Psalm 19

A wonderful Psalm about how God has revealed Himself to us in both creation (general revelation.....visible to all) and in His Word (special revelation).

"The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork......"

Just this evening, I stepped outside and looked up at the sky.  Clouds are moving in.....high thin clouds that were reflecting the suns setting rays.  As I watched, the colors changed, both the blue of the sky not obscured by clouds, and the hues of the clouds as the angle of the sun's rays shifted.  Blues, grays, pinks, oranges, and even some green.    I thought of other scriptures that describe the Lord riding on the clouds like chariots, or how He calls out the constellations by name.  It is beyond my mind's capability to envision a God bigger than what I can see.  But I know He is there......first because I see His nature in the skies.

Often, in the mornings, as I drive to work, I am praying and thanking God for the day.  I have found myself thanking him for both the sunlight, as it makes me think of His glory (so bright that we cannot see it and live!),  and for the clouds and mist that are often the make up of the morning commute.  In them also, I see the Lord....for other scriptures speak of Him as being shrouded in mist and clouds.   Most often, I think, the clouds and mist are involved in descriptions if His anger and righteous judgement.

How can one enjoy the created order.....not only the beauty of it, but it's complexity, and say there is no God?  The processes that God decreed and set in motion cannot be thwarted or stopped.  They are universal and apparent to all.  One cannot escape or hide from God! Romans tells us that all of mankind knows of Him through creation, yet suppress that knowledge.  When I look at the world around me, though it groans under the curse of sin, I see the magnificence of my Father!

God's Law is equally delightful, or should be to any Christian.  It revives and converts us, makes us wise, makes us rejoice (I recall David's distress in earlier Psalms about how the ungodly have multiplied all around him, but he still found hope in God's Word!), enlightens us, is everlasting (no shadow of turning!), and is true and righteous beyond anything we can comprehend with our sinful, finite minds.

God's Word does not change......like the whims of man-made gods do.  What He has said, stands.  He will do all He has said.  His word is so true that He swears by himself regarding promises.....and we know that it will be!

His Word is more valuable than much fine gold, and sweeter than pure honey, fresh from the honeycomb.

Both creation and the Word teach us of our position before God....
    He is Holy, sinless, infinite, all mighty, true and unwavering.
    We are NOT holy, sinful, finite, weak, deceitful and faltering.
We come to know our sin when God is revealed to us,  both our sinful nature, and our specific sins.

"Who can discern his errors?"    the answer is no one.  Only God can know us that well.  So the Psalmist asks God to declare him innocent from the faults hidden to himself.  But also to help him keep from willful sin.

It is only by God's grace that we can be made clean.

"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer"

Father.......I tremble to think of the majority of the time that my thoughts are NOT acceptable in your sight, nor are the words of my mouth!  So, with David, I plead that you would teach me of my sin daily, and forgive.  There is no hope for me save in You, the creator and redeemer of my soul.

(tomorrow is forecast to be cold and blustery.......and I am dreading it.  But.....I will lift my eyes up, and seek Him in it, and praise Him for His handiwork, and thank Him for warm places to be!)