Psalm 19
Structure
Vs 1-6 Sky Talk
Vs7-11 God Talk
Vs 12-14 My Talk
The Skit Guys
Noise: by Eric Samuel Timm 1:48sec
In the noise around us where do you find space to dwell on God?
Have you ever thought about the language God speaks to us in? Psalm 19 tells us
1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
God communicates and he doesn’t need to say a word. The sky opens up speaking. All they can say is God is glorious. Look through this Psalm, it is about talking. The sky, God and me all speaking, all having something to say, as we read in verses 1-6, David uses the sky and the sun to reveal God’s presence.
The heavens declare the glory of God
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.
No one misses out. Everyone, everything gets it. From the second part of verse 4 – 6
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.
The sun is likened to a bridegroom, then as a mighty warrior running a race. The bridegroom leaves his tent dressed in his best clothes, full of the enjoyment of life so the sun also runs its course, like a warrior running to join the battle line oblivious to his own safety, that’s David’s point. Under the gaze of the sun nothing is hidden. God is watching, and under his gaze nothing gets missed.
David then moves into God talking in verse 7-11 of the Psalm. It’s a continuation of life under the sun – like the book of Ecclesiastes. The sun guides the rhythms of the seasons. Now our attention is on what God does with what he sees. God speaks through his law. Scan down those verses 7-11, and see the pattern that emerges as you look at them one by one.
vs 7 The law is perfect and reviving
it leads to action through repentance and return
His statutes are trustworthy giving wisdom
Like the road signs they warn us of coming dangers
Vs 8 His precepts are right and give joy
like a road map God’s law give directions for life, how you get to somewhere you’ve never been before. The commands are radiant, giving light.
Vs 9 Fearing God brings purity and is enduring
His ordinances are sure
shifts attention to how we respond to God’s laws. God speaks. He brings us into the area of personal holiness like guide posts on the side of the road. The law – precepts and commands of God are about boundaries for life, guiding us to follow the twists and turn in life.
God sets about long, slow answering. The God of grace reveals himself. The more you take refuge in the Lord the more we see our need for growth in grace and humility.
The prayer is God be our joy (verses 10-11)
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. Verses 10-11
King David knew what we needed most was inner transformation, a change of heart. This Psalm ends with David asking God the questions.
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.
Like an X ray machine reveals our bone structure, God’s law diagnoses our soul. The result is a more personal disclosure of ourselves before God than maybe we would have liked. What makes it hard for us to hear? Sometimes we feel so weary and fed up we don't feel up for listening [1]
We become unable or unwilling to listen in to God speak
Listen up, King David says. Stop being absorbed by the world of our own experiences or feelings. Cry out for the ears to listen with..
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.
That’s where the Psalm ends. David needing a rock, and a redeemer. As readers of this ancient Psalm we know who that redeemer is, Jesus. The heavens declare the glory of God points us to his relentless goodness. The uncomfortable truth is God demands relationship on his terms. We trip up. But in Jesus we have someone who doesn’t. Jesus shows the way to listen in to God.
He showed it most clearly at the point of his greatest suffering. The words from the cross:
“My God My God why have you forsaken me? Forgive them for they know not what they are doing. Father into your hands I commit my spirit.” On the same cross he turned to the thief who acknowledged him as Lord and promised him “Today you will be with me in paradise” or looking to Mary as she stood by the disciple John Behold your mother. Behold your Son, and at the right time he cried out “I am thirsty. It is finished.”[2]
The author and pioneer of life first had to tread the valley of the shadow of death for us. Notice how through this Psalm God keeps speaking. It’s the message of hope and life. Forgiveness is where relationship with God starts. Listen in like James 1:22- 25 puts it:
22 Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! 23 Those who hear and don’t act are like those who glance in the mirror, 24 walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, what they look like. (The Message)
The grace of God means courage for us. The same grace teaches us also wise love. It comes back to how we will listen in for God’s voice in amongst the noise. What will we say back? This week whenever you feel the sun’s heat or the cool wind, Remember God is watching, so pray:
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.
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