Creation, And God's Word (Psalm 19:1-14) Series

This morning we will read Psalm 19. This psalm breaks down into two (or sort of 3) main parts. They are related, and connected, but I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to pull them all together at the end. Or even how I'd do that. My plan, instead, is to approach this as two sort of mini-sermons. Which maybe isn't the best way to do it, but...(shrugs shoulders).

(19:1) Of/For the choir director. A psalm of/for David. [Hebrew numbering throughout]

(2) The heavens are declaring the glory of El/God,

while deeds of his hands, the expanse is reporting.

The heavens talk. A lot. And when they talk, it's about two main things. The first, is that God is glorious.

What does this mean? I think we kind of instinctively understand something of the force of this. We understand that God is impressive. Maybe we picture God seated on his heavenly throne (Psalm 11:4), shining so brightly no one can look at him. But we struggle to put the idea of "glory" into words.

Let's turn to two different places, to get a feel for what this word "glory" means. First, Deuteronomy 5:22-26.

What Moses says here, immediately follows his reminding them of God giving the people the ten commandments:

(22) These words Yahweh spoke to your whole assembly at the mountain from the midst of the fire, the cloud, and the thick darkness, a great voice,

and he didn't add,

and he wrote them upon two tablets of stone,

and he gave them to me,

(23) and then, as soon as you heard the voice/sound from the midst of the darkness and the mountain burning with fire, you drew near to me-- all of the heads of your tribes and your elders--

(24) and you said,

"LOOK! Yahweh our Elohim has shown us his glory, and his greatness,

while his voice/sound we have heard from the midst of the fire.

This day we have seen that Elohim speaks to man, and he can still live,

(25) and so then, why should we die?

For this great fire shall consume us, if we still hear the voice of Yahweh our Elohim any longer,

and we shall die."

(26) For who of all living creatures that has heard the voice of the living Elohim speaking from the midst

of the fire, as we [have], and lived?

The people saw the visible, outward evidence of Yahweh's power and majesty-- they saw the fire, and thick darkness, and it was awe-inspiring, and terrifying. What they saw, was Yahweh's glory.

A second picture of "glory" is found in Psalm 49:16-17 (English numbering). This psalm talks about human glory, and its limitations:

(49:16) May you not fear when a man becomes rich,

when the glory of his house increases.

(17) For when he dies, he shall not take it, at all.

His glory shall not follow down after him.

So what is "glory"? Glory is the outward, visible splendor of a king, or rich person. It's what makes you notice them. It's what gives you that sense that the person you are seeing is better than you-- superior to you.

Picture a movie star getting out of her limousine for some fancy Hollywood party. She's got the car; she's rocking the dress, the jewelry, the hair, the heels, the makeup. All those things are her glory-- the outward, visible splendor that tells you that she's rich, and powerful, and influential.

What is glory? Glory is like your bling.

And what is God's glory? What is his bling? The heavens. When you look up at the heavens, what you see is his glory (Ps. 97:6). When you see the heavens-- God's bling-- you get a sense of God's wealth, and power, and importance.

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Goldingay: "The word suggests the visible splendor of a monarch or some other important person, glorious in an impressive array (24:7-10). The visible honor is then assumed to be an appropriate outward expression of the figure's intrinsic majesty-- though this may not always be so (49:16-17 [17-18])" (Psalms 1-41, 595).

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Let's reread Psalm 19:2:

(2) The heavens are declaring the glory of El/God,

while the deeds of his hands, the expanse is reporting.

How do the heavens declare God's glory? The second line helps explain (classic Hebrew poetry).

When you look up, and see the heavens, and hear them telling you about God's glory, what you are seeing is God's handiwork. The heavens themselves are impressive, right? The vast, blue sky. Enormous clouds passing by, majestically, over head. Or on a stormy day, it looks like the apocalypse. Like you'll be lucky to get home from work alive.

The heavens, by themselves, are glorious. They are impressive; they make you feel small. But the heavens point to their Creator. If the heavens are so amazing, what does that say about the One who Created them with his hands?