Psalm 19: The Revelation of God (7/16/23)

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And now let's listen in to today's teaching.

So when I was a kid. I remember lying in bed at night

before falling asleep and asking some of the big questions of

life silently to myself. Specifically, I remember

thinking about the universe and how big it is and thinking about

God's existence, and it seemed to be that every time I would

entertain the notion. Of God's existence, my thoughts

would lead me down a path of doubt, and as I really

considered the possibility that God may not exist, my heart

would begin to be heavier and faster, and feelings of panic

and fear would begin to well up from my stomach and into my

chest until it felt like my mind.

Was going to explode and I had to stop thinking about it.

Now God revealed himself to me and I became a follower of Jesus

Christ. When I was in my mid 20s, I

first heard the Lord speak to me when a man of God shared a set

of verses with me which told me that God had plans to take care

of me and to give me a future and a hope and what blew my mind

the most. Was not so much what God had

said, though that was amazing too, as much as it was that the

God of the universe was speaking to me as this man who shared

those set of verses with me began to disciple me and mentor

me. I remember having a conversation

with him months later, and in the normal course of our

conversation, I told him that there was no doubt in my mind.

That what I have come to believe about God, that he is real, that

he speaks, that he is personal, that I am a Sinner before him,

and that he sent his son to die for me and redeem me, is all

true. And after I confessed this as my

discovery, I remember he smiled at me lovingly and echoed.

What Jesus said to Peter and Matthew 16 when he confessed him

to be the Messiah, and he said flesh and blood has not revealed

this to you, but my Father in heaven has revealed this to you.

And by the grace of God in that moment I realized that it was

was nothing that I had discovered on my own, but with

God in His grace and mercy. Had chosen to reveal to me.

And so this morning I want to present to you Psalm 19 as it

relates to the topic of the revelation of God.

So this first section of Psalm 19, I'm sorry.

So if you have your Bible on you and you haven't turned there

yet, Psalm 19 is considered to be a wisdom hymn.

OK? In other words, it's a song of

praise to God. Which reflects and imparts

wisdom. And we're going to break it down

into three parts this morning. OK, so if if you're taking notes

or following along, here's the outline.

The first part we're going to look at in verses one to six,

which is the revelation of God in nature.

OK, so one to six, the revelation of God in nature.

The second part we'll look at in verses 7 to 11 and that I've

subtitled the revelation of God. In the Bible, and then the third

and final part for this morning in verses 12 to 14, we're going

to look at the Christian response to God's revelation.

So in this first section of Psalm 19, the psalmist here

directs us to God's revelation in nature.

Okay, now the Psalm is poetry. It's a hymn.

The superscription tells us just above verse one that it's a a

song directed to the choir master, a Psalm of David for the

worship and praise of God. Now the point of noting that is

that the psalmist Tim of praise here is simply a natural

response of reflecting on the glory, majesty and infinite

power of God that is shouting out around him.

He looks up to the sky in the day and the universe at night,

and he observes the handiwork of God, reflecting the glory of

God. Now when we stop and think about

it, what we observe in the sky is really incomprehensible.

We can't even begin to get our minds wrapped around our own

Galaxy. For instance, there are

somewhere between 200. And 400 billion stars just in

our Milky Way Galaxy alone. And there are said to be 500

million galaxies That for you mathematicians that would be 2 *

10 to the 23rd power stars. OK, an incomprehensible number

aside from the Sun, the closest star in the solar system.

Would take 76,000 years to get to with current spacecraft

technology. Now that's a couple facts about

the stars. The Sun is even more amazing.

The Sun accounts for 99.8% of the total mass in our solar

system. OK, that means that the Earth is

a fraction of a fraction of the total mass in our solar system.

You could fit 1.3 million Earths inside the Sun.

To match the energy generated by the sun, you would have to

detonate 100 billion tons of dynamite every second.

The Sun holds our entire solar system together, and everything

in the solar system revolves around the sun.

Not one thing on earth could exist without the sun.

Now, the psalmist obviously didn't have all these facts that

we do today, but he did know that the sun sustained life.

That's why cultures in ancient times worshipped the sun as a

God. But the psalmist here doesn't

deify the the sun. He personifies it.

As a bridegroom leaving his chamber and a strong man running

to demonstrate that even the sun, along with all of creation,

is there and exists to testify to the glory of God and the

revealing of God's power, majesty, and handiwork in all of

creation, one just needs to look up to see that God exists.

Now I want to backtrack a minute to verses three and four and

hear. The psalmist presents us with a

paradox. And he says there is no speech,

nor are there words whose voice is not heard.

Their voice goes out to all the earth and their words to the end

of the world. In other words, inaudible noise.

Words are being spoken without being spoken.

Eugene Peterson paraphrases it this way.

In the message he writes. Their words aren't heard, their

voices aren't recorded, but their silence fills the earth.

Unspoken truth is spoken everywhere.

And so the question becomes, well, what is God saying and

what he's saying to the whole world?

Is look up I exist. I'm real Here is the evidence.

Now that begs the question, OK, at least for me as someone who

tries to think logically and rationally, does it really make

sense to believe in God now? Philosophically speaking, there

have been 3 broad explanations for existence or what we see

around us. Okay.

The first explanation is that everything that exists came from

nothing. All right, so let me just

briefly illustrate what that looks like.

You have nothing, then you have nothing outside of nothing, and

then all of a sudden you have something that's actually one

explanation that's been put forth.

The 2nd explanation for existence is that everything

that exists. Came from an impersonal

beginning. OK, so you had something like

matter or mass or energy, something that just always

existed, impersonal, and then over billions or trillions or

however many years you want to say, combusted together and poof

popped out with all this design. Now we could talk about the

statistical improbability of that, but really there would be

no meaning or purpose in life. If that's true, in fact, we

wouldn't even be able to ask the question, what is the meaning or

purpose to life? The third explanation for

existence is that everything that exists came from a personal

beginning, okay, which would infer a personal infinite

creator, and it's this third explanation that gives us

meaning and purpose. And I would submit to you this

morning that it's not only logical, but it's really the

only explanation that makes sense.

And so the answer Does it make sense to believe?

The question does it make sense to believe in God?

Is yes, it makes complete sense to believe in God.

The most obvious thing in the world is that God exists.

Now that leads to another question.

Okay, if it's so obvious, then why do so many people reject

God? Well, the Bible has an answer

for that. And I would ask you now if you

have your Bibles on you to turn to Romans chapter one.

And we're going to look at this explanation in verses 19 to 21.

And I would submit to you this morning that the reason so many

people reject God. Is not primarily an intellectual

issue. OK, let's look at what's written

in Romans one. It should be up on the screen,

and we'll begin in verse 19. For what can be known about God

is playing to them because God has shown it to them, for his

invisible attributes, namely his eternal power and divine nature,

have been clearly perceived. Ever since the creation of the

world and the things that have been made so they are without

excuse. And here's the key verse for us

this morning, verse 21. For although they knew God, they

did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became

futile in their thinking and their foolish hearts were

darkened. The reason so many people reject

God is not an intellectual issue.

It's a hard issue. They're blind.

And so were we at one point. And what's happening is that the

God of this world, that is Satan, has blinded the minds of

unbelievers that they may not come to a knowledge of the

truth. And so now.

The only way to regain sight is for God to reveal himself to us

outside of His revelation in nature.

And the good news is that He has revealed himself to us in and

through His Word, in and through the Bible.

And so that takes us to our second part for this morning,

the revelation of God in the Bible.

Now we'll get to verse seven in a minute, but at first I just

want to point out that at first glance, the Psalmist seems to

abruptly transition from verse six in talking about and

finishing up with talking about the the revelation of God in

nature to beginning in verse 7, where he begins talking about

the revelation of God in his word.

And as I was meditating on this Psalm, trying to understand its

unity, I just felt like I was getting nowhere.

And so I turn to a helpful commentary which referenced an

insight by CS Lewis, who said this, that the transition from

verse 6 to verse 7 hinges on the clause and there is nothing

hidden from its heat. That is the sun's heat and it's

in this phrase or that marks the transition between the two

parts. And at the same time links them

intimately together. So just as the sun lights up the

sky during the day and provides a way for life to exist in the

physical sense, so too the word of God lights up the human heart

and provides a way for life to exist in the spiritual sense.

Just like there could be no life on earth without the sun, so too

there can be no hope and salvation and eternal life

without the word of God. The Bible contains the words.

By which we not only come to a saving faith, but by which we

nourish our spiritual lives. This is why Moses told the

people of Israel in reference to the words of God's law.

For it is no empty word for you but your very life, and by this

word you shall live long in the land that you are going over the

Jordan to possess. This is why the Lord says to

Joshua, this book of the law shall not depart from your

mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, That that you

may be careful to do according to all that is written in it.

For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will

find good success. Now as we look at verses 7 to

11. We find that the Psalmist here

refers to the word of God in six ways and attaches to those ways

6 characteristics out of which flow 6 benefits for the

Christian. Now, there's overlap here, but

the I think one of the the best way to imagine it is like facets

of a of the most purest diamond imaginable.

OK, so let's go to verse seven, it says.

The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul.

Now, it's important to note here that the word law here is not

strictly referring to the 10 commandments.

Okay. It's the Hebrew word Torah which

means instruction. Okay.

It's the it's it's more the Lord's instruction.

The Lord's teaching the whole council of God.

We should look at it. Look at it not in the

restrictive sense, but in the instructive sense.

Okay. A good image would be like a

parent holding a toddler's hand for the first time as he's

learning how to walk. The Torah or the Law, OK, shows

us how to walk and the direction that we should take so that our

souls can be revived and transformed and restored.

Following God's instructions will transform you.

It will give you purpose and meaning.

It will heal your soul. God's word passed down to us in

the Bible is actually medicine for our souls.

Now the word perfect here is inferring completeness or

wholeness. It's an extension of God who

always existed. The second part of verse 7 says

the testimony of the Lord is sure.

Making wise the simple Now, the word for testimony here is

derived from a word that means to witness or to testify.

Observing God's testimonies or statutes keeps one from

advancing illegitimate ambitions.

We're instructed in Philippians to do nothing from selfish

ambition or conceit. But in humility, count others as

more significant than yourself. Psalm 119 says it this way.

Incline my heart to your testimonies and not to selfish

gain. A good way to know if we're

being selfishly ambitious with the pursuit or a task is to ask

ourselves this question. Is what I am pursuing, promoting

only my own self-interest? We're also the interest of

others Is what I am pursuing, promoting only my own

self-interest. We're also the interest of

others. The word simple here in infers

foolishness. Psalm 14, verse one says that

the fool says in his heart there is no God.

Verse 8 The precepts of the Lord are right rejoicing the heart.

OK, the word of God creates rejoicing.

That word means peace or tranquility, which is rooted in

a life of moral uprightness before God.

OK, In other words, there's a There's an objective standard

for morality, and living moral lives actually rejoices the

heart. It is pleasurable to keep.

The commandments of God. James calls it the perfect law

of liberty, which makes one blessed or happy when living

uprightly in true freedom. The second part of verse 8 says

the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.

In other words, the Bible gives us clarity that we can actually

know what it says. The Bible is actually written in

a way. That it can be understood now,

just because it can be understood, doesn't mean we

don't put in time and effort and energy to to to looking what it

says and offering up a willingness to obey it, and of

course receiving help from the Holy Spirit.

But it can be understood, and of course our clarity will never be

perfect on this side of heaven. Deuteronomy 3014 says, But the

Word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your

heart so that you can do it. Verse 9 says the fear of the

Lord is clean, enduring forever. OK, the fear of the Lord here in

first reverence for God. And so it's in this reverence

for God which is rooted in the response.

To God's perfect instructions. And finally, first the second

part of verse 9 says the rules of the Lord are true and

righteous altogether. Now we have to skip verse 10 and

go to verse 11 to get to the benefit here.

And the benefit is that by them, by the word of God, we receive a

warning and we receive a reward. And it's with this warning and

reward that we gain endurance to live out the will of God.

There are rewards both in this life and the life to come,

everlasting life to keeping the word of God.

Now if we go back to verse 10 for a minute, verse 10.

The Psalmist gives us he says, that the word of God is more to

be desired than gold and honey. OK.

In other words, the word of God is to be desired more than money

or food. A a more Broadway to say that

would be to say that the word of God is more to be desired than

earthly security or earthly satisfaction.

It's written this way in Psalm 119.

The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and

silver pieces. Now, finally, we come to the

last section of this Psalm, which I've subtitled The

Christian Response to the Revelation of God, and in verse

12 the Psalmist asked a question.

And he says, who can discern his errors Now?

At first glance, it seems like another abrupt transition, like

we had from verse 6 to verse seven with the sun.

But what's happening here is that the psalmist has just held

up God's perfect standard revealed in his word, and he

recognizes that although God through his word.

Has revived his soul, has given him wisdom and joy and

understanding, a right reverence for God, and a desire to do

God's will, that he still falls short of God's standard.

And so he prays, and he cries out to God to declare him

innocent. Of even his hidden faults,

because he knows, deep down at the core of his being, that he

is guilty before a holy and righteous God.

The response is actually a natural response to meditating

on the word of God, just like the psalmist natural response.

In his reflection on the glory of God in creation.

It's like Isaiah's response in Isaiah 6 when he sees the Lord

sitting upon a throne high and lifted up.

And he says, woe is me, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I

dwell amidst a people of unclean lips, for my eyes have seen the

king. The Lord of hosts.

It's like Peter's response in Luke 5, who has one of his first

encounters with Jesus. And he falls to his knees and he

says, depart from me, for I am a sinful man, oh Lord.

And so the psalmist recognizes here that in order for him to be

right with God that he needs to be perfect.

But he's not. And the reality is that we all

need to be perfect, but we are not.

And the Bible confirms for us that all have sinned and fall

short of the glory of God. And God is so holy and so

righteous that God and sin cannot coexist.

And so he does the only thing he can do, and he flings himself on

God, knowing that it is only God who can make a way for him out

of this predicament. And the good news of the gospel

this morning is that God does give him a way out, and he gives

everyone a way out who would call upon the name of the Lord

for help. And he did this by sending his

Son, Jesus Christ to live a perfect, blameless, innocent and

sinless life, to die on the cross, perfectly fulfilling the

law of God and paying the penalty that we all deserve,

which is death. And eternal separation from the

God of the universe, so that all those who repent and put their

faith and trust in Jesus Christ would not perish, but would have

everlasting life with God for all of eternity.

And if you're here this morning and you have not yet.

Put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ.

Then that has to be your first step, because God cannot do

anything for you until you are covered in the blood of Jesus

Christ. But God doesn't just want to

save us, He wants to transform us.

And so the Psalmist shows us here that the natural response

to the revelate of to God's Revelation is not that we build

our lives up around our own good works and say how rightly we

live before God. We're puff ourselves up with

pride, but we start each day with an attitude of repentance

and we bow our hearts and humility, standing on the

completed work. Of Jesus Christ, who has and

will redeem all those who put their faith and trust in Him,

and who wants to restore us to life the way God originally

intended it to be, lived in communion with Him life more

abundantly. John writes that Jesus Christ is

the Word of God made flesh. Who dwelt among us, and we have

seen his glory, full of grace and truth.

He writes later in the in Revelation 19 that the name by

which he is called is the Word of God.

Jesus Christ is the one who restores, who gives us wisdom

and joy and understanding. And he is the one whom this text

and all the Bible points to. And Jesus Christ is our rock,

and He is our Redeemer. And I want to end here with

this. God elevates His word, OK

alongside his own name. That's in Psalm 138, verse 2.

Psalms 138:2

And when we elevate His Word in our lives and build our lives

around it, on the finished work of Jesus Christ with a believing

and a repentant heart, He promises not only to save us but

to transform us. The Bible says that he actually

comes in and dines with us. The Christian response to God's

revelation is not a one time response.

When we get saved, it's a daily response.

And as we go from here, may we embrace the treasures contained

in this book more and more to read it, to meditate on it, and

to make it such a part of our lives that God would heal us.

Heal the people around us, and that God's glory would get to be

revealed through us and through all of that, that we would

simply yet so profoundly get more of God.

The sermon you've just listened to is a presentation of Church

Newtown Square. To find out more about our

church, check out Church NS q.org.

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