4/7/24.
Psalm 19 Devotional:
Psalm 19: 1 To the intent he might move the faithful to deeper consideration of God’s glory, he setteth before their eyes the most exquisite workmanship of the heavens, with their proportion, and ornaments. 8 And afterward calleth them to the Law, wherein God hath revealed himself more familiarly to his chosen people. The which peculiar grace by commending the Law, he setteth forth more at large.

1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth the work of his hands. 2 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. 3 There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. 4 Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, 5 Which cometh forth as a bridegroom out of his chamber, and rejoiceth like a mighty man to run his race. 6 His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is no one hidden from his heat. 7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. 8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. 9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. 11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. 12 Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. 13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: so shall I be upright, and made clean from much wickedness. 14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.”

As we previously saw in this Psalm the declaration of the glory of God in the creation and beautification of the heavens, so that the dullest and most senseless creatures may be struck with a sense of the glory of God, even to shut the mouths of blind and impudent rebels who would pretend atheism to justify their unrighteousness, ignorance, malice, and degeneracy, moreoever that although they display in superlative magnitude the majesty of God and His power and wisdom in the formation of the sky, the sun, the moon and stars in their courses, their beauty, symmetry, and utility, yet they possess not the efficacy to convert sinners unto God, but God has placed them there as a subordinate witness to leave men without excuse for their impudent blindness. And so we see that the main purpose of the Psalm is one and the same with that which we find in Westminster. And we hesitate not to defend (when opportunity arises) the excellency of that document, to show the rash brutishness of those who would remain ignorant of the history of Christianity or oppose it by invention of new machinations, or seek to contradict it with false doctrine. For the very first chapter of that book is furnished with such excellent material and worth, that the godly may meditate and discourse thereupon at length. For as Psalm 19 teaches us the insufficiency of the heavens to convert sinners, even mentioning the work of the law in verse 7, so the first chapter of the Westminster Confession begins with such doctrinal statement, saying, “Although the light of nature, and the works of creation and providence do so far manifest the goodness, wisdom, and power of God, as to leave men unexcusable; yet are they not sufficient to give that knowledge of God, and of his will, which is necessary unto salvation.” And so we see that these godly reformers in the very first statement of their confession, are perfectly alligned with scripture which teaches us the same in Psalm 19 and that they did nothing else in the formation of that confession but set down the chief articles of the Christian faith according to the doctrine taught in Holy Scripture by the apostles and prophets. And this gives us confidence to seek the knowledge of God both in the Holy scripture and in the treatises written for the edification of the church, which church consists of all those who believe holy doctrine, and live holy lives unto the glory of God, which conformity to His nature shines brighter than the most glorious stars. As it is written, “And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.”

Calvin on Dan. 12:3, The word “prudent” means endued with intellect. Some take it transitively, and in this passage their opinion is probably correct, because the office of justifying will soon be assigned to these prudent ones. But the former sense suits chapter 11 better, and in verse 10 it will be put absolutely. Hence it means those who are endued with understanding. The angel here confirms what I have lately expressed concerning the final resurrection, and shews how we shall enjoy its fruits, because eternal glory is laid up for us in heaven. We ought not to complain of being treated unworthily, whenever we seem to suffer harshness at God’s hands, because we ought to be satisfied with the glory of heaven, and with the perpetual existence of that life which has been promised to us. He says then, the teachers, or those who excel in understanding, shall shine forth as the light of heaven If the word “teachers” is thought preferable, there will be a figure of speech, a part being put for the whole, and, therefore, I follow the usual explanation. He applies the phrase, “endued with understanding,” to those who do not depart from the true and pure knowledge of God, as will be afterwards explained more fully. For the angel contrasts the profane who proudly and contemptuously rage against God, and the faithful whose whole wisdom is to submit themselves to God, and to worship him with the purest affection of their minds. We shall say more on this subject to-morrow. But he now says, those who retained sincere piety should be like the light of the firmament; meaning, they shall be heirs of the kingdom of heaven, where they shall enjoy that glory which surpasses all the splendor of the world. No doubt, the angel here uses figures to explain what is incomprehensible, implying, nothing can possibly be found in the world which answers to the glory of the elect people. And those who shall justify many shall be like stars, says he. He repeats the same thing in other words, and now speaks of stars, having formerly used the phrase, the brightness of the firmament, in the same sense; and instead of “those who are endued with understanding,” he says, those who shall have justified. Without doubt, the angel here especially denotes the teachers of the truth, but in my opinion he embraces also all the pious worshippers of God. No one of God’s children ought to confine their attention privately to themselves, but as far as possible, every one ought to interest himself in the welfare of his brethren. God has deposited the teaching of his salvation with us, not for the purpose of our privately keeping it to ourselves, but of our pointing out the way of salvation to all mankind. This, therefore, is the common duty of the children of God, — to promote the salvation of their brethren. By this word “justifying,” the angel means, not that it is in the power of one man to justify another, but the property of God is here transferred to his ministers. Meanwhile, we are as clearly justified by any teaching which brings faith within our reach, as we are justified by the faith which springs from the teaching. Why is our justification ever ascribed to faith? Because our faith directs us to Christ in whom is the complete perfection of justification, and thus our justification may be ascribed equally to the faith taught and the doctrine which teaches it. And those who bring before us this teaching are the ministers of our justification. The assertion of the angel, in other words, is this, — The sons of God, who being devoted entirely to God and ruled by the spirit of prudence, point out the way of life to others, shall not only be saved themselves, but shall possess surpassing glory far beyond anything which exists in this world. This is the complete explanation. Hence, we gather the nature of true prudence to consist in submitting ourselves to God in simple teachableness, and in manifesting the additional quality of carefully promoting the salvation of our brethren. The effect of this our labor ought to increase our courage and alacrity. For how great is the honor conferred upon us by our Heavenly Father, when he wishes us to be the ministers of his righteousness? As James says, We preserve those about to perish if we bring them back into the right way. (James 5:19.) James calls us preservers, just as the angel calls us justifiers; neither the angel nor the apostle wish to detract from the glory of God, but by these forms of speech the Spirit represents us as ministers of justification and salvation, when we unite in the same bonds with ourselves all those who have need of our assistance and exertions.” And therefore shining brightly as the stars in the heavens and being even more glorious than they in the inward man, let us worship God with a pure heart seeing He has called us to it and taketh much delight in the worship of His faithful servants, both those that bring heavenly doctrine, and they that receive it with grace.

Opening prayer, Lesson 15. The Substance of the Doctrine of Christ.
Part 5. Repentance and remission of sin.

7. Preaching of repentance.
Matthew 3:1-12, Luke 3:1-18
1. A minister called by God.
John 15:13-16
2. A message of judgment.
Zephaniah 1
3. An elect sinner out of the way.
John 6:44-46
4. A call to repent.
Ezekiel 33:10-11
5. A question answered: What is repentance?
Ezekiel 33:12-20
Conclusion.

Closing prayer.

YouTube Audio: https://youtu.be/rnie-SQpCew