The Glory of God

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Psalm 19

Christians have a doctrine known as “General Revelation” which simply means “God reveals Himself through the temporal universe”. In other words, God generally makes Himself known through physical creation. Psalm 19 has traditionally been used to teach general revelation. (See Psalm 19:1-2)

As we come to study this great Psalm may we learn how creation, Scripture and David all glorify God, so that we may give God glory!

The dominant theme which runs throughout Psalm 19 is that of “speech”. As we briefly examine this chapter let us take note of what each section has to “say” concerning the Glory of the Lord!

1. The Creation Speaks about God in Verses 1-6
   1. Interpretation: Ancient Israel was surrounded by people groups who worshiped the sun, moon, and stars as gods. This Psalm does something very polemical by declaring that sun, moon and stars are merely the Creators Creation-then David implores that they actually praise the One True God. Moreover, we have archeological data which suggests Israel’s neighbors in the ancient Near East worshiped the sun as the god of justice.
   2. Illustration: I once knew a man who was being mightily used by God.
   3. Application:The heavens resemble a preacher who originally sets out to glorify God but inadvertently draws attention to their own self.
2. The Torah is the Word of God in Verses 7-10
   1. Interpretation: In the first portion of our Psalm the generic name of “God” was used. Verse 7 marks a dramatic shift by using the covenant name for God “Lord”. Also, notice the various names for the Bible—“The Law” “Testimony”
      “Precepts” “Commandment” “Fear” and “Rules”—These are all synonyms for the Torah or the Bible as the O.T. saints knew it.
   2. Illustration: I once knew a young man who thought the Bible was his weapon to defeat everything and everyone who denied the knowledge and existence of God. He could disprove evolutionary theories, he could outwit the cults, and he could win almost any argument against him and the Bible.
   3. Application: This second section offers another strong warning. Whereas verses 1-6 cautions humanity against worshiping the sun, this section cautions us against worshiping the Scriptures. Bibliolatry.
3. The Psalmist’s Words to God in Verses 11-14
   1. Interpretation: The Psalmist being deeply moved by the speech of creation which testifies to the general knowledge about God AND the Word of the Lord which speaks of specific knowledge of God to now David himself speaks words of praise to God.
   2. Illustration: This Psalm moves from the Glory of God in the vast expanse of outer-space to the deepest depths of God’s glory in the inner-space of the heart.
   3. Application: Many Christians view Creation as a glorious thing to be appreciated and cherished but then turn right around and view the Law of Moses as a form of oppressive bondage to be abhorred. This great Psalm stand us on our head and inverts that Creation is feeble and limited in its ability to reveal God to us and even goes as far as to assert that creation distracts from God’s Glory while the Law of God is the true light which illumines us.

Psalm 19 records 3 great laws: The Law of God Written in Creation, the Law of God Written in the Torah to the Law of Grace written upon the heart. May we, like the Psalmist offer up praise to the God of Glory!