1 The heavens proclaim the glory of God.
The skies display his craftsmanship.
2 Day after day they continue to speak;
night after night they make him known.
3 They speak without a sound or word;
their voice is never heard.
4 Yet their message has gone throughout the earth,
and their words to all the world.
God has made a tent in the heavens for the sun.
5 It bursts forth like a radiant bridegroom after his wedding.
It rejoices like a great athlete eager to run the race.
6 The sun rises at one end of the heavens
and follows its course to the other end.
Nothing can hide from its heat.
7 The instructions of the LORD are perfect,
reviving the soul.
The decrees of the LORD are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
8 The commandments of the LORD are right,
bringing joy to the heart.
The ordinances of the LORD are clear,
giving insight for living.
9 Reverence for the LORD is pure,
lasting forever.
The laws of the LORD are true;
each one is fair.
10 They are more desirable than gold,
even the finest gold.
They are sweeter than honey,
even honey dripping from the comb.
11 They are a warning to your servant,
a great reward for those who obey them.
12 How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart?
Cleanse me from these hidden faults.
13 Keep your servant from deliberate sins!
Don’t let them control me.
Then I will be free of guilt
and innocent of great sin.
14 May the words of my mouth
and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing to you,
O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
(Psalm 19)
Gracious God:
This song has two very definite parts: A and B.
A is the masterpiece of Bronze Age King David, (v.1-6)
God is named El, the cosmos sings praise
in unending chorus, through nights and through days.
Shemosh, the Sun god of Canaanite worship,
here a boy bridegroom, arising with strength,
invigorate with joy, leaving his tent,
abandoning bride, races across heaven's expanse.
Then read Part B -- written much later by priests, (v.7-14)
Exile survivors who pore over scrolls,
worshipping not in outdoor celebration,
but inside the temple in chaste meditation.
God is named Yahweh, His Word is the key
to upright instruction and life as should be.
The golden prize is not Shemosh's bright orb
but the sweet honeyed Word, carefully absorbed. (v.10)
Taken together, part A and part B,
show us the breadth of God's righteous decrees;
his providence shows in the sun and the stars,
but his Holy Word written is clearer by far.
Mortals we have not a single excuse
Paul the Apostle teaches us plainly,
What may be known about God is made clear
Creation should move us to faith and to fear. (Romans 1:19)
But people ignore the skies and the Sun,
and off in a mad dash like Shemosh they run.
So God gave them up to a spiritual blindness
but never revoked his mercy and kindness.
So God spelled it out in his message to Moses,
his call to the prophets, his music for David;
God gave us His Word in four manifestations
that we might be ready for his visitations.
God speaks out instructions reviving the soul,
telling us how we might be made whole.
God pronounces decrees, His promises made
to make wise the simple as we make our way. (v.7)
God issues commandments, the heart of the law,
letting us know what pleases Him most.
God gives clear ordinances, traditions that guide
our values and memories that keep faith alive. (v.8)
But the intent behind every inspired Word,
the reason God breathed it out upon men,
is unmasking the sin that heart-hidden lies (Romans 7:5)
beneath all the pretense and preening and pride. (v.12)
Lord, I would know the joy of Your Bridegroom
who ran through life's circuit suffused with love,
and gives human expression to the song of the spheres
and cancels sins debt and removes all our fears.
May every word that issues from my mouth
and the thoughts that cascade my mind
align with all Your revealed glory
in Your Creation and holy story.
Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment