“The heavens declare the glory of God”: a devotional on Psalm 19
On a clear night far from city lights, the sky fills with stars. In the morning, the sun rises over the horizon and floods the land with light. King David looked at the same sky three thousand years ago and wrote, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork” (Psalm 19:1, KJV). The psalm that follows is one of the most beautiful in the Bible, moving from creation to Scripture to the human heart.
Creation speaks and the law
“Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.” The sky speaks without words, telling of God’s power and beauty to every nation. “There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.” Creation’s message reaches every people, whatever language they speak. David compares the rising sun to a bridegroom coming out of his chamber and a strong man running a race. Its heat reaches everything.
Then the psalm turns. “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul.” If the sky shows God’s glory, his word shows his will.
Better than gold and hidden faults
God’s judgments are “more to be desired… than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.” By God’s word, his servant is warned, and in keeping it there is great reward. David asks, “Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.” Looking at God’s glory makes him aware of his own need.
He prays to be kept from deliberate sins, so that they do not rule over him. The psalm ends with a well-known prayer: “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.”
For today and two books
Step outside and look at the sky. Then open the Scriptures, and end with David’s prayer. Lord, thank you for speaking through creation and your word. Make my words and thoughts pleasing to you. Christian writers have long spoken of God’s two books, creation and Scripture, and Psalm 19 holds them side by side. David began by looking up at the heavens and ended by looking into his own heart. That journey, from sky to Scripture to self, is still a good way to begin a day.
