the Creator. But that is denying the reason for our own existence.

Just as the heavenly bodies were created to praise God, we were also created to declare his glory. Humans were tasked with multiplying and filling the earth with other human beings who would give him glory (Genesis 1:26-28). Together with creation, we must respond with joyful praise for our Creator. 
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God has also given us his Word (his special revelation). Psalm 19:7-11 teaches us how God’s word reflects his character and conforms us more into his image (Romans 8:28).

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 honey
    and drippings of the honeycomb.
Moreover, by them is your servant warned;
    in keeping them there is great reward.

There are several words here to refer to God’s Word: law, testimony, precepts, commandment, rules. The psalmist describes them and explains how they change us.  Immersing ourself in his Word isn’t just an intellectual exercise, it transforms us.  It revives us, makes us wise, gives us joy, opens our eyes, and warns us. His Word is more valuable than the most precious metal and more satisfying than a sweet treat. Its effects never fade like the fleeting gratification of wealth or food; it endures forever (Isaiah 40:8). 

We see that God’s word is perfect, pure, and righteous, but we are not. We cannot keep his commandments perfectly. As he looks into the law, the psalmist understands that he needs help. So he cries out to God in verses 12-14.

But praise isn’t the only response the psalmist teaches us. As the suns rays give light to the earth, the rays of God’s word shines light in the darkness of our heart.  Then like the psalmist, we should turn to God in prayer and repentance. His word penetrates the deepest recesses of our hearts and renews us day by day (2 Corinthians 3:18). The changes in our life will become a testament to the world around us of God’s power.
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God’s Word is God’s speech to us. We don’t need to listen for an audible voice or follow a prescribed ritual to get special instructions from God. He has given us creation and his Word. Like the psalmist we can look at the heavens and read the Word to understand what God wants us to know.

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 heart
    be acceptable in your sight,
    O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

The psalmist knows that his heart is deceitful and he can be blind to his own faults. He begs God to deliver him from the evil that is in his own heart. He doesn’t want to be a slave to sin and he understands that only God can restrain him. He has hope that he will be declared blameless and God can transform his thoughts, feelings, and words. He prays confidently, trusting in God’s strenth to change him.
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 One day the earth will be “filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD” (Habakkuk 2:14). Will you be joining that chorus of praise to our thrice holy God?