05-18-03 Communion Dedication - Baldwin Christian Church

Psalm 19

(v.1) (To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.) The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

Here is a challenge to us. Stop what you're doing every now and then, take some quiet time just to gaze up at the sky, and listen with your heart. You learn things about a craftsman when you study his handiwork. The firmament is fluid and invisible, but as it's name suggests, its firm and its able to support huge masses in the sky. Somehow, the air we breathe the first heaven) manages to hoist up and gather huge quantities of water, carry it across great distances, and put on a fireworks show as it gently pours out the tremendous quantity of water. Low pressure, high pressure, hydraulics, meteorology, or whatever science has to offer as an explanation of this process - it all goes right over my head, but its undoubtedly simple in comparison with what takes place in outer space (the second heaven). Whenever I stop for a little while and ponder the heavens, the power, the magnitude and the splendor of it all fills me with awe and wonder, but these things don't speak to their own glory. Instead, in the same manner as the Spirit of truth speaks not of Himself, but in all things glorifies Jesus, the heavens declare the glory of God.

(v.2-4) Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.

No matter who you are or where you live, there is no excuse for holding back the truth of God in your life. Even if the ministry of every prophet, preacher, and teacher of God living on the earth today were eliminated, the heavens have already witnessed His glory to all of us, they're teaching us about Him even now, they will continue pouring out their testimony of His majesty and power, and...

(continuing verse 4) In them (the heavens) hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,

(v.5~6) Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.

Even if you are blind and cannot see the sun, you can still feel the warmth as he crosses the sky, and you still receive nourishment from him. Up to this point, we've heard how God is revealed to us in the things we see as we look upward, and it is a blessing. Four legged beasts have a naturally downward gaze, but for us, it's so easy to tilt our heads back and listen to what the clouds, the planets and the stars say about the glory of God. This is a good start, but the ministry of nature doesn't penetrate the very core of our being, it doesn't facilitate deep, enduring change in the way we live our lives, and by no means can it cleanse us, so let's continue with what can.

Psalms 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.

God loves us. He sent His Word, the law, to comfort us, to encourage us, and teach us of the consequences of sin. Nothing has been left out, and nothing should be taken out. It is perfect. The simple but wise live this life with the understanding that everything hinges on the eternal standing of your soul. The simple but wise trust in the Lord whole heartedly, depending only on His sure testimony, and not relying on what they think is right.

Psalms 19:8~9 The statutes 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 for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.

After I began to lose more and more fear of what this world can do to me, and began to fear and revere Him which can destroy both my body and my soul, He began to rein-in my heart and reign in my heart, to cleanse me, and I began to feel the burdens lift. As He began to open my eyes through His Word, it became very easy for me to rest in the knowledge that He is the true and righteous judge. Even when the world is unfair, as it often is, great comfort is found in the knowledge that He will work it all out in the end. His judgments are final, and they are true.

Psalms 19:10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

I doubt that David had ever tasted refined sugar, chocolate, or even the pink or blue stuff, so honey was probably the sweetest taste he knew. David was speaking from experience when he writes that no amount of riches, no pleasure of the senses, no worldly delight can compare to the judgments of God toward His faithful servants.

Psalms 19:11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.

The only things that can interfere with this reward are revealed in the rest of this Psalm. David asks,

Psalms 19:12 Who can understand his errors?

This question answers itself. If I knew of my errors, I might understand them. The answer is: Nobody. This might have been better punctuated with an exclamation point than a question mark. Who can understand his errors!

(continuing verse 12) ...cleanse thou me from secret faults.

Here we have the sobering division of sins as it's laid out in Numbers chapter 15. Errors are mistakes. If I try to make an error, I did so presumptuously, and that falls into the only other category of sin, the sins for which no forgiveness was offered, that is until Jesus paid the price. In this verse, David is asking for cleansing from faults that are secret to him, sins of ignorance, which surely abound in all of our lives. Do you pray everyday to be forgiven of your secret faults? They may be secret to us, but other people see them quite clearly, and as a result, they do have a negative effect in our lives. If we ask to be cleansed from our sins of ignorance, perhaps this will cause them to be pointed out or discovered so that we may repent. If its a friend who points it out to you, hopefully with love, remember the Proverb (27:6): "Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful." The devil would rather have you keep on sinning in ignorance, because he hates you. Before receiving the sacrament today, let's quietly pray this prayer, which will finish out this Psalm of David.

"Lord, cleanse thou me from hidden faults. Lord, that I may repent, please cause me to see myself through the eyes of a friend who loves me enough to tell me the truth..."

(v.13-14) Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.