The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork.
Psalm 19:1
Sometimes even one verse of Scripture is packed with power. Such is the case with Psalm 19:1: “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork.” Each season of the year aids in this declaration. Spring is a season of new life, yet for most of us. In Florida where I serve, we are not yet having the blistering heat of summer. Mornings and evenings are still cool, and gentle breezes blow. In other parts of the country, nature is about to exit the grip of winter as flowers bloom and grass grows after months of dormancy. I remember when I lived in New England the joy of seeing the daffodils push through the ground. And when I lived in the mountains of western North Carolina the brilliant gold of the forsythia bush. This cycle of life repeats itself year after year. These amazing cycles of nature continually remind us of the handiwork of God. They aren’t complex science projects engineered by us, but rather the work of our Creator.
For those of us who live in big cities, the lights of our large metropolitan areas prevent us from seeing bright stars in the sky. It is important that we see them. I look forward to the times I am not in my town, when I can see the myriads of stars against the darkness of the heavens, and I take advantage of this at every opportunity. We spend so much time looking down at our screens that we forget to look up.
During this age of technology, when large screen TVs and a myriad of streaming services call us to remain on the couch, it’s important to remember to get out of the house, even if it is to sit in the yard, to feel the grass on your feet or the warmth of the sun. The walls of our homes and the endless news cycle do not declare the glory of God. People don’t do that, nature does that. Our homes and their contents are the handiwork of skilled laborers. The sky, the clouds, the wind, the rain, the flowers, the grass, these are the handiwork of God.
In Psalm 19:20, we read “Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard; yet their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.” It is amazing that God speaks to us without words. For those who wonder “why do we never hear God?” the answer is that He speaks to us in the sun, in the wind, in the rain, in beauty, and in other people as well.
“The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul.” (19:7) This is because the law of the Lord is love, and love revives the soul. Drinking ourselves stupid is not how we revive our souls—it’s how we mask pain. Same thing with drugs, pornography, or even excessive TV watching. The soul is revived through love. If your soul is down, call someone, write a letter to someone, express love and appreciation for someone. If you are feeling great, do the same, call someone, write a letter to someone, express love and appreciation to others in your life, because everyone needs love to revive their souls and we can’t ever receive too much love from others. Not only are we to express love for others, but we are supposed to express our love to God—this can be expressed in prayer, and also in enjoyment of His creation. It’s like when you buy a gift for someone and you see them using it, even if they don’t express their thanks verbally, by seeing them use the gift, you know they are grateful for it. Use and enjoy God’s creation. That is a great way to express our thanks to Him.
Finally, verse 14 reads: “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” This reminds us that as God speaks to us through the heavens and through His handiwork, we also “speak” a response to Him. When we litter the environment, either with pollution, bad language, bad feelings or poor treatment of others, we express ingratitude rather than thanksgiving for the glory of God and the beauty of His handiwork—His creation, and the human beings He created in His image and likeness. Let us treat all of His creation with joy and gratitude. If the heavens declare His glory, then we human beings must tell of it as well, through our words and actions. If the sky above proclaims His handiwork, then we should declare it as well.
Appreciate the glory of God and His handiwork outside in some way today!
The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims His handiwork. Day to day pours forth speck, and night to night declares knowledge; there is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard; yet their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them He has set a tent for the sun, which comes forth like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and like a strong man runs its course with joy. Its rising is from the end of the heavens and its circuit to the end of them; and there is nothing hid from its heat. The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The ordinances of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover by them is Thy servant warned; in keep them there is great reward. But who can discern his errors? Clear Thou me from hidden faults. Keep back Thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord my rock and my redeemer. Psalm 19
Reflection question: What part of creation helps me remember God’s greatness today?
