God’s Glory • Psalm 19:1-11
By Philip Price
In 2021, Bill Nelson, formerly the highest ranking official for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), stated that years ago “a shepherd grazing his sheep would look up at the night sky. He became a poet. And he penned the words, The heavens declare the Glory of God; the firmament shows his handiwork (Psalm 19:1, NKJV). That shepherd, that poet, became king. And those immortal words in Psalm 19 encapsulate the expressions that we have today — the handiwork of God — as we peer back in time…” (NASA.org).
Psalm 19 is one of the songs David wrote for the Temple Choirmaster. In verses 1-6, this worship song expresses the king’s amazement at God’s Glory revealed in the sky. Furthermore, in verses 7-11, David declared greater wonderment at God’s Glory revealed through the scriptures.
God’s Glory is Revealed in the Sky (Psalm 19:1-6)
In verse 1, David pointed to the “heavens,” as a testament of the unrivaled Glory of God. Plainly, the “expanse” (CSB) or “size of the sky above” (ESV) declares the undeniable existence of an all-powerful divine being. The creation of the world was a miraculous act by the most intelligent being in the universe (Gen. 1:1). With the existence of such celestial complexity, the formation of the solar system could not have been by accident or a series of random events. S. M. Lockridge memorably described the beginning of Earth: “God stepped from behind the curtain of nowhere, onto the platform of nothing, and spoke a world into existence.”
Next, the royal songwriter sang that “day after day” and “night after night” (v. 2) the skies teach us about God. Undoubtedly, as a young shepherd boy, David spent many evenings gazing at the star-filled canopy. While the stars and the moon do not have a “voice” (v. 3), celestial bodies proclaim the existence of Yahweh (the Hebrew name of God) to the “ends of the world” (v. 4).
Then, the psalmist turned his attention to the magnificent star that the world orbits by declaring God “pitched a tent for the sun” (v. 4). God “pitched” a mighty big tent. Astronomers estimate that 1.3 million earth-sized orbs could fit into the sun. The daystar is credited with 99% of the mass of our solar system. The sun consistently shines each morning like a beaming “bridegroom coming from his home” (v. 5) on the way to his wedding. Furthermore, the sun is steadfast like a well-trained “athlete running a course” (v. 5), who always stays on the appointed track.
David ended this section highlighting the Glory of God in creation, by noting the sun follows the same ordained route every 24 hours. You can set your watch according to when the sun “rises” in the east and sets in the west (v. 6). Extraordinarily, the “heat” (v. 6) of the sun impacts the entire world. The core of the celestial powerhouse reaches a temperature of 27 million °F (NASA.org).
Certainly, the heavens disseminate the Glory of the Lord, but creation cannot reveal the full extent of God’s gracious redemptive plan for mankind. This revelation comes through Scripture.
God’s Glory is Revealed in the Scriptures (Psalm 19:7-11)
General revelation refers to God’s communication of His Glory through nature. Specific revelation comes through His Word.
In verses 7-11, David uses various descriptors for God’s Word. The Scriptures are “instruction” (v. 7), “testimony” (v. 7), “precepts” (v. 8), “command” (v. 8), and “ordinances” (v. 9). God’s Word makes “the heart glad” (v. 8) and makes “the eyes light up” (v. 8). Moreover, the scripture is “pure” (v. 9), “enduring forever” (v. 9), “reliable and altogether righteous” (v. 9).
David was rich in possessions. Yet, he considered the sacred text “more desirable than gold” (v.10) and “sweeter than honey” (v.10). In the final verse of our focal passage, the one who God called “a man after His own heart” (I Samuel 13:14, KJV), declared the Law of God “warned” him. However, he did not consider the commandments of God to be restrictive, but he treasured them as an “abundant reward” (v. 11). David loved the Biblical record because it recorded the faithfulness of God to Israel and was an indispensable guide for living.
Conclusion
King David was used to pen beautiful elucidations of God’s Glory seen in the sky during daylight and dark. Yet, he professed that the special revelation of God’s Glory through the Hebrew Scripture is supreme. Take a moment and list the many ways God has revealed his Glory to you.
Price is the Associational Missions Strategist for the Jackson County Baptist Association, Pascagoula. He is a member of Ridglea Heights Church, Moss Point.
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