The Knowledge of God
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Creator Revealed in Creation
Creator Revealed in Creation
Natural Revelation Reveals God’s Glory
Natural Revelation Reveals God’s Glory
1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
God’s Glory is continuously revealed
God’s Glory is continuously revealed
2 Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.
Ps 19:
It is without Exception
It is without Exception
3 There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. 4 Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun,
3 There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard.
3 There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. 4 Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun,
It is a strong and vibrant witness
It is a strong and vibrant witness
Ps 19:4-6
4 Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun, 5 which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy. 6 Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat.
What is lacking in Natural Revelation
What is lacking in Natural Revelation
By itself, natural revelation does not do us any good
It leaves us without excuse to know the God who’s glory is so obviously revealed.
God of Covenant Love revealed in His word
God of Covenant Love revealed in His word
In the first section the word for God is the Hebrew word El.
It is the most basic word for God and says little about him
the 2nd section begins by using the Hebrew word YAHWEH
Read
The names of God’s Word
The names of God’s Word
The names of God’s Word
The Law
the testimony
the precepts
the commandment
the Fear
the rules
A description
A description
is perfect
is sure
are right
is pure
is clean
are true
An outcome
An outcome
reviving the soul
making wise the simple
rejoicing the heart
enlightening the eyes
enduring forever
Warned and Rewarded
Ps 15:
7 The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;
The law of the Lord is perfect reviving the soul
The law of the Lord is perfect reviving the soul
It is complete and not deficient in anything. It is sufficient for everything.
Our souls are enriched by the law because it is lacking nothing we need
The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;
The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;
What the world does not know God, therefore the world behaves foolishly. The world’s understanding is not certain because it is based on a lie.
But the Testimony of the Lord is sure and is certain because it is truth from God and about God.
It is able to take a simple person (kinda stupid) and make him wise.
Wisdom is knowing the truth about God and ourselves and living according to that truth
It comes from a sure foundation
the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;
the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;
the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;
the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;
God’s word is good and right and leads us only into that which is Good and right.
A proper understanding of what God wants for us rejoices the heart.
Lets not miss this one.
David is saying that God’s law and precepts bring joy.
This is the opposite of what the world says
The world says happiness is forgetting what God wants and giving in to every desire we have.
But because only the word of God is perfect and complete and a sure and solid foundation of truth, only through following the wisdom of the word can we find true Joy which is in God
The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes
The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes
To say it is pure is to say it is not contaminated in any way. Water is only pure so long as nothing else is in it.
The word of God is all truth and all inspired by God
it Enlightens the eyes
Can we see without light? No
Without the light of God’s truth we cannot see
Without seeing we cannot know how to live.
In fact, without seeing we cannot even know what we are missing.
This is why the world cannot understand that following Christ and obeying him is the source of true joy and happiness.
But with eyes enlightened by the word of God we can see and live life following Christ.
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever
To fear is to have a reverence and awe that leads to obedience. Often times the phrase fear the lord is used of those who obey God and did not fear the Lord for those who disobey.
A true fear of the Lord that leads to obedience is CLEAN.
It will last forever, everything else fades and will end but God’s word is eternal.
the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether.
the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether.
We are told that God’s rules are true and righteous however, unlike in the previous examples we are not immediately given and outcome. David first is going to emphasize the value of God’s rules
The Surpassing value of God’s Word
The Surpassing value of God’s Word
Ps 19:
10 More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.
David compares the Word of God to two things
Gold & Honey
Gold was the most valuable material of the Ancient world and of course is still today considered very valuable.
The word of God is more valuable than Gold, which should we try to get? Should we spend our lives acquiring money, or in living a life in obedience to God
Honey was the sweetest stuff in the ancient world. If you had a craving for something yummy there was nothing better than honey.
But following God’s word is sweeter
All the pleasures of the world cannot compare to the pleasure found in living a life in obedience to God
Why spend a life seeking wealth or seeking pleasure in this world when we have something infinitely more valuable and sweeter.
11 Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.
Ps 19:11
by what? The rules of the Lord
We have two outcomes
Warning
Great reward
Of What are we warned?
Judgement, without God’s word as a warning we all will certainly walk a path that leads to judgement. Only the word of God warns us of the terrifying path that we are walking on.
But For the one who heeds the warning
there is Great reward.
All the blessing, goodness, sweetness, and righteousness of God for all eternity.
There is no way to this Reward outside of what God has revealed. No moral way of living or other religions lead here.
David’s petition to God for his inability to follow perfectly
David’s petition to God for his inability to follow perfectly
Immediately after declaring the reward in following God’s commands David pleads for help in following the commands and forgiveness
12 Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults. 13 Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression.
Who can discern his errors?
Who can discern his errors?
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.
PS 19: