While I realize it is still February, I am finding myself dreaming of warm sun, sandy beaches, crashing waves, and soft breezes. My favorite vacations are always on the beach. I am usually found under an umbrella with a book, while my husband and son build some of the most extravagant sand sculptures. Seriously, they take care to add texture to a turtle’s back, scales to an alligator’s tale, or perfect curves to dolphin fins. I’m always amazed at how the creations draw a crowd. People walking the beach always stop and connect with my husband as they marvel at his creation.
Creation leads to opportunities for connection. Think about it! Have you ever seen a piece of art work and wanted to know more about the artist? Have you ever read a poem and wanted to know more about what inspired the author?
Psalm 19 reminds us that God’s creation invites us into a relationship with Him. Come linger in this Psalm with me a bit.
The Glory of God in Creation
This Psalm opens with the phrase “the glory of God.” Glory is not a term we use in everyday language. Sure, we hear it at church, but when you are out to eat with friends, I bet the word doesn’t roll off your tongue. I rather like words like that. Words that are reserved for a special purpose. Words like “glory” remind us that God is worthy of our worship.
In Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, the glory of God is defined as “the sum of his perfections” (Jamieson, et al., 1997). Shew! That is certainly a difficult idea to quantify. God is wholly perfect. That kind of glory is mind-boggling, as the 1600s Puritan Robert Baxter states:
“From this greatness and immensity of God also your soul must reverently stay all its busy, bold inquiries, and know that God is to us, and to every creature, incomprehensible. If you could fathom or measure him, and know his greatness by a comprehensive knowledge, he were not God. A creature can comprehend nothing but a creature. You may know God, but not comprehend him; as your foot treads on the earth, but does not cover all the earth. The sea is not the sea, if you can hold it in a spoon” (Ritzema, et al., 2013).
So, as I consider Psalm 19:1, the illustration of what God’s glory is helps us to understand that it is expansive (as the sky above), it is beautiful (as heaven), and it is by his own hand.
The heavens declare the glory of God,
Psalm 19:1, ESV
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
And yet, as I marvel at the majesty of God’s glory, He gives us nature to let us know that He is knowable. Step outside and peek at his creation. He sets his creation in order, as the moon goes around the earth and the earth goes around the sun. He reveals himself over and over. Do you take time to see and notice?
I confess. My days get busy and I rush from one event to the next. It can be easy to miss His glory being declared. It is easy to miss Him…and yet, He is present and waiting for us to seek Him wholeheartedly and know Him more fully.
The Value of God’s Word
Just as creation proclaims God’s existence, His Word reveals His character. Psalm 19:7-11 lists many qualities of the Lord and his Word.
Scripture is perfect, sure, right, pure, true, valuable, and sweet.
Goodness, anything with that list of adjectives must be desirable! Who wouldn’t want something like that!?
And yet, how often and how easy can it be to neglect God’s Word. May we remember scripture’s sweet worth. May we value the wisdom and reward found in discovering and living it.
Our Humble Response
Considering God’s creation and Word, His holiness demands our self-reflection and humility. Psalm 19:12-14 provides us the language of a prayer for forgiveness, strength, and alignment to God’s will.
While we live in a culture of self-promotion and self-empowerment, God’s Word challenges us to pursue Him wholeheartedly. In our pursuit of the Lord, our desires begin to align with his desires. Humility allows us to grow in our becoming more like Christ. It is only by praying words, such as those in Psalm 19:14, can we find ourselves in God’s will.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Psalm 19:14, ESV
be acceptable in your sight,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
Go read Psalm 19, if you haven’t already. As you do, make note each time you see God addressed in this Psalm. Sometimes he is addressed as the Hebrew word el (“God”) and other times as yhwh (“LORD”). While el points toward Him as creator, yhwh points toward his personal covenant nature (Barry, et al., 2016) . Only after we see the glory and majesty of his creation, do we more fully understand the beauty and value of the relationship desired by this personal God.
Don’t just read about God’s majesty – experience it! Take some time today to step outside and observe the world around you. Reflect on the beauty and order of creation. Then, open your Bible to Psalm 19 and allow God to speak to you through His Word. What is He revealing to you about Himself? Share your reflections in the comments below!
Questions for Journaling
As you consider today’s blog, I invite you to grab your journal and consider the following questions.
How can recognizing the glory of God in creation deepen your relationship with Him?
How does understanding the perfection of God’s Word change your approach to reading and studying Scripture?
What practical steps can you take to seek God more wholeheartedly amidst the busyness of life?
References
Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., Whitehead, M. M., Grigoni, M. R., & Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Ps 19:title–14). Lexham Press.
Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 1, p. 352). Logos Research Systems, Inc.
Ritzema, Elliot, and Elizabeth Vince, eds. 2013. 300 Quotations for Preachers from the Puritans. Pastorum Series. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
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