“Learn the Glory of God”
August 27, 2006
Back 2 School Sunday
Psalm 19
Today, on Back 2 School Sunday, I want to take us to a portion of Holy Scripture which tells us what is the most important thing to study.
What is the most important thing to go to school for.
What is the most important thing to learn in all the universe.
Psalm 19 would say, “Learn the Glory of God.”
God is the most important subject of interest in the whole universe.
His glory should be the first and foremost subject of our study and attention.
Learn the Glory of God.
Okay, students? Let’s read Psalm 19 and see what David says about learning the glory of God.
[scripture reading, prayer]
It’s Back 2 School Sunday, and our teacher, King David says, “Learn the Glory of God.”
If you miss every other lesson that your school has to offer, don’t miss this one: Learn
the Glory of God.
#1: IN HIS WORLD.
Learn the Glory of God In His World.
God has revealed His glory in the natural world.
Theologians call it “natural revelation,” and it’s available to everybody. In Psalm 19 it is located, especially, in the sky. V.1
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”
The glory of God is marked all over the sky for anyone and everyone to see.
When we look at the sky, we are being given a lesson in the glory of God.
When was the last time you looked at the sky...and pondered the majesty of God?
That’s why it’s there. I heard a sermon once on Psalm 19 titled, “What the Sky is For.”
The sky exists to make you think about God.
I like to go to my in-laws’ home in western Canada–now that’s big sky country! Sometimes it’s a little unsettling because it makes me feel small and exposed, but the glorious sky seemingly without limit is just breathtaking. You can watch a storm come from miles away. It could be a hour away, but you can see it across the prairie.
Why is the sky there?
That’s a question you probably won’t get asked at school this week. But you should.
It’s more important than knowing what the sky is made of!
In my kids’ catechism, one of the first questions is “Why did God make the world?”
And the answer is “God made the world for His glory and to help us to know, trust, and love Him.”
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”
And they don’t stop. Ever. V.2
“Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.”
Verse 3 could be translated (NIV footnote), “They have no speech, there are no words; no sound is heard from them...”
Which means, that the sky doesn’t have sky writing on it that says in bold cloud print, “God is glorious!” The stars are not arranged in Hebrew letters to say, “Give praise to the LORD!”
But even so (v.4), “Their voice goes out into all the earth.”
Or it could be as the NIV translates it (and the KJV agrees), “There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.”
In other words, it doesn’t matter if you speak Portuguese or Hindi or Gaelic or Swahili–the heavens speak your language. That’s certainly the meaning of verse 4.
“Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.”
You can’t escape this classroom!
You can ignore it. But you can’t escape it. It’s right there above you.
Learn the Glory of God in His World.
Then our Teacher, King David, pulls out the sun. The most glorious creation in our universe. The sun. Verse 4.
“In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun, which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is hidden from its heat.”
Wow. That’s quite a description of the sun!
Like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion. On his wedding day, I think.
He’s all decked out in his finest, and He’s bursting out and saying, “Hear I come, I’m going to get my bride!”
The sun is like a champion rejoicing to run his course. Like an Olympic athlete with a huge smile bursting on his face as he runs like he was meant to!
Every morning for all of time, the Sun has gotten up and gloriously run across the sky.
And everything feels that heat. Even in the coldest places on Earth, every spot feels, in some way, the touch of that sun as it runs its circuit.
Now, don’t miss the point.
The point is not the sun, is it?
The point is that that glorious sun is obedient!
The sun is a creation of God and obedient to Him!
V.4 again. “In the heavens He (God) has pitched a tent for the sun.”
The sun lives where God wants it to!
The fact that it runs its glorious course every single day is supposed to tell us how glorious God is.
“The heavens declare the glory of God.”
Can you see it?
Have you learned about the glory of God from the heavens, the sky, the sun?
And the rest of creation.
This is one of the best reasons to go to school. Because at its best, school helps us to better understand the creation.
August 27, 2006
Back 2 School Sunday
Psalm 19
Today, on Back 2 School Sunday, I want to take us to a portion of Holy Scripture which tells us what is the most important thing to study.
What is the most important thing to go to school for.
What is the most important thing to learn in all the universe.
Psalm 19 would say, “Learn the Glory of God.”
God is the most important subject of interest in the whole universe.
His glory should be the first and foremost subject of our study and attention.
Learn the Glory of God.
Okay, students? Let’s read Psalm 19 and see what David says about learning the glory of God.
[scripture reading, prayer]
It’s Back 2 School Sunday, and our teacher, King David says, “Learn the Glory of God.”
If you miss every other lesson that your school has to offer, don’t miss this one: Learn
the Glory of God.
#1: IN HIS WORLD.
Learn the Glory of God In His World.
God has revealed His glory in the natural world.
Theologians call it “natural revelation,” and it’s available to everybody. In Psalm 19 it is located, especially, in the sky. V.1
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”
The glory of God is marked all over the sky for anyone and everyone to see.
When we look at the sky, we are being given a lesson in the glory of God.
When was the last time you looked at the sky...and pondered the majesty of God?
That’s why it’s there. I heard a sermon once on Psalm 19 titled, “What the Sky is For.”
The sky exists to make you think about God.
I like to go to my in-laws’ home in western Canada–now that’s big sky country! Sometimes it’s a little unsettling because it makes me feel small and exposed, but the glorious sky seemingly without limit is just breathtaking. You can watch a storm come from miles away. It could be a hour away, but you can see it across the prairie.
Why is the sky there?
That’s a question you probably won’t get asked at school this week. But you should.
It’s more important than knowing what the sky is made of!
In my kids’ catechism, one of the first questions is “Why did God make the world?”
And the answer is “God made the world for His glory and to help us to know, trust, and love Him.”
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”
And they don’t stop. Ever. V.2
“Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.”
Verse 3 could be translated (NIV footnote), “They have no speech, there are no words; no sound is heard from them...”
Which means, that the sky doesn’t have sky writing on it that says in bold cloud print, “God is glorious!” The stars are not arranged in Hebrew letters to say, “Give praise to the LORD!”
But even so (v.4), “Their voice goes out into all the earth.”
Or it could be as the NIV translates it (and the KJV agrees), “There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.”
In other words, it doesn’t matter if you speak Portuguese or Hindi or Gaelic or Swahili–the heavens speak your language. That’s certainly the meaning of verse 4.
“Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.”
You can’t escape this classroom!
You can ignore it. But you can’t escape it. It’s right there above you.
Learn the Glory of God in His World.
Then our Teacher, King David, pulls out the sun. The most glorious creation in our universe. The sun. Verse 4.
“In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun, which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is hidden from its heat.”
Wow. That’s quite a description of the sun!
Like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion. On his wedding day, I think.
He’s all decked out in his finest, and He’s bursting out and saying, “Hear I come, I’m going to get my bride!”
The sun is like a champion rejoicing to run his course. Like an Olympic athlete with a huge smile bursting on his face as he runs like he was meant to!
Every morning for all of time, the Sun has gotten up and gloriously run across the sky.
And everything feels that heat. Even in the coldest places on Earth, every spot feels, in some way, the touch of that sun as it runs its circuit.
Now, don’t miss the point.
The point is not the sun, is it?
The point is that that glorious sun is obedient!
The sun is a creation of God and obedient to Him!
V.4 again. “In the heavens He (God) has pitched a tent for the sun.”
The sun lives where God wants it to!
The fact that it runs its glorious course every single day is supposed to tell us how glorious God is.
“The heavens declare the glory of God.”
Can you see it?
Have you learned about the glory of God from the heavens, the sky, the sun?
And the rest of creation.
This is one of the best reasons to go to school. Because at its best, school helps us to better understand the creation.
At its best, school helps us to understand natural revelation.
And helps us to figure out our world.
Even when your school won’t tell you where the sky came from, where it’s going, or why it’s there, you can still learn a lot about the creation.
But you don’t have to go to school to learn from it.
You just have to look at the sky.
A lot of men who are hunters have told me that they experience God in deep ways when they are out in the woods.
I understand that. They are looking at “the work of His hands.”
And if you have eyes to see it, you can learn a lot about the glory of God from His world.
And, in fact, everyone will be held accountable for this lesson. Romans chapter 1 says, “[S]ince the creation of the world God's invisible qualities–his eternal power and divine nature–have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.”
It’s vitally important that we all learn the glory of God from His created world.
But that’s not enough. It’s enough to condemn if ignored, but it is not enough to save.
It’s not enough to try to learn about God in the woods. You have to come to His Word.
#2. IN HIS WORD.
Learn the Glory of God in His Word. V.7
“The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul.”
All of a sudden, our Teacher, King David, changes the subject. Not from the glory of God, but from where we learn the glory of God. From the skies to the scriptures.
From the heavens to the Law (or the Torah, the Teaching).
“The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.
The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.
The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever.
The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous.
They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.
By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.”
In these 5 verses, David uses a ton of words to describe the Word of God.
“Law, statutes, precepts, commands, fear (which is what the law calls for), ordinances.”
And where we might see the law as good but restricting, David saw the law as life-giving and full of blessing.
I love these adjectives to describe God’s word: “perfect, trustworthy, right, radiant, pure, sure, altogether righteous, precious, sweet.”
This describes a man who has a love affair with God’s word.
And he knows what that Word can do!
“Reviving the soul.” Do you need your soul revived?
“Making wise the simple.” That means the immature. The childlike who need to go to school. Making them wise.
“Giving joy to the heart.” Do you need joy in your heart?
“Giving light to the eyes.” Yes.
This is what the Word of God does when we encounter it.
The Word of God is life-giving and full of blessing.
What is your greatest possession and what is your favorite food?
David didn’t know anything greater than gold or sweeter than honey.
So that’s what he used to describe God’s word and its life giving effects.
The scriptures are more precious than my 401K. They are more precious than Fort Knox. They are more precious than Wall Street.
They are sweeter than Texas Sheetcake. They are tastier than Apple Pie!
Is that your feeling about the Bible?
Learn the Glory of God in His Word.
You must.
Or you miss out on everything.
It’s not enough to study natural revelation. You need to study what theologians call “Special Revelation” – God speaking through His Word.
And you need to fall in love with the Scriptures. V.11
“By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.”
The Scriptures tell us about our need of a Savior.
They warn us of the wrath to come. If you don’t hear that warning, you will be lost.
They also tell us about the coming of the Savior and they call us to put our trust in Him. Have you heard that call?
Jesus Christ died on the Cross for sinners like you and me. And He calls sinners like you and me to put our trust in Him to receive eternal life and a new way of living now.
That’s the gospel. And we need that message.
The gospel isn’t present in natural revelation. It’s only present in special revelation.
That’s why these words are so precious and important!
“By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.”
I want great reward for us here at Lanse Free Church.
This is why we put so much effort into Bible at LEFC.
- Family Bible Night starts in a week and a half.
- New Sunday School Classes start in just one week.
- Link Groups are starting to form.
- Next week, I’ll begin a new series on God’s design for the Christian Family–from the Scriptures.
What are you doing to get into the Word of God and have the Word of God get into you?
Are you in the Word every day?
“They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.
By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.”
I want great reward for you.
This is more important than anything that they teach down at West Branch or P-O.
Learn the Glory of God in the pages of His Word.
And #3. IN YOUR HEART.
Learn the Glory of God in Your Heart.
Our Teacher on Back 2 School Sunday, King David was a student of God’s World and a student of God’s Word, and because of that, he knew he needed in his heart–grace. Verse 12.
“Who can discern his [own] errors? Forgive my hidden faults. Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.”
David wanted the glory of God to shine in his heart.
And he knew that that would take a work of God. Because our hearts are sinful and need cleansing.
He says, “Who can discern his errors?” In other words, “Who can infallibly know when he has done wrong.” Sometimes, we are so caught in our own sin that we can’t see it. So he says, “Forgive my hidden faults.” Give me grace.
And he says also, “Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression.”
David knew his heart had a bent toward evil. And he asked for grace. Not just the grace to be forgiven, but the grace to have the power to say, “No” to sin. Preventative grace.
David wanted the glory of God–so clear in creation and so sweet in the scriptures–to shine in his heart.
And he knew that that would take grace. So he prayed for it.
This should be our regular prayer as well.
“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.”
Notice that all of this learning had a twofold goal.
The first and most important is to be pleasing to God. That God would be happy to look upon our hearts and to see His glory resident within them.
And the second is to pass it on. “May the words of my mouth...be pleasing.”
In other words all of this learning is not just for us. We learn to teach.
We look at the glory of God in the heavens, and we’re called to point it out to others.
And we behold the glory of God in the pages of the Bible, and we’re called to teach others what we see.
Don’t learn the glory of God and then keep it for yourself!
Internalize it. Ask God to cleanse your heart and make it a clean vessel for His glory and then teach it to others.
Is this your prayer?
“May the words of [our] mouth and the meditation of [our] heart[s] be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, [our] Rock and [our] Redeemer.”
For 114 years, God has been faithful to us as a Rock and a Redeemer.
May we “go to school on His glory” in the World and in the Word and in our Hearts so that the world may know How faithful and glorious He is.
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