Happy Monday! Hope you find a few moments just to rest and pray before you begin.
Psalm 19:1-6
(NIV)
1 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 2 Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. 3 They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. 4 Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun. 5 It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. 6 It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is deprived of its warmth.
(The Message)
1-2 God’s glory is on tour in the skies, God-craft on exhibit across the horizon. Madame Day holds classes every morning, Professor Night lectures each evening.
3-4 Their words aren’t heard, their voices aren’t recorded, But their silence fills the earth: unspoken truth is spoken everywhere.
4-5 God makes a huge dome for the sun—a superdome! The morning sun’s a new husband leaping from his honeymoon bed, The daybreaking sun an athlete racing to the tape.
6 That’s how God’s Word vaults across the skies from sunrise to sunset, Melting ice, scorching deserts, warming hearts to faith.
Yesterday in church, when Pastor just getting to this scripture (vs 1-4), I had several words really jump out at me…with strength, zeal and passion…I even underlined them: declare; proclaim; pour forth; reveal. His Word really spoke to me at this point…but to what end?
As Pastor read these verses and as I was re-reading them in preparation for our blog…I found myself up at the ranch…the same one that Kristi spoke of last week…on Labor Day weekend. Several of us sitting outside watching the sun come up, with nothing more than a cup of coffee…the colors and shapes of the sky…the sounds of everything beginning to stir..even an overly exuberant donkey...but it was all good. Then we’re off to do a little work…a little hunting or just walking around looking at rocks and things. The sun is heating up a little, but we’re blessed with a little breeze..a little shade, when needed. Then night fall starts to set in…we get to witness more His handiwork…a new set of colors appear, the wind will often die down…and it’s often seems as if you’re watching the sun go to bed. Then the stars appear, and in the clearness of the country air, it’s as if you can reach out and touch them! Oh, what an escape…the worries, the stress…all seem to melt away…almost as if they never existed. What a blessing from Him...our Creator. And often during these times of soaking it all in, we often say to one another…How can anyone see or experience all this…and not know…There is a God?
So, as I started this blog, me bein’ weak in proper vernacular and understanding, I decided to go to the dictionary….
Declare:
- to make known or state clearly, especially in explicit or formal terms
- to announce officially; proclaim
- to state emphatically
- to manifest; reveal; show
Wow, what strong, convicting, bold, roof-top shouting language that is….and Yes, I have had the experience…the blessing…of my Creator being made known to me..clearly and emphatically!...but wait…is this about me…or is about Him...His will…His purpose?
Martin Luther said that Psalm 19 “is a prophecy of the Gospel as it was intended to go forth into all the world, as wide as the heavens extend, and to be proclaimed and taught both day and night…in all tongues.”
As I was contemplating the Word…my experiences…and Luther’s take on these versus, I was drawn back to Pastors’ insights this morning. Starting with “The natural world both suggests and indicts.”
You see, I think I get the suggests part…but mostly in the context “me”…my experience with Him…and if there’s anything I’ve learned (but probably don’t pay attention to enough) is that if it’s about me…I’ve probably got a problem…at the very least, my vision is probably skewed. Now, don’t get me wrong, experiencing His creation…”the firmament” (NKJV – the vault of heaven)…is an awesome thing! I’m just trying to remove myself…my brokenness…from the picture, so I can see Him and His will for me..what’s HE teaching me…a little clearer…because, I’m feeling a little indicted….but by what?
Well, let’s go back to the statement that my family and I were sharing…as we witnessed His creation…His glory all in motion…” How can anyone see or experience all this…and not know…There is a God?” Seems innocent enough…a little awestruck…sprinkled with a touch of humility…maybe just a hint of arrogance. So what gives?
At this point, this is where I was drawn to the other part of Pastors’ message…and thankfully so. You see, it’s not that there is anything wrong with the statement above in and of itself…it’s my lack of understanding…of heart….seeing through the wrong set of lens that is the problem. His presence, the unspoken truth, is all around us…yet, there are many children of our Father who do not see or hear! Therefore, the question “Is There a God?” becomes much more than just any ordinary question…it becomes a cry from the heart of His children that “we must put great value on”!
Folks, I know that there is much more we can go over, but for me, if I don’t get this NOW…that His plan..His is will…is for Jim to get “self” out of the way, so as to see and hear, to be salt and light…all to His glory…by way of the blood of the Lamb…all else is a moot point.
With that said, I like to end with verses 5-6 from the Message:
The morning sun’s a new husband leaping from his honeymoon bed, The daybreaking sun an athlete racing to the tape.
That’s how God’s Word vaults across the skies from sunrise to sunset, Melting ice, scorching deserts, warming hearts to faith.
Blessings on your week!
jim