Genesis 42-43, Psalm 19, Matthew 8:14-22, Acts 11:19-30 

Psalm 19:

Another of the great psalms of David. In Psalm 19, David moves from a declaration of God’s revelation of his glory in creation, to his revelation in the Bible, to call us, therefore, to be personally acceptable in God’s sight.

First, David shows God’s revelation of his glory in creation. Sometimes people say that they would believe in God if he would show himself to them. The first six verses of this psalm show the foolishness of such an idea: God is constantly revealing himself to us all the time. The heavens declare the glory of God. Day to day and night to night, speech is poured forth. This is not a mere logical deduction from a philosophical theory related to creation. This is the constant witness of nature itself to something beyond mere nature. This is not a mere rendition of a deistic divine being who began things—and then let them run their own course by themselves. This is the present witness of the activity of all things all the time. The person who says that they would believe in God if God would show himself to them is ironically using words which themselves speak of a logos that is not merely material. Perhaps this morning you feel that God is very distant. Remember; recall; look around. God’s voice is everywhere.

Second, David shows God’s revelation in the law, the Word, the teaching of the Bible. One of the great signs of a man or woman of God who loves God is that they love God’s Word. Conversely, a person who claims to follow God, but has little to no time for what God says, is deceiving themselves. The one who loves God will obey his commands, and the sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. To be more spiritual by necessity will mean becoming more biblical. Indeed, the law of the LORD is perfect. There is no error in this law. It is gives life: it revives the soul. It is sure; it makes wise the simple. If you want to be wise, read the Bible. The words are right and give joy, “rejoicing the heart.” They are pure, enlightening the eyes. It is all more to be desired than gold, even much fine gold; it is sweeter than honey, even the luscious drippings of the honeycomb. This is no dry book. This is no dull book. This is the living and enduring Word of God. If you are feeling this morning that you are directionless, that you do not know what to do or how to start again, begin by reading the Bible. Take a passage of Scripture, read through a book of the Bible with paper and pen. Write down your questions and your concerns. And then write down all the ways the Bible you are reading speaks to those questions and concerns. God’s Word makes you wise. If you are sad, read the Bible. Don’t go to the bottle, don’t go to the TV, don’t go to the Internet; go to the Bible. It rejoices in the heart. Let the Word do its work by believing and trusting the author of the Word as you hear his voice speak to you again this morning.

Third, David shows how all this revelation must impact us personally. There is no point pretending. Who can discern his errors? We are all far more sinful than we dare admit, or even ourselves are fully aware. What we need is for God to declare us innocent from hidden faults, and for the work of his Spirit through faith in the cross to declare us righteous. We need his power to keep us from rebelling, to keep us back from presumptuous sins. We need his power to stop sin from ruling over us, dominating us, to our destruction and demise. We need his power that the words of our mouth and the meditation of our heart would be acceptable in his sight.

Perhaps you think that there is very little that you have going wrong in your life. But “who can discern his errors”? Ask God to declare you innocent from hidden faults—and to prevent you from being blinded by the wiliness of sin and to become hardened and trapped in willful rebellion. May God be your rock and your redeemer, as he reveals his glory in creation and in the Bible, and transforms you increasingly to be the person who is pleasing and acceptable to him!