The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. 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 there voice goes out through all of the earth, and their words to the end of the world.
In the heavens he has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy, 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 nothing is hid from its heat.
The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the decrees of the Lord are sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is clear; enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is pure, 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 your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. But who can detect their errors? Clear me from hidden faults. Keep back your servant also from the insolent; do not let them 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 to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
Psalm 19
From the time I was a child, this has always been my favorite verse. I remember reading it from my New Revised Standard Version Bible that I received from my church, and being fascinated by the power of opposites. The natural world, the heavens and the sky, tell of God’s glory. Day and night provide speech and knowledge without voice, and yet their voice goes through the entirety of the world. How can speech and knowledge have no voice and yet the whole world hear their voice? Even the sun runs the course God has set for it, and nothing is hidden from it. Have you ever looked down from the height of a mountain, or sat staring at the never-ending waves from the endless sea and thought about how God was speaking through them? Oh, the power of our God who can use even things without voice to speak to us.
And what does the Lord have to say to us? His laws revive our souls. His decrees make our simple minds wise. His rules make our hearts rejoice. His commandments enlighten our eyes. Our fear of God endures forever. His laws are true and righteous, They are worth more than money and are even sweeter than honey. The ways of the Lord direct our paths, reward our efforts to know Him, clear us from sins we don’t even know about, and prevent us from being ruled by the rude and the arrogant. God’s glory is on display in everything around us, and He uses our environment to remind us how much He loves us.
Father, thank you for using everything we see, hear, smell, taste and touch to remind us of your glory and your power. You use even things without speech to speak to us. Help us to follow your laws, your decrees, and your commandments because we know that you always have our best interests at heart. And always, let the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable to you, O Lord, our rock and our redeemer. Amen.
