Day 1167: God has spoken - Psalm 19 vs 7- 14

7-9 The law of the Lord is perfect, (blameless) 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 for ever; the rules (just decrees) of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. 10-11 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.

12-13 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. 14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Psalm 19:7-14 English Standard Version

Natural revelation is great, for it declares the glory of God. But how can we know more about the God of creation? The good news is that God has spoken to mankind! As Paul put it to the Corinthians: “'What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him' - these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.” (1 Corinthians 2:9-11) So where can we learn of what God has revealed to mankind? (vs 7-9)

In the word that God has given, the Bible. Hebrews 1:1-2 tells us how “long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets! But in these last days He has spoken to us by his Son, whom He appointed the heir of all things, through whom also He created the world.” The one who created natural revelation, has also given us special revelation. It began with the prophets He raised up, and then it came through His Son, Jesus Christ. And Hebrews goes on to say that God's message “was confirmed to us by those who heard Him”, referring to the apostles Jesus called. (Hebrews 2:3)

God's word is described as being “His Law, His testimony, and His precepts.” He has given commandments and rules for us to live by, and these should be received in a spirit of Godly fear. God's word is perfect, right and pure – just as He is! When followed, they lead to a life that is brought into the light, and which will be pure and righteous. They are more precious than gold and sweeter than honey, and there's great reward for those who keep them.

But have we kept them? Have we feared God and loved all His commandments? When even a king who sits on the throne of judgment winnows evil with his eye, then “Who can say, “I've made my heart pure; I'm clean from my sin?” (Proverbs20:8-9) Hence the prayer of David in vs 12-13, and his special petition in vs 14.

David knew there were errors in his life, and faults he was not even aware of. Or, if he was aware of them, his sense of shame kept him from talking openly of them. So he asked that he might never act presumptuously against God's holy law, and he prayed that what was in his heart would be acceptable to God. He was much like the apostle Paul who later said that, because he believed there would be a resurrection of the just and the unjust, he “always took pains to have a clear conscience towards both God and man.” (Acts 24:16)

How grateful should we then be that God sent His Son into the world. He alone of all mankind was able to face His accusers and say “Which one of you convicts me of sin?” (John 8:46) He is the only man ever who was pure and righteous. He said “If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.” (John 15:10) And then He gave His life a ransom for people like David, and Paul, and for all who have truly believed on Him. This is what God has made known to the world by special revelation, and it's what we could never have known by ourselves.