Series: Psalms
Title: Two Books
Text: Psalm 19: 1-11
Date: September 18, 2014
Place: SGBC, New Jersey
Turn
with me to Psalm 19. This is our text. It
is written by David: «To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.»
There
is no telling how many books men have written: fiction and non-fiction. There is no telling how many religious books
men have written: fiction and non-fiction. But there are but two great books
which are the two most needful books. These two books declare God’s glory.
First, God
declares his glory in the book of creation—Psalm
19: 1: The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his
handywork; The second book where God reveals his glory is the word of God—Psalm 19: 7: The law of the LORD is
perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making
wise the simple.
The two
books which declare God’s glory is God’s creation and God’s word.
WE SEE IN THE BOOK OF CREATION—Psalm 19: 1:
The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
First,
creation declares God’s glory. The
"heavens" are where the sun, moon, planets and the stars are. The earth's "firmament" is the
atmosphere around the earth: where the clouds, rain, snow, wind, and the birds
fly (Genesis 1:6-8, 20). The heavens and the atmosphere “declare” and “show”
not only that “God is”, but they declare the glory of God: the glory of God’s
power, the glory of God’s wisdom, the glory of God’s discretion.
Jeremiah 10:12: He hath made the earth by his power, he
hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by
his discretion.
We see
the glory of the sun in the sky. How bright the sun is! It is so glorious that
you and I cannot look upon it. Yet, how much more glorious must God be for God
hung the sun in the sky. “To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal?
saith the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created
these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by
names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one
faileth.” (Is 40: 25-26)
The
firmament not only shows that God is; it shows God’s hand’s work. Man has only been able to go so far into
space. But everything we have discovered, God made. “By the word of the LORD
were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.”
(Ps 33: 6) When we look up through the
firmament into the heavens, we behold a revelation of God's existence, of God’s
glory and the works of God’s hands.
WE HEAR FROM THE BOOK OF CREATION—Psalm 19: 2:
Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.
Not only
do we see, we hear. God’s creation speaks to us day and night. Each new day—as the sun shines, as
the rain falls, as the flowers and trees grow, as fruit is produced to sustain
us—each day declares the glory of God and his handiwork. Likewise, each night, as the moon gets its
light from the sun and reflects the glory of the sun. God declares his
knowledge. What a good picture of a sinner who has no light in ourselves. We
get all our light from the Sun of Righteousness, Christ Jesus.
Furthermore,
God’s voice in creation is a universal language which is heard by all men
everywhere—Psalm 19: 3: There is no speech nor language, where
their voice is not heard. 4: Their line is gone out through all the earth, and
their words to the end of the world.
It is
estimated there are around 6900 spoken languages in the world today. When you
include all the variations and dialects the number rises to over 35,000. But
concerning God’s voice in creation, there
is one voice—God in creation. He speaks to all. God conveys the same message in
the book of creation: the glory of God and his hand’s work.
WE FEEL FROM THE BOOK OF CREATION-- Psalm 19:
4…In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, 5: Which is as a
bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to
run a race. 6: His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his
circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.
Not
only does every man see God’s glory and hand’s work, not only does every man
hear God’s voice in creation, every man feels the effects of God’s creation. “In
them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun.”
God has made a tent—a tabernacle—for the sun. “It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the
inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens
as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in.” (Is 40: 22) The sun is the center of all God’s
creation. We are utterly dependent upon
the sun. This, also, is by God’s discretion to glorify Christ the Sun of
Righteousness.
Two
illustrations are given. The sun is like a bridegroom—coming out of his chamber
arrayed in his glory to meet his bride. The
sun rejoiceth—is full of glory and strength—like a strong man about to run a
race. We will see another time, how both
glorify Christ who is the Bridegroom of his elect people. He is the strong Man who came forth with a
race set before him.
Illustration: Usain Bolt from Jamaica
We
might try to ignore the sight of God’s creation, we might try to ignore the
voice of God’s creation, but no person on this planet can escape the feeling of
God’s creation. But “His going forth
is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and
there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.” A man may be hidden from the light
of the sun—in a prison, for instance—nevertheless, every man feels the heat of
the sun. We feel either the lack of heat
or intense heat depending upon our relationship to the sun.
INEXCUSABLE BY THE BOOK OF CREATION
Since
creation clearly declares the glory of God—by showing, by speaking and by
making us feel its effects—therefore every unbeliever is rendered inexcusable
by the book of creation.
Romans 1: 19: Because that which may be known of God is
manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20: For the
invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being
understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and
Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
To claim
to deny God as our Creator—is evidence of the depravity of the natural heart. To
eat up God’s daily handouts, while attempting to deny God, while not bowing
before God, is evidence of the covetousness and idolatry of the natural heart. Men
may attempt to ignore the sight and voice of creation, but just as they cannot
escape the heat of the sun, they cannot escape, “the work of the law written in
their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness.” (Rom 2: 15) “Therefore
thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art.” (Rom 2: 1)
So some
may say, “I don’t need to go hear
the gospel, I learn about God in nature.” No.
Can you learn how God can be just and the Justifier by the book of
creation? No. Can you learn how a man can be just with God by the book of
creation? No. The book of creation is glorious.
But God does not reveal his righteousness by the book of creation. Nor
are sinners converted by the book of creation.
These things come only through the word of the second book.
THE WORD OF GOD
The second
book which declares the glory of God is the Bible, God’s inspired word. There
are six names given in this Psalm for the word of God, a description to
accompany each name and the effect it has upon those in whom God makes his word
effectual.
THE LAW, PERFECT, CONVERTING—Psalm 19: 7: The
law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul
The law
of the LORD means the doctrine of the LORD.
This whole book is the teaching—the doctrine—of God—the “torah” of the
LORD. When someone famous writes a book,
people cannot wait to read it. This book was written by God. And just as God made the sun in the sky to be
the center of all his creation, God made Christ the center of all. The doctrine
of God, the message of this book, is that Christ is All!
This
word is “perfect.” God is perfect so the
word of the LORD is perfect. It reveals the perfect will of God. This word is
the only Authority on: who God is, who we are, and how God saves sinners.
It is
the word of the LORD which “converts” sinners. By divine revelation, through
the preaching of this word, God converts sinners, making us perfect before God
through faith in Christ. The same way, God uses this word to
convert—restore—believers from error and furnish us with everything we need to
walk in the perfect way of God. “All scripture is given by
inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be
perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” (2 Tim 3: 16-17) Therefore
this book is our only rule of faith and practice. Not the creeds of men, only
this book.
TESTIMONY, SURE,
MAKING WISE—Psalm 19: 7:…the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the
simple.
The word “testimony” means the word of the LORD is the
LORD’s witness. The LORD’s witness is sure. It makes wise the simple. The simple are
those converted to be as little children, humble, and teachable.
What is
God’s testimony of himself? God bear witness to himself by putting Moses in the
cleft of the rock. That Rock pictures
Christ. The way we behold God’s
testimony of himself is by beholding Christ Jesus the Son of God. In Christ the
LORD proclaims testimony of himself, saying, “The LORD, The LORD God, merciful
and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for
thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no
means clear the guilty; (Ex 34: 6-7) By God’s mercy and grace, longsuffering, goodness
and truth, God keeps mercy. For everybody? No. God keeps mercy for thousands.
God forgives his people. Yet by no means will God clear the guilty.
What is
God’s testimony of us? He says, “Corrupt are they, and have done abominable
iniquity: there is none that doeth good. God looked down from heaven upon the
children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek
God. Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there
is none that doeth good, no, not one.” (Ps 53: 1-3) God says there is none righteous,
there is none who understand, there is none who seek God, there is none that
doeth good, no, not one. Everyone is gone back. We are altogether become
filthy. So indeed, God people need mercy
from God. But how is it that God can
show us mercy but in no wise clear the guilty for all God’s people are guilty?
What is
God’s testimony concerning his Son? He says, “If we receive the witness of men,
the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath
testified of his Son. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in
himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth
not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath
given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son
hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” (1 Jn 5:
9-12) This is the sure testimony of God.
The only way God can show us mercy and yet remain just, the only way God can be
merciful and yet pour out justice on each of his people is by providing his own
Son to take our sins and bear the wrath of God’s justice in our room and
stead.
What is
God’s testimony concerning how his people come to have the witness in us and to
believe on Christ? God says through the apostle Paul, “Be not thou therefore
ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou
partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; Who
hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works,
but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus
before the world began, But is now made manifest by the appearing of our
Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and
immortality to light through the gospel.” (2 Tim 1: 8-10) The way God makes the
simple wise by his testimony is by God making us willing to trust Christ alone.
We are taught of God that Christ saved us by becoming the Substitute of his
people. He put away our sins, obtained
eternal redemption for his particular people and reconciled us to God. Then Christ sent his preacher, along with the
Holy Spirit and Christ called us with a holy calling. He regenerated us to newness of life irresistibly.
This was not done because of our works or because of merit in us. It was God’s
purpose from eternity. God gave us this grace in Christ before the foundation
of the world. He tells us plainly that is what God does through the preaching
of his word, “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us
wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according
as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.” (1 Cor 1:
30-31)
STATUTES, RIGHT, REJOICING THE HEART—Psalm 19:8: The
statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart:--THE COMMANDMENT,
PURE, ENLIGHTENING—Psalm 19: 8…the commandment of the LORD is pure,
enlightening the eyes.
The statues
of God are the decrees of God, including God’s holy law. They are right. All the statutes of God
rejoice the believer’s heart. God’s commandment is pure. It is God’s
commandment, by which we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. By his commandment,
God enlightens our eyes. How so? When
God gives a new heart, he speaks invincibly into our hearts, declaring to us
the spirituality of his law, his statutes. He enlightens our eyes to
acknowledge we are guilty in ourselves and God’s statues are right. When God reveals
that Christ is the righteousness of God, he enlightens our eyes to acknowledge
there is none righteous but Christ. Notice, the word “commandment” is singular.
When God gives the command to believe on Christ then we believe. (Mt 17: 5; Jn
6: 29; 1 Jn 3: 23) When God declares
that through faith in Christ we are made the righteousness of God—that Christ
fulfilled the law for us—we rejoice. So God’s statutes and his commandment teach
us not to look to ourselves but to Christ alone for perfect righteousness. And
even as God has commanded us effectually, so we trust Christ alone.
FEAR, CLEAN, ENDURING—Psalm 19: 9: The
fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever:
Here the
word of God is called the fear of the LORD. When God puts his word in our hearts we have
the fear of God in our hearts. By the fear of the LORD—by his word in our
hearts—we are purified. This word—this fear—is clean and cleanses. The doctrine
directs us to the blood of Christ which cleanses from all sin; it brings us to
the righteousness of Christ, the fine linen, clean and white; and by the word, God
and Christ sanctify the church, each member of it, making us cleanse ourselves
from all filthiness of flesh and spirit. The fear—the word of the LORD—endures
forever. One day, the first book of creation will be folded up like a vesture.
(Heb 1: 10-12) He will create a new heavens and new heart wherein dwelleth
righteousness. (Is 65: 17; 66: 22; 2 Pet 3: 13) As the word of the LORD endures
forever, so those born of his word endure forever. We both persevere by his
word keeping us and we shall live eternally with Christ the Word.
JUDGMENTS, TRUE AND RIGHTEOUS, DESIRED
ABOVE ALL—Psalm 19: 9:…the judgments of the LORD are
true and righteous altogether. 10: More to be desired are they than gold, yea,
than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. 11: Moreover by
them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.
Believers,
born of the word of God, have eternal life and we are made to see all God’s
judgments are true and righteous. Nothing more powerfully engages us to serve
the Lord with reverence and godly fear than the Gospel. It makes us declare, “the
judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.” How so?
Consider
the publican in our Lord’s parable. Christ judged this man to be guilty in the
court of his conscience. So he beat upon his chest begging mercy. He agreed
with God. Then Christ judged this man, declaring
him just in the court of his conscience by the work of Christ done for him. He
went down to his house justified. When
God does this for a sinner then the sinner will say, “the judgments of the LORD
are true and righteous altogether.”
Also,
his judgments include his precepts. The
word of God makes us forsake all else and value Christ and his word above all. Before
Christ called us, we desired gold and fine food and all the fine things of this
world. We thought security was in those
things. But just as honey is so sweet it
makes things we thought were sweet to become bitter, so it is with the word of
God. After Christ works grace in the
heart, now we say of Christ and all his judgments, “More to be desired are they
than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great
reward.”
Brethren,
are you not glad that God made you to be able to hear this word? “By his
judgments we are warned.” He warned us and saved us from our vain ways. Is there
not great reward in walking in Christ’s precepts? He teaches us repent from
ourselves and believe on him. The reward
is Christ himself. He is our Righteousness and Sanctification and eternal Redemption. He teaches us to “Be kind, tenderhearted,
forgiving one another, even as God, for Christ’s sake, has forgiven you.” His
judgments are to be longsuffering, patient, to put your brethren above you.
Just as Christ himself is our reward himself, so walking in Christ’s judgments is
reward in itself.
So, let
us hear Christ’s judgments. He said to those in the church at Laodicea, “I know
thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So
then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out
of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have
need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and
poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire,
that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and
that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with
eyesalve, that thou mayest see. (Rev 3: 15-18)
Amen!