What would you call “glorious”? Some of us would think of creation (e.g. mountains, sunset and sunrise) or architectural wonders (e.g. Sydney Opera House. Others might associate with food or skills, or think of sports teams or the title “GOAT” attributed to sports persons.
But what does is mean in this Psalm? How is God glorious?
(A) The Glory of God Declared by Creation to the Ends of the Earth (Ps 19:1-6)
Defining the glory of God is difficult, but we can get close to understanding what it is. We are glory-starved people and like to ascribe glory to things. There is a worth, value, beauty to all of these things that we find “glorious”. When we find something glorious, there is an overwhelming need to tell others about it
But what is the glory of God? John Piper describes it as “The glory of God is the infinite beauty and greatness of God’s manifold perfections”. We have studied some of God’s attributes in this series: his wisdom, his mercy, his immutability, his being eternal.
All of these attributes show God’s worth, beauty, his worthiness of honour and worship, and his glory. To see God for who he is in all of his perfections is then to glorify God: to honour, respect, treasure, value, revere/fear, etc. Why is it so important? If we don’t see the glory of God, we will end up glorifying other things.
With this in mind, let us examine the opening verses of Ps 19. Ps 19:1 opens by telling us how the heavens declare the glory of God and the sky above (the expanse) proclaims his handiwork. There is a declaration and proclamation of God’s glory in the sky, in creation. The footnote in the ESV Bible points us to Gen 1:6-8 where God created “the expanse and separated the waters that were under the expanse from the waters that were above the expanse”. Hence, the Psalm opens with a declaration that God is Creator. We remember our first study in Psalm 90, where we spoke about how God is eternal, from everlasting to everlasting. There was a time, where only God existed and nothing else. He alone is Creator, and the sky being his handiwork/work shows his glory.
This declaration of God’s glory is continuous and never ends (Ps 19:2). Day and night (continuously), the sky pours out speech and reveals knowledge. This declaration is heard throughout all the earth, to the ends of the world (Ps 19:3-4). It doesn’t stop at some countries and it is not hampered by geography or weather changes. All peoples receive this message from creation of God’s glory.
The Psalmist describes the sun with a specific image. In the sky, there is a tent/dwelling place for the sun (Ps 19:4c). The sun is compared to a bridegroom leaving his chamber (Ps 19:5-6). The bridegroom leaving his chamber is a picture of joy. The happiest day in a man’s life on his way to getting married, that is how the sun is described as it rises and sets from one end of the earth to another end.
There is nothing hidden from the heat of the sun: just like the voice that goes to the ends of the earth, the sun is declaring the glory of God with joy to everyone. Rom 1:18-20 tells us that God’s invisible attributes are revealed in creation, so that all are without excuse; all must acknowledge God. Every man who can perceive nature is accountable to honour and give thanks to God (Rom 1:21). Nature and creation are meant to lead us to see God as creator, to see his glory and perfections. This is what it means to glorify God and seeing who He is.
This also also means that there is a wrong response to knowledge of God. What we do with what we know of God is important. Therefore, worshipping God is more than singing. Also, if we’re just singing and not contemplating the truth or thinking about His worth, we are not worshipping Him! As John Piper describes it, we need to see and savour God.
Recently, as Singapore goes through the circuit breaker period, there have been many more beautiful sunsets in our skies, this is apparently due to the cleaner air from reduced activity and pollution as we stay home. What do we do when we see beautiful sunsets? Will be thinking of finding the best angle to take our photos so that we can Instagram it and gather many likes and comments from our followers? Or will we see the declaration of God’s glory, and be reminded that he is our creator, responding with praise and worship. The heavens declare the glory of God, let us not miss seeing and perceiving God’s glory as we look upon creation. How else has God revealed his glory to us?
(B) The Glory of God Revealed to us in the Word of God (Ps 19:7-11)
In the next section of Psalm 19, the focus is on the words of the LORD. The LORD is introduced. This is a particular name of God. The LORD in capitals is YAHWEH, the name God revealed to Moses, when Moses asked (c.f. Exo 3:13-15). The LORD is “I AM WHO I AM”, the self-existing, eternal, creator God who depends on one. This name of God is so sacred and precious, and the Israelites would not even utter it. He is the self-sufficient Creator God that doesn’t need any other. This LORD is also the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob: the same God who makes covenant/promises with these men. The LORD is the personal name of God for his people. This is how God reveals Himself to His people.
Further into Exodus (Exo 33:18-19), the people of God have left Egypt, received the law and have broken it by building the Golden Calf. Moses asks God to “please show me your glory” in Ex 33:18. “Reveal yourself to me”, that is what Moses is asking for. And how does God reply? He says: “I will make all my goodness pass before you, and will proclaim before you my name ‘the LORD’ (Exo 33:19). We see here that the LORD is one who reveals himself (and his glory) to us through words. Even though Moses asked God to show him his glory, God spoke to him all his goodness in Ex 34:6. God revealed Himself by telling Moses. He revealed Himself through words, by speaking His goodness in words.
We also recall that God’s word is how God created in Psalm 33:6. His words are powerful, and He is a speaking God. Thus His words are not just mere words, but have power!
What does the psalmist say about the words of the LORD (Ps 19:7-9)?
The law of the LORD (Torah) is perfect or blameless and it revives the soul (Ps 19:7a). It is complete and nothing can be added to it! The word of God is life-giving to the weary and down-trodden soul. Without it, it implies that there is a sort of death. It is essential for life! Jesus says in Matt 4:4 that man shall live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. Hence, the words of God are life-giving, restoring the soul.
Therefore, it means that the human soul needs refreshing. Life is not always jolly, and the word of God can refresh and revive our souls. Our souls are not static, and they are being pulled in all sorts of directions by our circumstances.The word of God is life-giving to the weary and down-trodden soul.The testimony of the LORD is sure and makes wise the simple (Ps 19:7b). God’s word is unchanging and we can be confident in it for it is trustworthy. This is what we have read previously in Ps 102:27. God’s word gives wisdom and helps the simple, one who is easily misled, to live rightly in light of God’s revelation to us. It helps us to live rightly in reality.
We are misled easily just as the simple is. All day long, the world around us is preaching to us, giving us information on the best way to live our lives. The Bible reveals to us the know-how to live in light of God, who is the true reality, the self-existing one.The precepts of the LORD are right and it rejoices the heart (Ps 19:8a). God’s word is righteous and gladdens or cheers us up! It doesn’t just do this outwardly, but causes and inward rejoicing!
The commandment of the LORD is pure and enlightens the eyes (Ps 19:8b). It is unmixed with evil, and serves to open our eyes to see what was previously unseen.
The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever (Ps 19:9a). This refers to the way by which one reveres the LORD and it is clean and fair in a ceremonial sense. It never fails and stands the test of time.
The rules of the LORD are true and righteous (P 19:9b). It is trustworthy, certain and reliable.
This section has been referring to God’s revealed word in his law, albeit with different terms. It is the entirety of God’s revealed law (first five books). But each of these terms has different implications. The Word of the LORD legislates true morality (law), gives the truest experience of life or reality (testimony), giving true propositions (precepts), prescribing how we ought to live (commandment), reverent, worship responses to God's character (fear), and design for life (rules).
But that’s not all. What does David compare it to? David first compares it to gold, even much fine gold (Ps 19:10a). The words of God is better than money, even much money. It is more to be desired, it has more value than all that money can buy. If a person offers you all the money that you need for the rest of your life or the Bible, you should pick the Bible. We are to pick the Bible always and all the time.
Do you desire to hear from God more than you desire all the things money can buy? Have you ever really wanted to purchase something, maybe a new shirt, or a new laptop, a new car, etc. The Bible as God’s word and revelation to us is more to be desired than these. The phrase “more to be desired” tell us that we must desire to read God’s word more than the news, social media, emails, etc (Ps 19:10a). We don’t always wake up wanting to read God’s word.
David also compares the word of the Lord to honey and drippings of the honeycomb (Ps 19:10b). Desire and sweetness refers to emotions and taste. They are experiential and not just information. Thus, the words of God is sweeter than the sweetest thing that David has tasted. It is better than the most enjoyable food you can think of. We all have had that moment, where we bite into something and go “wow”, this is amazing: so crispy, so juicy, so sweet, etc. This is the same experience that David compares the experience of reading God’s word. It is utterly enjoyable
David’s attitude here is one of delight, and of joy. He is treasuring God’s word deeply, and bursting into song, comparing it to the nicest things of the world and saying that God’s word is better. David also mentions 2 benefits: we are warned by God’s law, and in keeping them, there is a great reward (James 1:25).
How do we see God’s word today? Do you see it as a chore, one of your many tasks to be done in a day? “I have to read it because God says so?” The Bible, being God’s word revealed to us should cause us to delight in God. We should find it soul-reviving, find wisdom, our eyes enlightened. We should treasure these truths more than money, more than the fun experiences that the world offers us. Nothing else are the words of YAHWEH, nothing else will give us life. In giving us his words, God has revealed his glory, his goodness and beauty to us. What a kind God he is, that he would show himself to man! How do we respond to this? Do we see the great blessing that comes with obeying God’s words?
(C) The Glory of God Revealed to us through Christ’s Death on the Cross (Ps 19:12-14)
How does the psalmist respond to God’s revelation of himself? He brings up the topic of sin. David speaks of 2 types of sins — “hidden faults” and “presumptuous sins” (Ps 19:13). Who can discern his errors? No one! The psalmist recognises that he cannot discern all of his errors.
With regards to his hidden faults, the psalmist is aware that he could sin and not know. It could be something small like pride in our hearts when speaking to someone, or envy while scrolling through social media that we don’t think much about. The psalmist calls out to God for this type of sins, asking for God to declare him innocent, to justify him for these hidden sins.
In the second category, presumptuous sins, it refers to arrogant sins, ones which we know are sinful, and yet instead of repenting, we insist on committing them. These are the sins that we persist in, without a regard for God. We go: “I know this is not pleasing to you God, but I don’t care”. For these, David asks for God to keep him back, to not let them have dominion over him. He asks for God for strength to escape, to free us from their slavery, to not have power over him. David asks for God to pull him back from these dangerous sins. Only through these two things: with God declaring him innocent and keeping him back with power is David able to be “blameless and innocent of great transgression”
How do you pray about your sins? When God reveals himself to David in creation, and even more in his word, David recognises his sinfulness. When sinful humans meet with a holy and perfect and glorious God, we realise our unworthiness and sinfulness. This was what Peter cried out in Luke 5:8 — “depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord”.
When David thinks of God's glory revealed generally in creation, and specially in His Word, David's first instinct is to think of his sin, and to seek God's sanctifying grace. We can learn from David, to ask God to declare us innocent from our hidden faults, and to pull us back from our arrogant, prideful sins. Only with God’s help, can we be blameless and innocent.
In Ps 19:14, David uses the language of temple worship; of sacrifice to describe the words of his mouth and meditations of his heart. There were specific conditions for each sacrifice offered to God in his temple for worship, and here David is asking for God to make his words and heart acceptable to God. One couldn’t just approach God in any way.
Meeting with his God in his revealed word caused David to pray for God’s help with sin. When we realise who God is, when we see his beauty and perfections, his glory, we realise our sinfulness, and how far we are from it. Rom 3:23 tell us that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Sin is defined in relation to the glory of God. it is falling short, it is not seeing God’s glory as we should. If we think that we are at the centre of our lives, then we have fallen short to see and love the “manifold perfections” of God. When we fail to fear/revere God as who he truly is, revealed to us in creation and in his word, then we sin as we don’t recognise God’s glory and beauty.
1 Cor 2:14 tells us that the natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, neither does he understand them because they are spiritually discerned. As sinners, we have no ability to see God, to rejoice in Him, to treasure him as David did.
God has to act. Thus, hear what God does in Rom 3:24-25:
God justifies us (declare us innocent), by his grace
God redeems us
God put forward Christ as a propitiation by his blood: turns God’s wrath away from us
All of this God does to show his righteousness, because he had passed over former sins. God cannot be just and righteous if he simply declares sinners righteous. He would be unjust to do that. In sending Jesus Christ, God’s own righteousness is not compromised and in that, he is shown to be glorious, perfect, blameless, beautiful. In the sending of his Son, God redeems us, that we might be reconciled to him in relationship, able to behold his glory.
Just as it is described in Heb 1:3, Christ is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature. Christ, God incarnate is God’s radiance. He is the shining forth of God’s glory. When we look to Christ and see Christ revealed to us, we see God’s glory. In Christ, God is infinitely beautiful, great and glorious.
Our God is glorious, infinitely beautiful and great in his many perfections. In this series of fortify faith, we have seen so many ways in which God is glorious:
All these show us that he is glorious. He is worthy of our worship and our valuing. This is the last week of circuit breaker in Singapore. But in many ways, our lives from now is going to be different. Maybe some of us will be going back to work but so many things have changed. School, church and relationships are going to be different. Plans have changed and many of the things which we find comforting have been taken away from us.
But one thing hasn’t and will not be taken away from us: meeting with this glorious God. Has COVID-19 exposed any of your sins? Has it destroyed idols and shaky foundations that you have built your life upon? Have our sins blinded us to the glories of God?
Christ has redeemed us that we might have our eyes enlightened to God’s glories. May God cause our hearts to behold his glory, and worship him, and treasure it, finding it better than gold and sweeter than honey.