Dave Ramsey, Director of the Association of Baptist Churches in Ireland, based his sermon on Psalm 19.
In 1 Timothy we read that God is invisible:
TO THE KING ETERNAL, IMMORTAL, INVISIBLE, THE ONLY GOD, BE HONOUR AND GLORY FOR EVER AND EVER.
How does an invisible God relate to a visible world?
How does God make Himself visible to us?
In Psalm 19 we learn that God has shown Himself to us in 3 ways.
1. God reveals Himself through the skies (vs.1-6)
THE SKIES PROCLAIM THE WORK OF HIS HANDS.
Astronomers tell us that there are 100,000million stars in a galaxy and there are 3 trillion galaxies. All are the work of the Creator’s hands, declaring the glory of God.
God is clearly seen in creation, so we must lift our eyes and look, because God is speaking to us.
DAY AFTER DAY THEY POUR FORTH SPEECH … NIGHT AFTER NIGHT THEY DISPLAY KNOWLEDGE.
God’s creation continually speaks to us like a beautiful, crafted symphony.
THERE IS NO SPEECH OR LANGUAGE WHERE THEIR VOICE IS NOT HEARD. THEIR VOICE GOES OUT UNTO ALL THE EARTH … THEIR WORDS TO THE END OF THE WORLD.
God’s message is global and international.
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 HE HAS MADE, SO THAT MEN ARE WITHOUT EXCUSE.
Reflection: We should take time to marvel at the wonders of creation and conclude that such a creation points to a Creator.
Such knowledge will inform our prayers and worship.
2. God reveals Himself through scripture (vs.7-11)
In His law God reveals to us all He wants us to know about Himself.
The psalmist (David): Delighted in scripture
Desired scripture
Depended on scripture
(i) David delighted in scripture. He knew God’s law would provide firm principles, precise rules for living and reverence for God’s truth. All of these would help him to govern his behaviour. He realised that only then would he know wisdom, joy, insight and have his soul revived.
(ii) David desired scripture.
THE FEAR OF THE LORD IS PURE, ENDURING FOR EVER. THE ORDINANCES OF THE LORD ARE SURE AND ALTOGETHER RIGHTEOUS. THEY ARE MORE PRECIOUS THAN GOLD, THAN MUCH PURE GOLD; THEY ARE SWEETER THAN HONEY, THAN HONEY FROM THE COMB.
(iii) David depended on scripture. He valued God’s direction in his life above all else.
BY THEM IS YOUR SERVANT WARNED … IN KEEPING THEM THERE IS GREAT REWARD.
3. God reveals Himself to sinners (vs.12-14)
In the light of points 1 and 2 above, David speaks about himself and acknowledges that he is a sinner. God reveals his errors, his hidden faults and wilful sins. His desire is to be restrained from these sins and to be declared blameless and innocent.
In the Old Testament God provided a means of approaching God through the sacrifices of animals.
Question: What about us? Can we be innocent and blameless?
God’s word tells us we can be pronounced blameless.
THIS RIGHTEOUSNESS FROM GOD COMES THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST TO US WHO BELIEVE.
So, with David, we can say:
MAY THE WORDS OF MY MOUTH AND THE MEDITATION OF MY HEART BE PLEASING IN YOUR SIGHT, O LORD, MY ROCK AND MY REDEEMER.
Reflection Points:
- God is invisible, but God is not distant.
- God makes Himself known to us.
- Nature points to the divine Creator God.
- The law tells us what God wants us to know about Himself.
- Scripture also tells us that we are sinners and God is our Lord and our Redeemer.
