God’s World and Word Books

Psalm 19:1-14

In the first article of the Belgic Confession, we’re told there’s only one God. He’s a spirit - meaning he has no body. He’s also eternal, incomprehensible, invisible, immutable, infinite, almighty, perfectly wise, just, good, and the overflowing fountain of all good. Now, it’s not just saying that God has these qualities, or is defined by these qualities. Rather God himself defines these qualities. You see, he’s not just wise, he’s wisdom itself. He’s not just eternal, he defines what eternal is. The Bible tells us he’s loving. Yes, but why? It’s because God is love, 1 John 4. And his attributes are not independent but all connected. Meaning, God is love; but his love is a wise, incomprehensible, unchangeable, infinite, just, and good love. God is good; but his goodness is a wise goodness; it’s also an infinite goodness, which is just and unchangeable; and we can’t fully comprehend this goodness because it’s incomprehensible.

Now, how do we know these things about God? Did we just make it up? Dream it up? No - we can’t. Because we’re not infinite - only God is. And therefore, our wisdom is also not infinite! How we understand God is by God teaching us these things about himself. And if God is incomprehensible, we can’t know him unless he reveals himself. In the second article of the Belgic Confession, it explains how God makes himself known to us. And he does it by 2 ways. Firstly, by his creating, preserving, and governing the created universe. From nature, great and small things - we can understand who he is. Secondly, he makes himself more fully known with greater clarity by his word. That’s how we know we need salvation. So there are two sources of knowledge. Two books if you will. There’s the world book or creation, and there’s the word book or revelation. Psalm 19 explains these two books, and we’ll examine them in their categories. Firstly, the world book, and secondly, the word book.

Firstly, the world book. In verses 1-4, we learn that God reveals himself in his creation. And from these verses, we learn the world book’s perpetual clarity. Verses 1-2 speak about the sky. As David, who wrote this Psalm, looked to the sky, he clearly saw God’s glory; in the blue sky, the sun, the moon, and the stars. Verse 1 speaks about the heavens. The word firmament speaks about the great expanse of space. Verse 2 speaks about the day and the night. Now, why these words? The Psalmist intends to draw our attention and take us back to the creation account in Genesis. It’s intentional. We remember in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. He divided the heavens with the great firmament between. He placed the sun, moon, and stars in the heavens. The greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night. But what’s interesting is why God created.

Yes, we know he created for his glory. Isaiah 43:7 says “…for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.” But he also created for his pleasure. Revelation 4:11 says, “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are, and were created.” And these things were also created for his possession. Colossians 1:16 - “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him.” Why did God create? It pleased him to do it for himself and his glory. But Psalm 19 tells us something else. God created these things so they’d declare his glory!

He created because it pleased him, it shows his glory, it satisfies him, but also to communicate himself. Four words are used to show how clear this declaration is. Verse 1 says the heavens declare and the firmament show. Verse 2 says the seasons utter and show or breathe out knowledge. The job of creation is to show God. And verse 3 says all creation does this - “There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.” This is a double negative. There’s no declaration, demonstration, communication, or confirmation which is not heard. Meaning, every one of their declaration, demonstration, communication, and confirmation of God’s glory and handiwork is all heard clearly. God created them to communicate. This is their in-built purpose; their job description. It’s like the hymn we sometimes sing - “This is my Father's world, the birds their carols raise, the morning light, the lily white, declare their Maker's praise. This is my Father's world, he shines in all that’s fair; in the rustling grass I hear Him pass, he speaks to me everywhere.” Why does God create creation to speak? So people like the psalmist would look at these things and be pointed to him.

And their job is never done - from the greatest to the smallest - they keep on declaring. It’s perpetual. Verse 2 says, “Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.” Every day, every night. Or day after day, night after night. From the beginning of time until the end of time; as long as there is tomorrow, and as long as there’s tonight - they continue to declare. This talks about the perpetuity of time. Then there’s also the perpetuity of space. Verse 4 - “Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.” Meaning, their voice or their message is gone all over the world - even to the ends of the world. There is no nook and cranny where God is not proclaimed. As scientists build more powerful telescopes and microscopes, they see further and closer - these things all declare God’s glory. Meaning, when you look at the sky, and see the water cycle or the seasons - they communicate God’s goodness to his creatures and his great wisdom. When you look at the star charts and see how huge some stars are - you marvel at God’s great power. But also when we see how our solar system is set up that our planet can sustain life - we see God’s goodness. What’s especially interesting is this - even scientists recognize that life cannot be sustained everywhere. Planet earth is one of the very few places which is located in a zone called the Goldilocks zone - it’s just right for life - neither too hot or cold, too this or that - it’s perfectly suited for life. And that shows God’s wisdom and care.

Similarly from great to small things. When you look into a microscope and see the cellular mitosis - how a cell dies by splitting into two to form two new cells to perpetuate life, you marvel at how complex inner space is. God has arranged it such that the cell is an ordered factory, keeping life going. And even at the subatomic level, with electrons, neutrons, and protons energizing the formation of molecules to build all matter in the universe. These small things declare their maker’s praise. You see God’s order to things. And therefore, the conclusion must be that there’s a good and powerful God. As Romans 1:20 says, “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.” So God’s characteristics - which are invisible - what we saw in article 1 - are articulated by these things which are visible. Mankind is taught by God’s creation about God.

And we see their declarative power. No one needs to understand Hebrew to understand the power of creation to declare God’s glory. The language is understood by all. It’s gone through-out all the earth. Verses 4-6 describe how powerful this message is. It uses the sun as an illustration. The sun comes out every morning from his tabernacle - just a poetic reference to the night time - and it crosses the heavens from dawn till dusk. It’s like a strong man running his course. There’s nothing hidden from its heat. What’s David trying to say? This kind of analogy tells us that since God speaks through his creation, and the sun is his creation, and there’s nothing hidden from the sun, so God is revealed strongly and clearly. The sun strongly beats down its heat and light. All creation declares God. The clear, ongoing, and loud declaration of God makes men inexcusable if they do not know there’s a God. Even a pagan philosopher agreed. Aristotle said, “Should a man live underground, and there converse with the works of art and mechanism, and should afterwards be brought up into the open day, and see the several glories of the heaven and earth, he would immediately pronounce them the works of such a Being as we define God to be.”

And we see the proof in human civilization. Ancient cultures have read the natural creation and have been pointed to something divine. It’s inbuilt into people. The Egyptians believe the sun must be controlled by some sun god. The Greeks believe that the seasons must be controlled by some harvest goddess. Creation shows there’s something divine. This is the declarative power of the world book. But the Bible also says that mankind can’t read the world book perfectly. Instead of seeing one God who controls all things, they see many gods. Now, it’s not the fault of the world book. The world book is powerful in declaring. The problem and fault lies with mankind who can’t perceive clearly enough. Romans 1:21-23 says, “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.” David could understand the world book perfectly because he was redeemed. But not everyone can. That’s why we see Romans 1:21-23 all over the world. Instead of worshiping God who created the sun, people worshiped the sun. Instead of worshiping God who created the cow, people worshiped the cow. The mankind has degenerated into all sorts of idolatry - not because the world book is insufficient but because they are. While the message has gone forth powerfully, man’s sinfulness and idolatry have corrupted their worship and acknowledgement of God.

This is why God must communicate to us with a different book - the Word book. This is the second way, and the more powerful and effective way God communicates to us. And here we see its clear revelation of God. Man is sinful and refuses to accept the revelation of the world book. Romans 1:21 says they didn’t glorify God. They didn’t want to worship a supreme God who is good and just. It would mean they’re accountable to him. They know he’s a just God. That’s why they make gods they’re comfortable with. The Egyptians believe the sun was the eye of the god - and it saw everything they did. Which is why, they were relieved when the sun set. During the hungry ghost month, many offer the guardians of hell opium in the past or cigarettes today to bribe them not to tell the god of hell their wrongdoings. People aren’t comfortable with a God they can’t control - they want gods they can control to give them what they want. This is why God reveals himself through his Word so there’s no mistake who he is.

Verses 7-9 talk about the law of the Lord. David abruptly shifts from praising the God who reveals Himself in creation to praising the same God for revealing Himself in His word. It’s as if David said, “Creation tells us much about God, but His word tells us much more.” It’s better. There are 6 words used to describe God’s revelation. Each focuses on one of God’s attributes. In verse 7 we’re told that the law of God is perfect, reviving the soul. Then God’s testimonies or words give wisdom. Then the statutes of God are right, and they rejoice the heart. And God’s commandments enlighten the eyes. The fear of God is clean; the judgments or decrees of God are true and righteous. Each of these words have to do with God’s word - even fear. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Now, why did God use these terms? Many terms to say the same thing? In fact, when it came to creation, God also used many of the same terms to say the same things. Why? For emphasis. Just as all creation declares God’s glory, the Word of God declares the God’s glorious perfection and it obligates mankind to obedience. While his glory is reflected in God’s work of creation, his moral perfection is articulated by his word. Therefore, God is not just a great God to marvel at; he’s a great God to obey.

There are many reasons why the Word book is better than the world book, but one reason is because it tells us more about God. This God to obey is not just a god, or the God, he’s the only living and true God. He’s the covenant keeping God. In verses 1-6, the Hebrew word used to refer to God is El – that’s the most generic word for God in the Hebrew language (even more generic than the commonly used Elohim). But when we get to verses 7-9, God is referred to as Jehovah (the Lord), the God of covenant love and faithfulness to His people. Creation cannot reveal to us who God is in his fullness. Only the Word can. In the same way, when Moses was in Mount Sinai, when he was called by God, he asked him what is your name? Was this one of the gods of Egypt? Was this another god he hadn’t heard of before? And God had to reveal his name - I am that I am. God’s name is a verb. But when it’s shortened, the name becomes Jehovah. God’s name means - the one who was, is, and will be. He’s the eternal God. He’s the self-existent God. And what we learn about this God is that he offers salvation. Verse 7 says, “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul.” While Creation reveals there is a God, only God’s Word reveals the concept of obedience, obligation, and redemption. There is power in the reading and hearing and studying of the word of God that goes beyond intellectual benefit; it actually changes for the better – converts – the soul. The Hebrew word translated here as converting is perhaps better understood as reviving; that is, bringing new life to the soul. As a Bible dictionary defines it - “its restorative quality gives healing to the whole person by assuring forgiveness and cleansing and by giving life to the godly.”

And the Word book also gives precious direction. It’s valuable - precious. Verses 10-11 say that it’s to be desired more than fine gold. Now, King David was a massively wealthy man, and yet he’s rarely known for his riches. He was much more known for his great heart towards God. Why? Because he loved the Word of God. Now, there are two reasons why it’s precious. Firstly, it’s precious because it gives warning. Verse 11 says, “Moreover by them is thy servant warned.” God’s word gives instruction – warning – that wealth or pleasures do not give. Warning is needed for sins we are susceptible to. Warning is needed for dangers we cannot see. Warning is needed for dangers we cannot appreciate. Warning is needed for dangers far off in the future. While the World book show us the greatness of God, the Word book shows us how to please this God and how much he loves us. Furthermore, it’s precious because it gives reward. Verse 11 says, “[and] in keeping of them [there is] great reward.” With obedience comes reward, because we live the way God wants us to and designed us to live. The Word can help us to discern our errors, verse 12; to be kept from willful sins when we know who this Creator God is, verse 13; and help us to respond in a way that glorifies God, verse 14.

So how can we apply this psalm? As believers, we’re not to neglect the World or Word book. God speaks to us in nature. We see his perfection. We learn about life, the shortness of life, the preservation of this world, the calamities in this world. And we are to marvel at how powerful and wise our God is. But we’re also to be warned. We won’t live forever. Even in his creative nature, God destroys. There are disasters around us. Jesus told his disciples that the collapse of the tower of Siloam should cause us to repent. We should take our lead from the world book, but also from the word book. And so we’re to come to the living and true God as he is revealed in Scripture - to worship him.

Travelers - how much have your travels to see the wonderful sceneries drawn you closer to God? Perhaps your travels are in vain. Or perhaps you don’t read the World book as you should. Scientists, how have your studies drawn you to see the perfections of this God? Perhaps your studies ought to be guided by the Word book too. When it comes to God’s revelation, let us appreciate both. Spurgeon said, “He is wisest who reads both the world-book and the Word-book as two volumes of the same work, and feels concerning them, ‘My Father wrote them both.’” May our conclusion be as David’s in verse 14 - “May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.”

1. The World Book

A. Its perpetual clarity

B. Its declarative power

2. The Word Book

A. Its clear revelation of God

B. Its precious directions