Untitled Sermon (11)

Psalm 19 Verses 1 to 14 Creation Declares God’s Glory July 26, 2026  Lesson 4 Psalms The Believers Prayer Book Class Presentation Notes AAAAA

Background Scriptures:

Romans 1:19–20 (NASB95)

19     because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.

20     For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

Main Idea:

· The universe and Scripture together engage us in a dialogue about God’s character, urging us to recognize, praise, and live out His glory in our lives.

Study Aim:

· To understand how the world and universe reveal the Creator God.

Create Interest:

· Psalm 19 beautifully illustrates how both creation and Scripture reveal the splendor and majesty of God, inviting us to reflect on His works and His word.

· This lesson will help Christians recognize the beauty of God's creation as a testament to His existence and character, encouraging them to cultivate a sense of wonder and gratitude in their everyday lives while deepening their relationship with Him through His word.

· Through examining the natural world and the Scriptures, we learn that God communicates His glory and guidance to humanity, urging us to respond in worship and obedience.

Lesson in Historical Context:

· Psalm 19 emerges from a complex compositional history shaped by ancient Near Eastern religious contexts. The psalm divides into two distinct parts: verses 1–6 testify to creation as a witness to God’s glory with particular focus on the sun, while verses 7–14 extol God’s Torah as instruction for living[1]. Though scholars once debated whether these sections originated separately, evidence now suggests they belong together as an original unity[1].

· Perhaps more profoundly than any other ot passage, this psalm holds together two spheres of God’s revelation that believers hold dear, namely creation and scripture. Natural and special revelation complement one another, “declaring” different facets of the one Revealer. Yet in this psalm it would appear the Revealer did not make this complementarity known to an author but to an editor, who joined together two or perhaps three compositions that were originally independent.[1]

· The psalm’s historical context likely involves arguments against solar worship. Some scholars argue that Psalm 19 functions as an anti-sun-god argument used during the time of Josiah to counter prevalent sun worship; the first section demonstrates that the sun is not a deity rivaling God but is created by God, while the Torah section emphasizes the Torah’s merits by describing it in language familiar to sun worshippers[2]. Evidence for solar worship in ancient Israel appears in cylinder seals with winged sun disks and in 2 Kings 23:11[3].

· The second half of the psalm reflects post-exilic legal piety, combining legal devotion with wisdom traditions[1], suggesting the psalm took its final form during Israel’s later period when Torah study became increasingly central to religious practice.

[1] J. Day, Psalms (London; New York: T&T Clark, 1999), 57. [2] J. Glen Taylor, Yahweh and the Sun: Biblical and Archaeological Evidence for Sun Worship in Ancient Israel, Journal for the Study of the Old Testament Supplement Series (Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1993), 111:222. [3] Adele Berlin, Marc Zvi Brettler, and Michael Fishbane, eds., The Jewish Study Bible (New York: Oxford University Press, 2004), 1303.

How this passage points to Christ:

· In Psalm 19, while the focus is on God as Creator, the New Testament reveals Christ as the ultimate revelation of God, affirming that all creation ultimately points to Him as both the source and sustainer of life.

Bible Study:

Psalm 19:1–6 (NASB95) Skies Speak of Splendor

The Works and the Word of God.

For the choir director. A Psalm of David.

   1          The heavens are telling of the glory of God;

And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.

   2          Day to day pours forth speech,

And night to night reveals knowledge.

   3          There is no speech, nor are there words;

Their voice is not heard.

   4          Their line has gone out through all the earth,

And their utterances to the end of the world.

In them He has placed a tent for the sun,

   5          Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber;

It rejoices as a strong man to run his course.

   6          Its rising is from one end of the heavens,

And its circuit to the other end of them;

And there is nothing hidden from its heat.

Explain how Psalm 19:1-6 emphasizes the vast expanse of God's glory, with the skies proclaiming His handiwork without words, leading the reader to observe God's magnificence.

· Verse 1, the heavens proclaim God’s glory and declare the work of His hands establishing creation itself as the primary witness to divine magnificence.

·  Verse 2 expands on the idea of constant revelation from creation: “Day after day they pour out speech.” The words pour outcan mean to bubble up and overflow (Ross, Psalms 1–41, 475). Revelation keeps bubbling up and overflowing like a river flooding day and night. And “night after night they communicate knowledge.” Without the night we would not see the stars, the Milky Way, or the great galaxies with the naked eye. The night shouts to us that God is there. What a glorious God he is!

· Verse 3 further informs us, “There is no speech; there are no words; their voice is not heard.” This wordless “word” appears visibly to every hemisphere, every continent, every nation, every people. The message is for all. No one is excluded.

· Verse 4 caps off the universality of this revelation from the skies: “Their message has gone out to the whole earth, and their words to the end of the world.” All have seen it. All have heard it.

o I love how Charles Spurgeon puts it: “Although the heavenly bodies move in solemn silence, yet in reason’s ear they utter precious teachings” (Treasury, 271). The heavens truly speak of God’s glory![2]

· The scope of this wordless testimony proves universal. The heavens’ utterances extend through all the earth to the world’s end, ensuring that no geographic region or people group remains excluded from witnessing divine craftsmanship. This wordless “word” appears visibly to every hemisphere, continent, nation, and people, with the message intended for all and no one excluded[1].

· Vs. 5:  The sun participates in the heavens’ declaration of God’s glory and the work of His hands. Rather than functioning as a deity in its own right, the sun operates as a created instrument through which God’s power becomes visible and undeniable.

· Vs. 6: The sun’s testimony operates through its relentless activity and universal reach. Depicted as a bridegroom rejoicing in his course, the sun appears to rise from one end of the heavens and circuits to the other, with nothing hidden from its heat. This comprehensive coverage ensures that every location on earth experiences the sun’s presence and warmth, making divine power tangible to all observers. The sun’s constancy—its predictable rising and setting—demonstrates God’s faithful governance over creation. The sun knows its place of setting (Ps 104:19–23), revealing an order and design that points to an intelligent Creator rather than random cosmic forces.

· The sun’s function reveals divine attributes that transcend mere physical phenomena. God established the sun to separate day from night, serve as a sign for seasons and years, and govern the day (Gen 1:14–18). This purposefulness—the sun’s role in organizing time and sustaining life—speaks to God’s wisdom and care for creation. As the LORD who gives the sun for light by day (Jer 31:35), God claims ownership and control over this celestial body, positioning it as a gift rather than an autonomous force.

· Crucially, the sun’s witness operates without audible words.Though there is no speech or heard voice, the sun’s utterances extend through all the earth to the world’s end. This silent proclamation transcends language and cultural barriers, making God’s glory accessible to every human being. The sun becomes a universal language through which the invisible God becomes knowable, inviting observers to recognize the Creator behind creation’s order and splendor.

· The purpose of these verses is certainly not to encourage the worship of the sun but to show God’s continuing control of His creation.[3] [2].

· The vastness itself becomes creation’s revelation continuously bubbling up and overflowing like a river flooding day and night[1], suggesting an inexhaustible testimony. The reader encounters not merely static facts about God but an ongoing, dynamic proclamation that demands contemplative response. By observing the heavens’ expanse and the sun’s relentless journey, one confronts evidence of a Creator whose power and artistry exceed human comprehension.

[1] J. Josh Smith and Daniel L. Akin, Exalting Jesus in Psalms 1–50, ed. David Platt, Daniel L. Akin, and Tony Merida, Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2022), 137–138. [2] Robert J. Dean, Bible Studies for Life, Fall 2010, Herschel Hobbs Commentary (LifeWay Christian Resources, n.d.), 22.

Thoughts to Soak On:

· Note how the vast expanse of the heavens is a testament to God's glory. The skies silently proclaim His handiwork, continuously speaking to us without words.

· Observe creation and recognize its relentless message about the Creator's magnificence. In doing so, you can cultivate a deeper sense of gratitude and awe, leading to worship.  

· This natural revelation should awaken us to God's presence in our daily lives and draw us into closer communion with Him.

· REFLECTION: Which displays of God's greatness, goodness, and beauty have moved you the most? How can you be more intentional about glorifying God day by day? Do you enjoy God? How?

· PRAYER: Lord of glory, You have shown your greatness in all Your creation. You have revealed Your goodness through Jesus Christ. Your beauty is seen in all that You are and do. Teach us Your servants to glorify You through all our days unto eternity. Amen1

o 1 Kendell Easley, 52 Words Every Christian Should Know (Nashville, TN: B&H Books, 2010).

Psalm 19:7–10 (NASB95) Scriptures Shine Brightly

   7          The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul;

The testimony of the Lordis sure, making wise the simple.

   8          The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;

The commandment of the Lordis pure, enlightening the eyes.

   9          The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;

The judgments of the Lordare true; they are righteous altogether.

10          They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold;

Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.

Let’s peal back this onion of wisdom and apply it to our lives.

· Psalm 19:7–11 catalogs God’s Torah through six distinct designations—law, testimony, precepts, commandment, fear of the LORD, and judgments—each paired with transformative effects.

o the law restores the soul,

o the testimony makes the simple wise,

o the precepts/statues rejoice the heart,

o the commandment enlightens the eyes,

o the fear of the LORD endures forever, and

o the judgments prove true and righteous

· Testimony of the Lord (v. 7).

o The Ten Commandments were known by this name (Ex. 25:21), and they are the basis for God’s law. But all of the Scriptures are God’s witness to us of who He is, what He has said and done, and what He wants us to be and to do.

o The witness God bears of Himself in the written Word is sure and reliable.

o Through the Word, we become wise concerning salvation (2 Tim. 3:15) and the principles of successful living (Prov. 2; 8:33; 10:8).

o The “simple” are not mentally deficient people or the naïve people who believe everything, but the childlike people who humbly receive God’s truth (Matt. 11:25; Luke 10:21–24).

· Precepts/Statutes of the Lord (v. 8).

o These are the God’s detailed instructions concerning the practical matters of everyday life. For the Old Testament Jew, the statutes related to what they ate, how they dressed, how they kept clean, and so forth.

o God laid down certain basic laws and commandments, and the statutes applied them to specific situations.

o The New Testament epistles repeat nine of the Ten Commandments for believers today, omitting the Fourth Commandment, and then give applications of these principles. (See Eph. 4:20–32.) Some of the statutes that legislators have passed are not right and have brought grief, but the statutes of the Lord bring joy.

§ I must pause here and dive into the thought that most will have about the Fourth Commandment.   The reach of the Class Without Walls is global and, even with our country some, like police and fire personnel who serve on the sabbath, worship when they can….That is one of the main reasons the notes are sent out on Tuesday…to be available for any and all whenever and whatever the occasion chosen to worship.  

o The Fourth Commandment—the Sabbath law—is not absent from the New Testament; rather, it undergoes fundamental reinterpretation in light of Christ’s work. The search results reveal a shift from observance to fulfillment rather than erasure.

o Jesus reframes Sabbath observance by asserting his authority over it. As the Son of Man, Jesus claims lordship over the Sabbath (Matt 12:1–8), and he teaches that the Sabbath was made for humanity, not humanity for the Sabbath (Mark 2:23–28). This reversal prioritizes human welfare and divine compassion over rigid legal compliance. Jesus emphasizes that God desires compassion rather than sacrifice (Matt 12:1–8), redirecting attention from ceremonial observance to relational ethics.

o The early church reflects this transformed understanding. Believers gathered on the first day of the week to break bread (Acts 20:7), signaling a shift in worship practice rather than abandonment of the principle underlying Sabbath rest. Paul instructs that no one should judge believers regarding Sabbath observance, identifying such practices as shadows pointing toward Christ (Col 2:16–17), who embodies their substance. Some regard certain days as special while others treat all days equally, with each person fully convinced in their own mind, observing or not observing for the Lord’s sake (Rom 14:5–6).

o The theological reinterpretation centers on continuity through discontinuity. In fulfilling the law, Christ has reinterpreted it, raising the question of what force the fourth commandment carries in light of the new situation inaugurated by fulfillment in Christ[1]. A Sabbath rest remains for God’s people, but it involves entering God’s rest through faith in Christ rather than observing a literal day (Heb 4:9–10).

o The Fourth Commandment persists not as a binding regulation but as a principle—the need for rest, worship, and dependence on God—now fulfilled through Christ’s redemptive work rather than through weekly abstinence from labor.

§ [1] A. T. Lincoln, “From Sabbath to Lord’s Day: A Biblical and Theological Perspective,” in From Sabbath to Lord’s Day: A Biblical, Historical, and Theological Investigation, ed. D. A. Carson (Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 1999), 394.

· Commandment of the Lord (v. 8). The word means “that which is appointed.” Because the Lord loves us, He commands us what to do and warns us what not to do, and how we respond is a matter of life or death (Deut. 30:15–20).

o God’s commands are pure and lead to a pure life, if we obey from the heart.

o The Bible is the Holy Scriptures (Rom. 1:2; 7:12; 2 Tim. 3:15), and therefore His Word is “very pure” (119:140; Prov. 30:5).

o We are enlightened and learn God’s truth when we obey what He says (John 7:17) and not just when we read it or study it (James 1:22–25).

o We are strangers/pilgrims on this earth, and the Word of God is the road map to guide us (119:19). Like a traveler on the highway, if we deliberately make a wrong turn, we go on a detour.

· Fear of the Lord (v. 9). This is an unusual name for the Scriptures, but it reminds us that we cannot learn the Word of God unless we show reverence and respect for the God of the Word.

o To teach the Bible is to teach the fear of the Lord (34:11; Deut. 4:9–10),

§ and the mark of a true Bible student is a burning heart, not a big head (Luke 24:32; 1 Cor. 8:1).

o While some of the fears people have might be distressing and even defiling, the fear of God is clean and maturing. (2 Cor. 4:16–18).

· Judgments of the Lord (v. 9). This can be translated “ordinances” or even “verdicts.” It refers to the decisions of a judge. Throughout the Bible we see the Lord passing judgment on what people and nations do, and His rewards, rebukes, and punishments help us understand what pleases Him. In the nation of Israel, the ordinances instructed the officers and judges in settling problems between individuals and in meting out punishments to guilty offenders.

o Believers today are not under the Old Testament law, but how those laws were applied helps us understand the righteousness of God and our need for His grace and we lovingly still obey God voluntarily because of His grace. 

o My dad often said, “you can do anything you want to as soon as you get your “want to” up….Grace instills getting our “want to up”😊

o The way we treat the Bible is the way we treat the Lord, so it isn’t difficult to determine if we are rightly related to God.

· Do we desire His Word (Vs.10) because it’s precious to us, even more than wealth (Ps. 119:14, 72, 127, 162) or tasty food (119:103; 1 Peter 2:2).

o Do we find satisfaction in “feeding on” God’s Word? (See Matt. 4:4; Job 23:12; Jer. 15:16.)

o Would we skip a meal to spend time meditating on the Scriptures?

o Do we attend church dinners but not church Bible studies?

o Furthermore, do we accept the warnings of the Word and act upon them?

§ To know the warning and not heed it is sin (James 4:17).

o Do we enjoy the blessing of the Lord because we’ve obeyed His will?

o To have an appetite for God’s Word is a mark of a healthy Christian whose priorities are straight.

§ The Lord has sent the Holy Spirit to teach us His Word, and if we walk in the Spirit, we will learn and live the truth (John 14:26; 16:12–15; 1 Cor. 2:9–10; 1 John 2:20–29).[4]

Thoughts to Soak On:

· Verses 7–10 thus present Torah not as external constraint but as life-giving instruction that reshapes perception, generates joy, and guides the faithful toward flourishing.

o The movement from creation’s wordless proclamation to Torah’s articulate speech suggests two complementary revelations—one visible in nature, one inscribed in God’s law—both directing the observer toward divine wisdom.

· Observe that the Scriptures, as God's special revelation, revive the soul and impart wisdom and urge believers to cherish God's word as it is sweeter than honey and more valuable than gold, offering guidance, joy, and righteousness.

· Consider that by immersing in the Scriptures, one can experience transformation and deeper intimacy with God, aligning his/her life with God’s divine purposes.

Psalm 19:11–14 (NASB95)

11          Moreover, by them Your servant is warned;

In keeping them there is great reward.

12          Who can discern his errors? Acquit me of hidden faults.

13          Also keep back Your servant from presumptuous sins;

Let them not rule over me;

Then I will be blameless,

And I shall be acquitted of great transgression.

14          Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart

Be acceptable in Your sight,

O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.

· It Is Helpful and Rewarding (19:11) David now addresses the specific benefits he receives from the perfect, precious Scriptures. The Bible alerts us to sin. It warns the servant of God of spiritual danger. Like a perfect spiritual watchdog, it barks furiously at the sight of evil and wickedness. The Word informs us how to live and not live, how to walk and not walk, and how to find joy and avoid sorrow. And obeying the Word brings “abundant reward.” Obedience always reaps abundant blessing and fruit.

· It Is Instructive and Cleansing (19:12) David addresses two avenues of sin in verses 12–13. He follows each by providing a strategy for overcoming them.

o Verse 12 provides the first way to sin: “Who perceives his unintentional sins? Cleanse me from my hidden faults.” This way of sinning has two characteristics. First, it is confusing or baffling. That is what David means when he says, “Who can discern his [own] errors?” (ESV). Who can figure out his own sinning? Who can fathom the tangled web of self-deceit? Sin deceives and fools us. We look at ourselves in hindsight and say, “What was I thinking? I cannot believe I said that. I cannot believe I did that.”

o The second characteristic of this way of sinningis “hidden faults” or ignorance (Ross, Psalms 1–41, 482). This sin is often hidden from us. It is unintentional or inadvertent (Ross, Psalms 1–41, 482). Thus, David prays, “Cleanse me from my hidden faults.” This doesn’t mean our sin is hidden from others, though. Others may see it clearly. It means sin is hidden from us, the offenders. We don’t sense its sinfulness. We don’t see our sin as sin.

§ We need the light of God’s Word to reveal it, to bring it into the light of day.

· It Is Protective and Liberating (19:13). Verse 13 reveals the second way of sinning. John Piper addresses this well:

o “Keep back your servant from presumptuous sins.” So, David sees a difference between, on the one hand, sins that we commit because they baffle us and sneak up on us, and on the other hand, sins that we commit because we presume to know better than God or presume that sin is no big deal. The point is not that there is a special category of extra-bad sins, like murder, rape, treason, etc. The point is that there is a special category of sinning—namely, sinning in arrogant defiance of a known law. It’s not so much what you do that puts sinning in this category as whether you do it with forethought and defiance and rebellion. This is what David calls presumptuous sins. They are fully intentional, with our eyes open, and with a heart that says, “I know God says this is wrong and harmful, but I just don’t care what God thinks; I am going to do it anyway.” (Piper, “The Heart You Know and the Heart You Don’t”)

o How do we combat and defeat this type of sin? David shares several insights from his prayer.

§ First, he says, “Do not let them rule me.” We must pray for spiritual strength and power.

§ Second, he says, “Then I will be blameless and cleansed.” (1 John 1:9-10) We must confess confidence in God’s gracious and full forgiveness.

§ Third, he says, “[I will be] cleansed from blatant rebellion” (ESV, “innocent of great transgression”). We must declare our assurance that great sin will not be able to slap a guilty sentence on us or cut us off from the community of God’s people (cf. Num 15:30–31).

· It Is Transforming and Saving (19:14) Verse 14 is one of the most memorized verses in the Bible. It is a beautiful and appropriate prayer to close out this great psalm. Gerald Wilson says it is both a plea and model of life in submission to the will of God (Psalms, 372). “The words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart” speaks of all of a believer’s being. We hold nothing back, not one thing. We give all of ourselves to our Lord! They must be acceptable (NIV, “pleasing”) in his sight. The eyes of God are the only eyes that matter. Ultimately, how he sees us is all that matters. And why only his eyes? Because they are the eyes of Yahweh, the eyes of David’s “rock,” the eyes of his “Redeemer”.

· The Lord is our sure foundation of protection and security. The Lord is our Redeemer, Deliverer, and Savior. We have this God and his Word. What more do we need?[5]

Thoughts to Soak On:

· Reflect on the personal response the psalm evokes—one of humility and desire for purity.

· We are encouraged to see God's commandments as a warning and a source of great reward and we are invited to pray for discernment against hidden faults and deliberate sins, seeking God's cleansing.

· Through this introspection, believers align themselves with God's will, striving for holiness and living lives that honor Him.

o The ultimate aim is that their words and meditations are pleasing to the Lord, reflective of Christ's love and grace.

Reflect and Discuss

1.  What does creation teach us about God? What does Scripture teach us about God that creation cannot?

2. Describe a time when seeing God’s creation helped you better understand his power and glory.

3. In what ways can you use creation to talk to nonbelievers about God? How could you use Scripture to affirm and build on that aspect of creation?

4. What is the purpose of Scripture? In what ways might you read or use Scripture that deviate from its purpose?

5. How is having Scripture an example of God’s mercy and grace?

Conclusion

· How do you know God? Well, there’s His Word in the sky: “The heavens declare the glory of God” (Psalm 19:1). There’s the Word in the Scripture: “The law of the LORD is perfect” (Psalm 19:7).

· But, oh, there’s the Word of the Spirit of God that convicts us, that cleanses us, that controls us, and then brings us into sweet communion.

·  And, I want to tell you again, my dear friend—listen to me; listen to me—to know Him is to love Him, to love Him is to trust Him, to trust Him is to obey Him, to obey Him is to be blessed.[6]

Grace and peace to you on this day and always!

And a little thought for the day😊

Romans 12:2 NASB95

2And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of

your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

· Paul knew the temptation to fall into the surrounding culture. He knew the struggle that the early church was having to conform their beliefs to culture, rather than the other way around. He reminds them that God’s will has nothing to do with culture or what is going on around them. They need to focus on the Holy Spirit’s work within them and use that as guidance rather than earthly measurements.

· One of the easiest arguments to make against the standards that God placed in the Bible is that these moral standards were cultural rather than permanent and that this somehow means the Bible is irrelevant today. Paul says here that these standards did not even match the cultural norms of the early church. God’s standards have nothing to do with culture and in fact when we allow ourselves to be distracted by culture, we lose our ability to discern God’s will. When we focus on God alone, the truth of right and wrong is clear and unquestionable.

[1]Robert L. Jr. Hubbard and Robert K. Johnston, “Foreword,”in Psalms, ed. W. Ward Gasque, Robert L. Hubbard Jr., and Robert K. Johnston, Understanding the Bible Commentary Series (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2012), 108.

[2]J. Josh Smith and Daniel L. Akin, Exalting Jesus in Psalms 1–50, ed. David Platt, Daniel L. Akin, and Tony Merida, Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2022), 137–138.

[3]Robert J. Dean, Bible Studies for Life, Fall 2010, Herschel Hobbs Commentary (LifeWay Christian Resources, n.d.), 22.

[4]Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Worshipful, 1st ed., “Be” Commentary Series (Colorado Springs, CO: Cook Communications Ministries, 2004), 80–82.

[5]J. Josh Smith and Daniel L. Akin, Exalting Jesus in Psalms 1–50, ed. David Platt, Daniel L. Akin, and Tony Merida, Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2022), 142–143.

[6]Adrian Rogers, “Three Ways That You Can Know God,” in Adrian Rogers Sermon Archive (Signal Hill, CA: Rogers Family Trust, 2017), Ps 19:1–14.