Psalm
19: The Four Dimensions of God’s Revelation
How do we communicate? Some would say “not very well!” What are some of the different ways we communicate these days? Guess what are the most popular forms of personal communication?
Mobile
Text
Letter
What about young people?
88% regularly text message via SMS
76% use the internet to Instant Message
72% have active email accounts
71% use their mobiles
30% use MySpace, FaceBook or YouTube[1]
God has given us at least five body parts with which to communicate that don’t require additional technology. What are they?
Eyes: Sight = symbols
Mouth: Speech = words
Ears: Sound = noises
Nose: Smell = aromas
Hands and Feet: Sensitivity = touch
Can you still see if you are blind? Braille.
Can you hear if you are deaf? Sign.
Can you speak if you are dumb? PC
Of these five, which is the most effective way? How much of what you hear will you remember? Only 10%.
Hear 10%
Read 25%
Study 50%
Memorise 100%
The most effective way of communicating is a combination! We didn’t think that up! God did.
God communicates with us through a variety of ways also. Why? To make sure we get the message that he loves us and wants us to know him and serve him.
Creation Reflects God’s Glory on Earth (Psalm 19:1-6)
“The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge.
There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Yet their voice
goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.” (Psalm
19:1-4)
When you look at the sky, and land and sea what do you see? The work of a creator.
The world is alive. God is active.
The world is complex. God is awesome.
The world is organized. God is in control.
The world is beautiful. God is wonderful.
Everyone, everywhere in the world can see something of God’s glory. When you look at the world around you, do you praise God for his glory revealed in creation? Creation is sufficient to know God is there not sufficient to know what God is like. Creation is beautiful but it is also flawed. There are floods and droughts. There is suffering and death. The world is not as God intends so God has communicated in other ways. If creation is God’s general revelation, the Bible is God’s special revelation.
Scripture Reveals God’s Purposes in History (Psalm 19:7-11)
“The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.” (Psalm 19:7-11)
The Scriptures reveal God’s character: Perfect and trustworthy. The Scriptures reveal God’s purposes. To revive our souls, to make us wise like him, to respect and serve him. The Scriptures reveal God’s truth. More precious than gold and sweeter than honey. They bring joy to the heart and light to the eyes (Psalm 19:8). Do you make reading God’s word a priority on a daily basis? Do you value it as your most valuable possession? Nourishing and sustaining? Creation reflects God’s glory on earth. Scripture reveals God’s purposes in history. We have general revelation in creation and special revelation in the Bible. There is a third way God communicates in this Psalm. Personally…
The Holy Spirit Reproves in our Conscience (Psalm 19:12-14)
“Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults. Keep your servant also from wilful sins; may they not rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” (Psalm 19:12-14)
Without the revelation of God’s will in the Bible, without the objective standards of God’s holiness in Scripture, we would never know we're more sinful than we ever imagined but more loved than we ever dreamed. Only the Holy Spirit applying the Scriptures could cause David to ask this question or say this prayer. The Holy Spirit applies God’s word to me personally in my conscience. He exposes my faults and causes me to seek God’s forgiveness. Does your reading of the Bible do that? Can you pray this prayer? Have you asked God to forgive your hidden faults, to keep you from wilful sins, and make you blameless in his sight? There’s a fourth way God has communicated with us – and it is the most important and it is found in the last word of the psalm. God’s ultimate communication is through the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Son Redeems us from our Sins (Psalm 19:14)
David looked forward to the day, a thousand years later when his greater son would accomplish our redemption on the cross. Of course this is not a separate revelation to the Scriptures but is the ultimate and final revelation of God. The Book of Hebrews begins:
“In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. (Hebrews 1:1-3)
We have seen God’s revelation in four dimensions:
The purpose of God’s revelation in creation, through the Scriptures in history, applied in our conscience by the Holy Spirit, is to bring us into a right relationship with God so that we can be forgiven our sins, find meaning and purpose in life now and inherit eternal life and live forever. All this was made possible by the Lord Jesus Christ. Do you have the confidence King David had that the Lord is your Rock and your Redeemer? Do you know Jesus is your redeemer? If you are not sure, please pray this prayer with me:
Heavenly Father thank you for revealing your glory in creation and your purposes for me in Scripture. Thank you Holy Spirit for convicting me of my sin and causing me to want to be right with God. Lord Jesus thank you for dying on the cross in my place. Please take away my sin, and enable me to live forever, the life you have planned for me. My Rock and My Redeemer.
In Jesus name. Amen.
For a more comprehensive examination of Psalm 19 see http://www.cc-vw.org/sermons/psalm19.htm