Skip to main content

Short Reflection On Psalm 19

By 5th May 2020December 10th, 2020Reflections

‘May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight…’ (Psalm 19:14)

Read Psalm 19

Many today who deny the very existence of God often tend to base much of their argument on the lack of evidence to prove that God exists. Where are the signs and miracles of Biblical times, they might ask, let us see this and then we might believe that God exists, in many ways echoing the cries of many in Jesus day who cried out, ‘show us a sign that we might believe…’. Yet if only they would open their hearts along with their eyes, they would surely see evidence of God in all creation and in other human beings who strive to carry out God’s will in sharing His love to all people every day in the things that they say and do.

C.S Lewis once said of Psalm 19 that it was, ‘the greatest poem in all the Psalter and one of the greatest lyrics in the world…’ and if we just take another moment or two to slowly read through the words of this Psalm, who could dare dispute that.

As we read through the opening verses it’s a Psalm that screams out to us of the glory, power and majesty of God, revealed for all to behold in what He has created, and a universe that, in the mind of the Psalmist, is perfectly ordered and structured in every way. The imagery is wonderful and the descriptive language so vivid that surely no-one could doubt that none of this happened by chance. Everything seems to have a place and purpose and in many ways these verses seem to serve as God’s witness to Himself that we see and know Him in all His glory. But then we suddenly move from the glory of God’s revelation of Himself in nature to his revelation of Himself through the law. We now have a revelation not of the power, majesty and glory of God, but rather of the will of God and we see that this also fills the Psalmist with a sense of awe and wonder.

The Psalmist calls on us to open our eyes and our hearts to the glory of God all around us and in His word, but perhaps the real question we have to consider as we read through this Psalm is what does it say to us as we read through its verses – and consequently, how might we respond to it.

Lord, as we look around us every day and see the many wonders of Your creation, we give You thanks for the life You have given us and for all the many blessings You bestow upon us. Help us to share with others the wonder and glory of Your name that through this witness they too may come to know You. And all this we ask in Jesus name. Amen.

 

Question Of The Day: Where did Jacob wrestle with the Angel?