TWO BOOKS
Psalm 19: 1: The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament
sheweth his handywork…7: The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
There is no numbering the
books men have written. But there are but two great books most needful. They
are the book of God’s creation and the book of God’s word.
The Book of Creation
God’s creation declares God’s glory. The
"heavens" are where the sun,
moon, planets and stars hang. The "firmament" is the atmosphere around the earth where are the
clouds, rain, snow, and wind. (Gen 1:6-8, 20). They both declare the
glory of God’s power, wisdom and discretion. (Jer 10: 12) The glory of the
sun is so bright that we cannot look upon it. How much more glorious is God who
hung it in the sky! Man has only been able to go so far into space. But everything
we have discovered in the host of planets and stars and galaxies glorifies God
who made them. “By the word of the LORD
were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.”
(Ps 33: 6) God’s creation speaks to us day and night of God’s glory in
Christ. Beholding the moon we behold a believer whose light comes from the
Sun of Righteousness, Christ Jesus. The sun is the center of God’s creation
around which all rotates because the Sun of Righteousness is the focus of all.
We are utterly dependent upon the sun to remind us we are utterly dependent
upon the Sun of Righteousness. The sun is like a bridegroom coming out of his
chamber arrayed in his glory to meet his bride, like a strong man running a
race, because Christ is the Bridegroom of his elect, the strong Man who ran the
race set before him, accomplished our redemption and is set at God’s right hand.
If man’s description of creation does not glorify Christ it is not true because
God’s creation glorifies Christ so much that it renders men inexcusable for not
casting all care upon him. (Rom 1: 19-20) We are never to make creation the
point to which we turn men for that is worshipping the creature more than the
Creator. We are to look to Christ who created these things. “To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be
equal? saith the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath
created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them
all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not
one faileth.” (Is 40: 25-26)
The Book of God’s Word
The most important book which declares the
glory of God is God’s word, the Bible. There are six names in this Psalm for
the word of God. One, the word is the law which is perfect converting the soul.
(v7) Two, God’s word is the testimony or witness of the LORD which is sure,
making wise the simple. (v7; Ps 53: 1-3;
1 Jn 5: 9-12; 2 Tim 1: 8-10) Three, the word of God is the commandment
of the LORD which rejoices the heart and enlightens the eyes because that
commandment is to believe on his Son. (v8; Mt 17: 5; Jn 6: 29; 1 Jn 3:
23) Four, the word of God is the fear of the LORD, clean and enduring, which
God writes on the heart, creating in us fear of the LORD. (v9; Heb 10: 16)
Five, the word of God are his judgments, true and righteous and more desired by
his people than all else. (v9-11; Rev 3: 15-18)
May the Holy Spirit make his people
everywhere behold the glory of Christ in these two books!