Day 1166: The majesty of God - Psalm 19 vs 1 - 6

A psalm of David. 1-4 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above (expanse) 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.

5-6 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. Psalm 19:1-6 English Standard Version

There's a poem which says 'The majesty of our God is everywhere displayed. In the beauty of our world and everything that He has made. His invisible mighty power, by these He has revealed, so come, let us worship Him, with grateful hearts and zeal. We praise you, our God, for the wonder of creation! We marvel, oh Lord, at the mysteries of even your least designs. We thank you once more, for the kindness of your providence, and ask that our lives, by your grace and mercy, in the world might shine.”

That's certainly the wonder that filled the heart of David as he gazed at the heavens, and noted how the sun appeared, eager as a bridegroom, to run it's daily journey as God had ordained. What did he say about this journey of the sun? Vs 5-6.

There was nowhere on earth that it did not reach. Yes, there may be long nights in a place like Murmansk, above the arctic circle, where the sun is not seen in December. But that doesn’t mean it has stopped it's journey! What does David say this succession of night and day are doing? (vs 1-4)

Without the use of words, they declare God's glory! There's no place on earth where their wordless testimony to God's glory has not been spoken. The apostle Paul used this in his verdict against the idolatry of mankind. He said: “What can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. His invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made.”

He goes on to say that mankind is therefore: “Without excuse! For although they knew God, they did not honour Him as God, or give thanks to Him.” Instead “they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.” (Romans 1:18-23)

Because man rejected this truth, Paul said that “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.” (Romans 1:18)

Theologians refer to this as God's 'natural revelation'. It's the way in which men and women everywhere know that there is a God to whom they are accountable. When he came to Athens, and saw their many idols, one even with the inscription 'to an unknown God', Paul cried out: “What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.” (Acts 17:23-25)

Do we ever take time, as David did, to “consider the heavens”, the work of God's fingers, the sun and moon that He made? If so, then surely like David we would exclaim “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” And, like David, we would humbly add: “what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?” (Psalm 8:1-4)