REVELATION AND REVERENCE: GOD HAS SPOKEN (PSALM 19)
More than 3,000 people responded to a magazine’s multiple-choice question survey: “Have You Heard the Voice?”
The most popular answers to the questions are below:
1. Have you ever heard God's voice? Yes, definitely: 68%
2. How Would You Describe God's Voice? A thought or idea that I wouldn’t have had on my own: 40%
3. What does God's voice sound like? Quiet: 42%
4. When do you hear God's voice? A few times throughout my life: 69%
5. Where Do You Hear God's Voice? Praying: 40%
6. What does God talk about? Family: 58%
7. How do you react to God's voice? Do what God says: 63%
https://guideposts.org/angels-and-miracles/miracles/gods-grace/survey-reveals-how-god-speaks-to-us/
C.S. Lewis considered Psalm 19 the “greatest poem in the Psalter and one of the greatest lyrics in the world.”
In theology, we distinguish general revelation from special revelation. General revelation refers to God’s universal, non-verbal disclosure of His existence, power, and glory through nature, history, and the human conscience, accessible to all people. Special revelation refers to God’s direct, supernatural, and specific communication of His character and plan of salvation, found in Scripture and Jesus Christ. (Gotquestions.org)
How does God reveal Himself to us through the laws of nature and the laws of Moses (Torah)? What is the purpose of God’s revelation? Why was and is God speaking and not silent in the past and present?
Herald His Work
For the director of music. A psalm of David. 1 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 2 Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. 3 There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. 4 Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun, 5 which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. 6 It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is hidden from its heat.
Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson went on a camping trip. After a good meal and a bottle of wine, they crawled into their tent and went to sleep. In the middle of the night, Holmes awoke and nudged his friend. “Watson, look up and tell me what you see.” Watson replied, “I see millions and millions of stars.”
“What does that tell you, Watson?” asked Holmes. Watson pondered a moment and then replied, “Astronomically, it tells me that there are millions of galaxies and potentially billions of planets. Astrologically, I observe that Saturn is within the Leo constellation. Chronologically I observe it’s night time 3 a.m. on June 14th. Meteorologically, the air appears dry, I suspect that we will have a beautiful day. “Why did you ask? What does it tell you?”
Holmes says, “Watson, you idiot! Someone has stolen our tent!”
One should aim not so much to master the Word but to be mastered by the Word.” Howard Hendricks
The opening verses are a linguistic and literary goldmine of repetitions, contrasts and comparisons. The first two verses have repetitions and contrasts: day and night (v 2) repeated twice, heavens and skies (v 1) and day and night (v 2) are contrasted.
Comparisons
V 1 The heavens declare the glory of God // the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
V 2 Day after day they pour forth speech// night after night they display knowledge.
V 3 There is no speech // language (where their voice is not heard)
V 4 Their voice goes out into all the earth // their words to the ends of the world (In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun,)
V 5 a bridegroom “coming forth” from his pavilion // like a champion rejoicing to “run” his course.
V 6 It rises at one “end” of the heavens and makes its circuit to the “other” (“ends” feminine); nothing is hidden from its heat.
V 1 “Heavens” Cosmos Power (“glory of God”) Spoken “declare.. proclaim” Praiseworthy
V 2 “Day…night” Consistency Profusion (KJV “utter”) abundance Known “knowledge” Predictable
V 3 “speech… language” Communication Perception (“heard”) Heard “heard” Poignant
V 4 “all the earth” Continuation Prominence (“sun”) Gone “ends” Public
V 5 “rejoicing” Cheer Persistence (“run”) Felt “rejoicing” Passionate
V 6 “circuit” Course Path (“circuit”) Shown “hidden” Pervasive
What’s the point? Paul said in Romans: Rom 1:19-20
“Since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities — his eternal power and divine nature — have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.”
God is omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent. He is very expressive, eloquent and extroverted about His existence, so man can only experience, exalt and enjoy Him but not evade, escape, enrage or exhaust Him. Everything in creation – from small to big, seen to unseen, the short-lived to the die-hard - points to His attributes, activity and authority.
Hear His Word
7 The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. 8 The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. 9 The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the Lord are sure and altogether righteous. 10 They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. 11 By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.
Here are the metaphors of God’s word:
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” (Ps 119:105)
"Is not my word like fire," declares the Lord, "and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces? (Jer 23:29)
“The Word of God is like a lion. You don’t have to defend a lion. All you have to do is let the lion loose, and the lion will defend itself.” (Charles Spurgeon)
“The Word of God is like a surgical double-edged knife it pierces and penetrates to the inaccessible places of our inner life.”
“God’s word is like a seed. Plant it in your heart!”
Verses 7-9 is a six-fold repetition of the phrase “…of the Lord,” including the Lord’s law and statutes (v 7), precepts and commands (v 8), fear and ordinances (v 9). The “law” (v 7) is “Torah” in Hebrew, a reference to God’s demands, and “perfect” means distinction or excellence. The “statutes” (v 7) are testimony or deposition, and “wise” mean discerning, regardless of intellect or information. “Precepts” (v 8) are deployment or drop-in, from the word “visit,” and “joy’ is delight. “Commands” imply duty, “light to the eyes” is the diagnosis, the discovery. The “fear” of the Lord (v 9) is devotion or dedication to Him, dread negatively, “forever” is durability. “Ordinances” are judgments in Hebrew. “Righteous” leads to deliverance, moral rather than physical.
V 7 The law “of the Lord” is perfect, reviving the soul. Law = Demands (torah) “Soul” Distinction “Perfect”
V 7 The statutes “of the Lord” are trustworthy, making wise the simple. Statutes = Deposition (eduwth) Thinking (“Wise”) Discernment “Wise”
8 The precepts “of the Lord” are right, giving joy to the heart. Percepts = Deployment (KJV piqqud or “visit”) “Heart” Delight “Joy”
V 8 The commands “of the Lord” are radiant, giving light to the eyes. Commands = Duty (mitzvah) “Eyes” Diagnosis “Light”
V 9 The fear “of the Lord” is pure, enduring forever. Fear = Deterrent Devotion
Durability “Forever”
V 9 The ordinances “of the Lord” are sure and altogether righteous. Ordinances = Decisions (KJV judgments) Conscience Deliverance “Righteous”
Verse 10’s gold and honey are contrast – both yellow in color; solid versus liquid; expensive item versus everyday intake; the solid versus the sweet; and the pure gold is pure gold, fine gold or refined gold. “Honey from the comb” (honeycomb) is honey that is oozing, overflowing or outpouring. Like I always said, The Bible is a gold mine (try exegesis from “bible.ryl.hk”). The point is “great (rab) reward” or additional, abundant or awestruck gain, grounding and growth.
Verse 11’s “warned” is caution, correction or chastisement. “Your servant” implies a listening, learning and living as a student.
God’s word is for our governance, guidance and guard. Nothing is more potent, penetrative, pointed, precious, practical, permanent and perfect than God’s word.
Honor His Will
12 Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults. 13 Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression. 14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
During a revival a young man said that he did not wish to become a Christian. When asked for his reason, he replied, “Several years ago I was in a man’s kitchen. Finding me there, he swore at me and kicked me out. He was a professing Christian, and from that time on I decided never to have anything to do with religion. And I never have to this day.”
The young man was asked to write down his reason in full and sign it. Then it was handed back to him with the words, “Take this, and when you are asked for your excuse on the day of judgment, hand this up.” (Illustrations of Bible Truths # 838)
“One should aim not so much to master the Word but to be mastered by the Word.” Howard Hendricks
The tone of the last three verses is different in that it is directed at oneself, demanded and diagnosed on yourself. The new personal pronouns in use are “me,” “I” and “my”- “MY hidden faults” (v 12), “not rule over ME” (v 13), “I will blameless,” “(I) shall be innocent,” “MY mouth,” “MY heart,” “MY Rock” and “MY Redeemer.” It is to shine the torch on oneself, scan the code and smell the stench on oneself!
The psalm ends with two second-person imperatives (v 12 forgive/cleanse) and two indirect imperatives (v 13 “may they not rule over me” and v 14 “May the words.../Let there be…”). The imperative “forgive” is “cleanse” in Hebrew, which is to be purged, in this instance to be pardoned of “hidden faults,” pretence or “secret faults.” Hidden faults (v 12) means unaware, unknown or unnoticed. Hidden faults (v 12) are contrasted with willful sins (v 13). The next imperative “keep” (V 13 Keep your servant also from willful sins) means preserve, prevent or protect, and “willful sins” is pride in Hebrew. Pride is the sin of flaunting and flattering oneself, to fawn and fuss over one’s importance.
V 12 “Forgive” my hidden faults. V 13 “Keep” your servant also from willful sins
Purge Preserve
Pardon Prevention
Pretense Pride
The first indirect imperative, (“may they not rule over me/let them…”) “rule” is command, control and claim in our lives. The second indirect imperative “be pleasing” (v 14 “May the words of my mouth… be”) is that our talk or thoughts to be acceptable, agreeable, admirable and admissible in His sight! The first is outward sins, and the second is inner relationship with God.
Conclusion: How does God speak to us? 5 “IN-“
INspiration from Scripture
INdwelling of the Spirit
INtercession in Prayer
INstruction of the Church
INsights of Wisdom
