The Cry of a Heart // Psalm 19
Psalm 19,
“The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard. Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world.
God has made a home in the heavens for the sun. It bursts forth like a radiant bridegroom after his wedding. It rejoices like a great athlete eager to run the race. The sun rises at one end of the heavens and follows its course to the other end. Nothing can hide from its heat.
The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living. Reverence for the Lord is pure, lasting forever. The laws of the Lord are true; each one is fair. They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb. They are a warning to your servant, a great reward for those who obey them.
How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults. Keep your servant from deliberate sins! Don’t let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin.
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”
I'm excited about today's Psalm because it's one of my favorites. There are verses I have memorized fondly from this passage and they'll spontaneously play out in my mind. It's a psalm that declares the creativity and mightiness of our God with beautiful verbiage.
Whenever I see a sunrise or sunset, or perhaps look up at the stars at night, I recite verses 1-2. These words are a reminder to us that the very majesty of what's in front of our eyes every day is a declaration of God's splendor. Look at how He has hung the stars and placed the moon and sun in their place. Or how He has painted to sky with such vibrancy. The psalmist is sharing that, with just one look at the sky, there is a clear declaration of God's handiwork. We can know He's there and stand in awe of who He is.
Further on, we find that the sky isn't the only thing that declares the mightiness of our God. His law--or the Bible--does so as well. The words God has given us are perfect and guide us to righteous living. It speaks to the perfect God we serve.
The psalmist is declaring that all around us we find the existence of God and how perfect He is. Whether we look up and out across the sky to see the declaration of God without words, or open the Bible to find words declaring His holiness, we can be certain our God is mighty and perfect.
Taking that into consideration, we then reflect on ourselves. Are we fully committed to God? Is there hidden sin in our heart? How can we serve Him with greater fervency? When we take into account who He is, we can then reflect on who we are with greater authenticity.
Today, take a look around you and marvel at His craftsmanship. Take His words in with eagerness and reverence. Then take an account of where your heart is and how you might grow closer to Him.
Click the image above to download the free scripture print for this series! It's a great way to memorize an encouraging verse while staying in tuned with the series.
One of my favorite worship albums of all time is one put out by the ladies of the Red Rocks Church worship team. It's 4 songs developed out of their favorite psalms and it's some of the most beautiful music I've ever heard! Click on the album to purchase it at itunes.
