the meaning of psalm 19:1

THE HEAVENS DECLARE THE GLORY OF GOD. We become more Christlike, âconformed to tâ¦ We are children, and must each confess, "I think as a child, I speak as a child." Division. But how should they raise our ideas toward their great Creator, when we consider that all these were created from nothing, by a word, by a mere volition of the Deity. A perfect example of this is modern â Big Bang â cosmology. The title tells us both the author and the audience of the psalm: To the Chief Musician. The expanse shows his handiwork. In particular, we have always regretted that endeavours should have been made to depreciate nature with a view of exalting revelation; it has always appeared to us to be nothing else than the degrading of one part of God's work in the hope thereby of exalting and recommending another. Yet for all this, to what avail is the loudest declaration to a deaf man, or the clearest showing to one spiritually blind? The ablest philosophers of modern times do, indeed, maintain that a natural law is nothing more than the uniform mode in which God acts; and that, after all, it is not the efficiency of the law, but God's own energy, that keeps all nature in motion; that he operates immediately and directly, not remotely and indirectly, in bringing about every event, and that every natural change is as really the work of God as if the eye of sense could see his hand turning round the wheels of nature. Psalm 19 is like a âVâ in which Godâs revelation of Himself is focused in upon the author. A Psalm of David.) The book of nature has three leaves, heaven, earth, and sea, of which heaven is the first and the most glorious, and by its aid we are able to see the beauties of the other two. The testimony given by the heavens is no mere hint, but a plain, unmistakable declaration; and it is a declaration of the most constant and abiding kind. "For he spake, and it was done. (Psalm 19:1-2 ESV) The ESV has a great English version of Psalm 19, but there is always a lot lost in translation, no matter how faithful you can be to the text. The wonder of the heavens tell forth the glory of God and the wider expanse of God's amazing creation continues to declare day by day of the amazing work of God's creative hands. John Mason Good. The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Psalm 19: 1 -- The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. So St. Paul, Romans 1:20 : God's invisible things, as his eternal power and Godhead, "are clearly seen" by the creation of the world, "being understood by the things that are made." Henceforth I hope to imbibe more copiously this moral emanation of the skies, when, in some such manner as the preceding, they are rationally seen, and the sight is duly improved. There are â¦ But it prevails extensively in the church, and still more in the world. He who would guess at divine sublimity should gaze upward into the starry vault; he who would imagine infinity must peer into the boundless expanse; he who desires to see divine wisdom should consider the balancing of the orbs; he who would know divine fidelity must mark the regularity of the planetary motions; and he who would attain some conceptions of divine power, greatness, and majesty, must estimate the forces of attraction, the magnitude of the fixed stars, and the brightness of the whole celestial train. There is no speech nor language Where their voice is not heard. Temple Chevallier, in "The Hulsean Lectures for 1827.". Well, I hate to give away the big secret right from the start, but believe it or not, the Word of God is written in the stars. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. I read, one time, that a good Bible devotional has two important elements. When he heard the bellowings, and saw the smoke of the volcano, it was "God who looketh on the earth, and it trembleth; he toucheth the hills, and they smoke." In his earliest days the psalmist, while keeping his father's flock, had devoted himself to the study of God's two great books -- nature and Scripture; and he had so thoroughly entered into the spirit of these two only volumes in his library that he was able with a devout criticism to compare and contrast them, magnifying the excellency of the Author as seen in both. Obadiah Sedgwick, 1660. The heading, "To the Chief Musician, a Psalm of David," informs us that David wrote it, and that it was committed to the Master of the service of song in the sanctuary for the use of the assembled worshippers. The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. Something like magic has struck my mind, on transient and unthinking survey of the aethreal vault, tinged throughout with the purest azure, and decorated with innumerable starry lamps. The Hebrew word for God in Psalm 19:1 is El which, like âGodâ in English, is a generic word for a heavenly being, not the special word for the God of the Hebrews (Yahweh or LORD, as in vv. 3 There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. The heavens declare, etc. Verse 1. It is not merely glory that the heavens declare, but the "glory of God," for they deliver to us such unanswerable arguments for a conscious, intelligent, planning, controlling, and presiding Creator, that no unprejudiced person can remain unconvinced by them. But how different, as already remarked, were the feeling of ancient saints. The Perfect Revelation of the Lord - To the Chief Musician. 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.". Some believe that the Chief Musician is the Lord GOD Himself, and others suppose him to be a leader of choirs or musicians in Davidâs time, such as Heman the singer or Asaph (1 Chronicles 6:33, 16:5-7, and 25:6). Finished-Telestai (Easter Reflections - (8). Psalm 19 is as fine a representation of the psalms as we could imagine. "By the word of the Lord were the heavens made, and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth." What must be that power, which so formed worlds on worlds; worlds in comparison of which this earth which we inhabit sinks into utter nothingness! They were created to shed their radiant glow and life-giving warmth onto the earth. California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information, As preaching all the night and all the day without intermission: verse. The expanse is full of the works of the Lord's skilful, creating hands; hands being attributed to the great creating Spirit to set forth his care and workmanlike action, and to meet the poor comprehension of mortals. In every event they saw the agency of God; and, therefore, they took delight in its examination. In the expanse above us God flies, as it were, his starry flag to show that the King is at home, and hangs out his escutcheon that atheists may see how he despises their denunciations of him. It would be idle to enquire into the particular period when this delightful poem was composed, for their is nothing in its title or subject to assist us in the enquiry. Saint Chrysostom conjectures that the main intention of the greatest part of this Psalm consists in the discovery of divine providence, which manifests itself in the motions and courses of the heavenly bodies, concerning which the psalmist speaketh much, from Psalms 19:1-7 . How foolish and wicked are those who instead of accepting the two sacred tomes, and delighting to behold the same divine hand in each, spend all their wits in endeavouring to find discrepancies and contradictions. The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. The great book of the creatures in folio, may be termed aptly the shepherd's kalendar, and the ploughman's alphabet, in which even the most ignorant may run (as the prophet speaks) and read. Psalms 19:1 Context. Let not science and religion be reckoned as opposing citadels, frowning defiance upon each other, and their troops brandishing their armour in hostile attitude. Dr. Philip W. McLarty. Psalm 19 â The Heavens, the Word, and the Glory of God. What exactly does this mean? A singular and experimental knowledge of himself. The more we learn about the universe, the more clearly we can see the work of God. Man walking erect was evidently made to scan the skies, and he who begins to read creation by studying the stars begins the book at the right place. We may rest assured that the true "Vestiges of Creation" will never contradict Genesis, nor will a correct "Cosmos" be found at variance with the narrative of Moses. These are considerations which from their extent almost bewilder our minds. Universus mundus (as one pithily) nihil aliud est quam Deus explicatus: the whole world is nothing else but God expressed. The heavens declare the glory of God. I think the imagery in verse 5 is saying that natural revelation is dominating and powerful. Psalm 19:1 Further Study. In the New Testament, this change is observable. It speaks to every person who has ever lived on this terrestrial globe.. of a caring God, Who created the heavens; formed the earth and fashioned all that was made in those six astonishing days of creation. 4 Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. 1 The heavens declare the glory of God. Psalm 19:1 The purpose of displaying the heavens (For the choir director. 2 Day after day they pour forth speech, and night after night they display knowledge. Context Summary Psalm 19:1â6 focuses on creation as a means by which God reveals Himself to mankind. â THERE IS NO SPEECH NOR LANGUAGE, WHERE THERE VOICE IS NOT HEARD. He compares his own stature with the magnitude of the earth on which he dwells; the earth, with the system in which it is placed; the extent of the system, with the distance of the nearest fixed stars; and that distance again serves as a unit of measurement for other distances which observation points out. Dr. Macosh has well said, "We have often mourned over the attempts made to set the works of God against the Word of God, and thereby excite, propagate, and perpetuate jealousies fitted to separate parties that ought to live in closest union. Not one person could be indifferent to the heavenly glories of the day-time sky and the countless wonders of the stunning night-time sphere.. as we gaze on the sun and moon and twinkling stars, which God in His grace placed into the heavens on the third day of creation. Subject. Psalm 19:1 describes the heavens as declaring and proclaiming the glory of God. No doubt David had watched in wonder as the planets danced across the night sky, or as the fruitful season of harvest rolled round to the lush springtime of new birth. You have to respond to it. In a word, Psalm 19 is a song of praise, devotion and supplication: â¢ It recognizes the sovereignty of God over all creation. Any part of creation has more instruction in it than human mind will ever exhaust, but the celestial realm is peculiarly rich in spiritual lore. He who looks up to the firmament and then writes himself down an atheist, brands himself at the same moment as an idiot or a liar. Romans 1:18echoes that. This psalm of David begins by referring to the heavens and the sky as proofs of God's creative work. The Psalmist goes on to say in verses 2-6 that the heavens âreveal knowledge.â Godâs glory can â¦ The heavens declare, or are declaring, for the continuance of their testimony is intended by the participles employed; every moment God's existence, power, wisdom and goodness, are being sounded abroad by the heavenly heralds which shine upon us from above. For they could not but receive pleasure from witnessing the manifestations of his wisdom and beneficence, whom they adored and loved. Creation is one of two “books' (creation and conscience), that God has given to every man born of woman and every woman begotten of man. To some people they discharge no better a service than that of holding a flambeau to their feet, and softening the horrors of their night. He commanded, and it stood fast." Thus praise and prayer are mingled, and he who here sings the work of God in the world without, pleads for a work of grace in himself within. There are different nations in â¦ A Psalm by David. The world resembles a divinity school, saith Plutarch, and Christ, as the Scripture telleth, is our doctor, instructing us by his works, and by his words. Note also that the heavens and the âdomeâ are not to be identified as âgods.â Whole Psalm. The 19th psalm is one of the most magnificent writings in the Bible and indeed in all literature. What does Psalm chapter 19 mean? In essence, this psalm says that to know God is to know His Word. It is true that God is incapable to sense, yet he makes himself, as it were, visible in his works; as the divine poet (Du Bartas) sweetly: --. But to omit all variety of conjecture, this Psalm contains in it: Verse 1. But, although the ablest philosophy of modern times has reached this conclusion, the great mass of the community, and even of Christians, are still groping in the darkness of that mechanical system which ascribes the operation of this natural world to nature's laws instead of nature's God. 1 (To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.) "Let them be," said God, and they were. David prayeth for grace, Psalms 19:12-14 . Psalm 19 in Greek (Septuagint or Vulgate) numbering corresponds to Psalm 20 in Hebrew numbering. Whole Psalm. But when I look to the cross of Calvary and see Christ:- dead, buried and resurrected to life.. so that by faith in Him I might be reconciled back to God; be forgiven of my sins and become Your child and heir - I am lost in wonder love and praise, AMEN. No doubt David also recognised the unmistakable signature of his faithful God, Who was the good Shepherd, Who provided all he needed, led him in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake, and promised a table of plentiful supply in the face of his bitter enemies. For as Aristotle had two sorts of writings, one called exoterical, for his common auditors, another acromatical, for his private scholars and familiar acquaintance: so God hath two sorts of books, as David intimates in this Psalm; namely, the book of his creatures, as a common place book for all men in the world: The heavens declare the glory of God, Psalms 19:1-6 ; the book of his Scriptures as a statute book for his domestic auditory, the church: The law of the Lord is an undefiled law, Psalms 19:7-8 . Man has been endued by his Creator with mental powers capable of cultivation. 2 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. Psalm 111 exalts the works of God, while Psalm â¦ Psalm 19:1 in the Parallel Bible; Psalm 19:1 in the Thematic Bible; Psalm 19:1 Cross References; Psalm 19:1 Treasury of Scripture Knowing; Psalm 19:1 Prayers; Psalm 19:1 Images; Psalm 19:1 Devotionals; Choose Chapter Now the preaching of the heavens is wonderful in three respects. Literal: The heavens continue to declare the glory of God and the expanse sets forth His handiwork. All men have been given irrefutable proof of God and His creative power through both creation and their own God-given consciences.. but most have failed to read, recognise and respond to the exterior evidence in the creation.. and the inner witness of their their own.. God-given consciences. In his eye everything was full of God. Still no approach is made to any limit. Psalms 19:1-6 NIV. Yes, verily, their sound went into all the earth," etc., and the efficacy of whose gospel is like the heat of the sun, which pierceth into the very heart of the earth, so that into the secrets of the soul. The shocking truth is that man in his pride and foolishness has refused to read, recognise and honour the signature of His Creator-God.. in His astonishing book of Creation and the inner witness of his own God-given conscience. The magnificence of the immense universe declares the wonderful handiwork of our Creator God. It was David, the shepherd king who was moved by the splendour and majesty of God's handiwork to pen this hymn of praise to his Creator God. The body thereof (as mathematicians have confidently delivered) is one hundred and sixty-six times bigger than the whole earth, and yet it is every day carried by the finger of God so great a journey, so long a course, that if it were to be taken on the land, it should run every several hour of the day two hundred and twenty-five German miles. James Hervey, A.M., 1713-1758. What is meant in Psalm 19:1 - âThe heavens proclaim the glory of God. Let the one be the sanctuary where human learning may present its richest incense as an offering to God, and the other the holiest of all, separated from it by a veil now rent in twain, and in which, on a blood sprinkled mercyseat, we pour out the love of a reconciled heart, and hear the oracles of the living God.". It was God who "sent springs into the valleys, which run among the hills." Edward Hitchcock, D.D., L.L.D., 1867. His own habitation has provided a base which has served him to measure the heavens. A first view of the starry heavens strikes every beholder with astonishment at the power by which they were made, and by which they are supported. Any book without its first page would be sadly imperfect, and especially the great Natural Bible, since its first pages, the sun, moon, and stars, supply light to the rest of the volume, and are thus the keys, without which the writing which follows would be dark and undiscerned. "[There is] no speech nor language, [where] their voice is not heard." There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. The word showeth his grace, Psalms 19:7-11 . The firmament sheweth his handywork; not handy in the vulgar use of that term, but hand work. This comes from the Word spiritually cleansing our behavioral âblind-spotsâ that keep us from being effective for the Lord. When the thunderstorm passed before him, it was "God's voice in the heavens, and his lightnings that lighted the world." Instead they have changed the glory of the incorruptible God into images made in the likeness of corruptible man - bowing down to false gods made like the sun, worshiping the moon and creating images in the likeness of birds, creatures and creeping reptiles!! Verse 1. To get what Psalm 19:1 means based on its source text, scroll down or follow these links for the original scriptural meaning , biblical context and relative popularity. I have often been charmed and awed at the sight of the nocturnal heavens, even before I knew how to consider them in their proper circumstances of majesty and beauty. As preaching in every part of the world, and in every parish of every part, and in every place of every parish: A double kind of the knowledge of God, of which one is by the book of the creature; and this divines call a natural knowledge: there is not any one creature but it is a leaf written all over with the description of God; his eternal power and Godhead may be understood by the things that are seen, saith the apostle. The manifestations of his name operations of nature shout the reality of superior. Of Godâ KING JAMES VERSION ( KJV ) TRANSLATION, MEANING, context the Psalms we. Me and my friends may they act as ministers of a superior order, as counsellors of wisdom, night. Said God, and their words to the Chief Musician prevails extensively in the life a. Are considerations which from their extent almost bewilder our minds, very well described by translators... It: verse remarked, were the feeling of ancient times were observers... 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