God’s Greatness

David spoke of God’s greatness using His creation and His Word in Psalms 19 as well as other places in the Word.  Chapter 19 verses 1-6 speak of God’s creation and in verses 7-11 David related to God’s Word, then in verses 12-14 he talked about sin and seeking God’s compassion and mercy.  David knew about the greatness of God through His creation, because having been a shepherd boy in his youth he spent a lot of time out in the fields with the sheep and had plenty of time to meditate on God and His creation.

David said this in verses 1-6:

“The heavens declare the glory of God;

And the firmament shows His handiwork.

Day unto day utters speech,

And night unto night reveals knowledge.

There is no speech nor language

Where their voice is not heard.

Their line has gone out through all the earth,

And their words to the end of the world.

In them He has set a tabernacle for the sun,

Which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,

And rejoices like a strong man to run its race.

Its rising is from one end of heaven,

And its circuit to the other end;

And there is nothing hidden from its heat.”

Have you ever walked through the woods in the winter when there was fresh snow covering the ground and the trees, and your mind drifted off and you saw the landscape as a magnificent picture that God had just painted?  In your mind you could see God with paintbrush in hand and with every stroke of His brush He painted the landscape as far as you could see, and beyond, with beauty that was almost breathtaking and you were mesmerized at what you were seeing, saying to yourself, “look at what God has done.”  Or maybe you have seen the sunrise or the sunset on a beautiful day and you felt the wind brush your cheek while the night sky was so clear it seemed like glass and it was saturated with stars that sparkled and shone like diamonds, and as you gazed at the intoxicating picture you were blown away by God’s handiwork!  Or, have you ever gazed at the Northern Lights, or as they are called by some the Aurora Borealis, and imagined God painting the skies with dazzling, exotic colors and you stood in amazement?  

Could it be that David caught a glimpse of God’s handiwork and he was so impressed by it that he felt he had to write about it?  Well, whatever the reason he knew that God had created it all and he couldn’t hold it in, he wanted to tell everyone about it and it has been recorded here for us, praise the Lord!

Then David went on to talk about the Word and God’s precepts in verses 7-11 saying this:

“The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul;

The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;

The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;

The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes;

The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;

The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.

More to be desired are they than gold,

Yea, than much fine gold;

Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

Moreover by them Your servant is warned,

And in keeping them there is great reward.”

Here David talks about how the law of the Lord brings freedom, how it makes one wise, how the law is perfect and how the statutes of the Lord are pure and enlightens the eyes.  The judgments of the Lord are fair and just and we can trust Him.  Through the Word we can explain the salvation plan and the perfect love and grace of the Lord that brings it to completion and so many other things that are necessary for us to know.  In keeping the laws and statues of the Lord we will be rewarded.

Then David goes on to talk about sin and the need of God’s help and forgiveness, regardless of how they are committed in verses 12-14 which says this:

“Who can understand his errors?

Cleanse me from secret faults.

Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins;

Let them not have dominion over me.

Then I shall be blameless,

And I shall be innocent of great transgression.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart

Be acceptable in Your sight,

O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.”

This is what it says about these verses in the footnotes of my Bible, “David distinguished between “secret faults” and “presumptuous sins.”  Secret faults are sins committed unknowingly or in ignorance of God’s laws.  Presumptuous sins are sins committed deliberately in defiant rebellion against God.  David asked forgiveness for both, realizing that God’s mercy covered even his dreadful sins of murder and adultery (2 Samuel 11, 12).  David also desired that his words and actions and even his thoughts would please God.”

Every believer should feel the same way that David did in verse 14, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.”

Something to think about, that I hope has been encouraging and insightful.  May the good Lord bless you and may you have a super day!!