4/21/24,
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.

Previously we looked at the refutational purpose of this Psalm, even to provide the people of God with an answer to their adversaries who might say, “where is your God”? which question is neither sincere, nor does it have justification, for even the heavens bear witness of God’s mjaesty to leave the wicked without excuse and to prove them all mad fools who pretend to deny it by taking upon themselves the profession of athiesm. We saw also the witness from our confession, showing forth the veracity and reliability of that document to properly explain this mystery in a brilliant theological statement. Now here also observe the wisdom and justice of God in providing men with a witness that is universally accessible, despite men being of different nations, and speaking in diverse tongues. Yea the most senseless and stupid of men in the farthest reaches of the world, even if they be unlearned, mute or dumb may gaze into the heavens and there behold the glory of God, though not effectually for the benefit of his soul corrupted by sin, or with a view to glorifying God therein, as the righteous do in giving thanks for His gracious providence, which expressions of praise include the governance of the heavens for the benefit of His church, as all things work together for the good of the saints. Therefore this universal language is a monument of the infinite wisdom of God to leave all men without excuse for their atheism and idolatry. We see here also in the Psalm the sun as a type of Christ going to His great work of salvation with satisfaction and joy. Behold, is He not called the Sun of righteousness? [Mal. 4:2] And was it not with great zeal that He purchased His church? For it is written, “As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out, will I rule over you: And I will bring you out from the people, and will gather you out of the countries wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out. And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face. Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord GOD.” And again it is written in the prophets, “For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and they that escape out of mount Zion: the zeal of the LORD of hosts shall do this.” and again in the Psalms, “For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.” Do we not see in these words the great zeal and fervor with which Christ was arrayed when He became flesh for our sakes, preached the gospel of the kingdom for our sakes, and stood before the wrath of His Father for our sakes? As it is written, “Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.” Then just as we see the Sun shining in the brightness of the firmament day after day, neither sluggish or lethargic, but full of fire, and heat and warmth going about its daily course without wavering, even so this is a type of Christ who is full of zeal for the salvation of His people, and even now reigns in heaven interceding for us at the right hand of His Father, so let us learn to do likewise, and perform our duty with dignity, ardor, zeal and endurance, until the end of our days, for this is our calling, and it is service unworthy of the name of Christian to do less. Are we not called Christian? Then it behooves us to be followers of Jesus Christ and to be very zealous for Him as He is for us. ‭Is it not written, Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously. Isa. 24:23 which the Geneva translators, Calvin, Beza and Knox being chief contributors comment upon with, “When God shall restore his Church, the glory thereof shall so shine, and his ministers (which are called his ancient men) that the sun and the moon shall be dark in comparison thereof.” Let us therefore shine as lights in this sinful and darkened world, that others may see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven.

Calvin, The difference and variety of languages does not prevent the preaching of the heavens and their language from being heard and understood in every quarter of the world. The difference of languages is a barrier which prevents different nations from maintaining mutual intercourse, and it makes him who in his own country is distinguished for his eloquence, when he comes into a foreign country either dumb or, if he attempt to speak, barbarous. And even although a man could speak all languages, he could not speak to a Grecian and a Roman at the same time; for as soon as he began to direct his discourse to the one, the other would cease to understand him. David, therefore, by making a tacit comparison, enhances the efficacy of the testimony which the heavens bear to their Creator. The import of his language is, Different nations differ from each other as to language; but the heavens have a common language to teach all men without distinction, nor is there any thing but their own carelessness to hinder even those who are most strange to each other, and who live in the most distant parts of the world, from profiting, as it were, at the mouth of the same teacher.

Henry, “The light and influence of the sun do, in a special manner, declare the glory of God; for of all the heavenly bodies that is the most conspicuous in itself and most useful to this lower world, which would be all dungeon, and all desert, without it. It is not an improbable conjecture that David penned this psalm when he had the rising sun in view, and from the brightness of it took occasion to declare the glory of God. Concerning the sun observe here, (1.) The place appointed him. In the heavens God has set a tabernacle for the sun. The heavenly bodies are called hosts of heaven, and therefore are fitly said to dwell in tents, as soldiers in their encampments. The sun is said to have a tabernacle set him, not only because he is in continual motion and never has a fixed residence, but because the mansion he has will, at the end of time, be taken down like a tent, when the heavens shall be rolled together like a scroll and the sun shall be turned to darkness. (2.) The course assigned him. That glorious creature was not made to be idle, but his going forth (at least as it appears to our eye) is from one point of the heavens, and his circuit thence to the opposite point, and thence (to complete his diurnal revolution) to the same point again; and this with such steadiness and constancy that we can certainly foretel the hour and the minute at which the sun will rise at such a place, any day to come. (3.) The brightness wherein he appears. He is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, richly dressed and adorned, as fine as hands can make him, looking pleasantly himself and making all about him pleasant; for the friend of the bridegroom rejoices greatly to hear the bridegroom’s voice,John 3:29. (4.) The cheerfulness wherewith he makes this tour. Though it seems a vast round which he has to walk, and he has not a moment’s rest, yet in obedience to the law of this creation, and for the service of man, he not only does it, but does it with a great deal of pleasure and rejoices as a strong man to run a race. With such satisfaction did Christ, the Sun of righteousness, finish the work that was given him to do. (5.) His universal influence on this earth: There is nothing hidden from the heat thereof, no, not metals in the bowels of the earth, which the sun has an influence upon.”

And therefore, looking unto Christ the Sun of righteousness for justification, peace and comfort, and also as our chief example, let us come before Him in worship with a pure heart, with humility, devotion, and confidence that He will work for us and in us that which is pleasing in His sight.

Lesson 16. The Substance of the Doctrine of Christ. Part 6. The Means of Grace.

Intro.
Matt. 5:6. Exp, Thomas Watson.
VIII. The Means of Grace.
1. The Word of God.
i. The Word Read.
Exp. Thomas Watson.
[1] Daily.
[2] With Knowledge.
[3] And Prayer.
ii. The Word Preached.
Exp. Thomas Watson.

Conclusion.

YouTube Audio: https://youtu.be/wgzwvf7YyFw