Psalm 19 The Heavens Declare the Glory of God

Introduction

Liturgy that includes this passage can be found HERE.

On February 18, 2021 NASA landed the Perseverance rover on Mars in the Jezero Crater. The pictures captured the world’s imagination and they are still captivating.

This is the Mars Perserverance Rover picture from March 2021. Credit NASA

Did you know that the distance between Earth and Mars is over 127 million miles? The distance between Mars and Jupiter is over double that amount! It is incredible to think of how much space there is in “space.” And the photos of the nighttime sky from Mars cannot be beat. 

The Heavens Declare the Glory of God

The writer of this psalm would have been able to look at that same canopy of stars. He would have been able to see Mars, Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn without the aid of a telescope.

He enjoys the aesthetic, the beauty, the magnitude of the night sky. 

He speaks of the heavens, meaning, the space outside of our atmosphere. He tells of the firmament, which we call the sky. He takes in all that is above and around us and notices the sense of awe, reverence, and worship. It stirs his religious instincts deeply.

When I moved to the San Francisco Bay Area to attend seminary, I loved driving over to the Marin Headlands, which are the coastal mountains on the north side of the Golden Gate Bridge.

The Headlands are in Marin County. When I lived there the U.S. Census stated that the county was 2% Christian. Most people were the “Nones” or the “Dones.” People who claimed no religion or who tried in the past and were done.

After work I decided to go there to watch the sunset over the Pacific Ocean with the city and all of its lights behind me.

The Pacific Coast Highway hugs the coastline. I found my favorite spot, which is where three mountain spines come down and fold gently and provide a great natural overlook.

I liked the third spine, which was behind the others and a little more elevated. Hundreds and hundreds of people are there as well. Everyone is laughing, chatting, and hanging out. It was a cheerful scene there about 45 minutes before the sunset.

However, about 15 minutes until the sun set the chatter died down. Before I could make out the color of the shirts of the people on the spines in front of me, but now they are silhouettes. Now there is no chatter, just silence.

Hundreds of quiet, motionless silhouettes facing west watching the sun dip below the water.

A majestic view of the Marin Headlands. Photo by John K. Click on the the link for more. 

The color of the water blended in with the horizon, but as the sun set, the color of the sky bled into the Pacific like watercolors. Bright orange, pink, red, a little yellow.

Five minutes and it is getting dark and chilly. You’ve seen this, probably. If you watch, minute by minute the sun dips and dips, and then there is just this fiery tip and then it’s gone.

The wind is barely moving. It’s dark. It’s orange. It’s silent.  No one is talking.

And then as I look ahead at the hillside ahead of me, people stand up one by one, and then the next group does and then the people on my hillside did.

And then you hear this roar. The hillside busts out in cheering and people are clapping and putting their arms in the air and saying, “Yeah! Good job! Bravo!”

It was a stunning moment for me. There in a county of 2% Christians, the human heart filled up with joy and appreciation at the wonder and beauty of God’s creation.

Creation Speaks Without Words

There is something about the earth and the cosmos that stirs us. It wakes us up. Something is being communicated to us beyond words. And we desire so much to speak back, to celebrate, to offer our wonderment, to compliment, to say thanks.

Day after day all that is above, all that is around, and all that is within pours forth speech –, like a mountain spring that never stops, they gush with praise.

As you may have noticed, the writer moves from the cosmos to the Holy Scripture. You notice also there are synonyms galore: law, decrees, precepts, commandments, and ordinances. All of these speak for the Holy Scriptures.

Why the Scripture Was Given

Why are they given? To help us. To communicate grand and simple things to us.

To lift up. Encourage us. Expand our minds and to fill our hearts. Revive the soul, make us wise, cause us to rejoice, and open our eyes.

The cosmos and the Scriptures, the psalmist says, help us consider the words of our mouth and the meditation of our hearts. They reveal – they uncover. Day after day there is more to know and more to consider.

Out of the darkness of space, the stars shine and the planets and moons reflect light. In the darkness of our soul, the light of grace shines.

All that is above and all that is around seeks to help us.

Jesus Was the Word and the Light

As one of the followers of Jesus reflected upon what meaning to make about the life, teaching, death, and resurrection of Jesus, he penned some words. These words come about 30 – 40 years after Jesus’ resurrection.

John, the disciple, knew he was loved deeply by Jesus. He wrote a gospel that captured the miracles and teachings of Jesus.

He opens his gospel with some of the most mystical, mysterious, and meaningful words as he thinks of Christ being born 

He calls Jesus the “Word,” which is God’s communication to us and he calls Jesus “Light.”

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4 in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

10 He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. 

14 And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. 16 From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made God known.

Conclusion: What Does Psalm 19 Mean

In the face of Jesus, we see the face of God. His teachings, compassion, wisdom, and defense of the defenseless compel us to rise and say, “Bravo! Well done!” The cosmos reveals God’s power and creativity.

The Scriptures reveal God’s heart for human flourishing.

And in Jesus, we see God’s ultimate communication of grace, love, and truth.

Providence has placed us together as recipients of life, love, and grace. We are called to be the bright shining light in the dark to help our towns and cities.

May the loving Light that comes to us work through us for justice, peace, and belonging for all.

Amen.