God of Creation, Sustaining God, God's Words, Our Prayer

 

I have heard that poetry is the most concise form of writing. Consider how rich even a single psalm is regarding, well, everything. It seems counterproductive to try to elaborate on scripture written in the most vivid form. The words are succinct, but the Spirit speaks volumes through them. Before we move forward to look more closely at Psalm 19, please take a few minutes to read this chapter prayerfully before moving on to the rest of this blog. If you don’t have your Bible or Bible app with you, please go back later and read for yourself. 

The first 10 verses of Psalm 19 are verses of worship and praise. David tells us that creation worships the God who formed everything from absolutely nothing, that God sustains His creation daily, that every word from His mouth is perfect in every way. (I really wish these random thoughts didn’t pop into my head, but maybe there is a purpose in them. But probably not. He is not like Mary Poppins, who is “practically perfect in every way.” He is absolutely perfect and holy in every way.) Beginning in verse 11 David becomes more introspective and prayerful, more repentant. 

In verses 1 through 4 we read that the heavens declare the glory of God and that the sky proclaims the work of His hands. They don’t speak audible words, but their message is clear. Theirs is a nonverbal language that is recognized anywhere. Everywhere. On the north and south poles and the equator, and all points in between  the sky is there. The sun can be seen and the moon in the darkness. There are clouds and precipitation. Fog and rain and sleet and snow. Thunder and lightning, hurricanes and tornadoes.  Both children and the aged recognize the weather, and cycles of the sun, moon, other stars, planets. Without a voice they sing constant praise to the God who Creates. 

Romans 1:19-20 Since what can be known about God is evident among them, because God has shown it to them. For His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what He has made. As a result, people are without excuse. 

Verses 5 through 6 remind us that God not only creates, He sustains His creations. Every single day the earth rotates on its axis. We have day and night. God set a path for the movement of His creation and sustains that path perfectly. 

Hebrews 1:3a The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression of his nature, sustaining all things by His powerful word.

Verses 7 through 11a describe the Words of God, which includes His instruction, testimony, precepts, commands, ordinances. Listen to all the ways David paints a word picture of the value of God’s Words. Perfect. Renewing. Trustworthy. Right. Make the heart glad. Radiant. Eyes light up. Pure. Endure forever. Reliable. Altogether righteous. More desirable than gold. Sweeter than honey. A warning. 

Take a minute to think about each of these words. What a gift God gave us when He inspired men to write His Words in scripture. We must not ignore the value of the book we hold in our hands or the Bible app on our phones. 

Verse 11 is a transition verse. God’s Words warn us, and there is reward in keeping them, obeying them.

In verse 12 David starts thinking about his own sin, his own failures to keep the valuable warnings in the priceless Words of God. He acknowledges that he has committed sins he didn’t intend to commit, and he doesn’t even realize that he sinned. He asks forgiveness for those things. 

In verse 13 David asks God to help him avoid those sins that he commits purposely. He doesn’t want to be in open rebellion against God.  It seems obvious that none of us would want to be blatantly rebellious, but when we look within our own hearts, and outward at the depravity of our society, we realize that we live in our own sin nature and are immersed in a debaucherous society. How do we stay faithful to God’s Words of warning, and hold their value in reverence? We turn to God and ask Him to protect us.

Verse 14 is David’s heartfelt prayer for stability, protection and forgiveness. 

May the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to You, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. 

Only in God’s Redemption, His protection, His stability, His strength, His love can we have pleasing words and acceptable meditation. 

Verses 12-14 are my prayer, and I’m sure they are your prayer as well. 

Take a few minutes to pray these powerful words to God.