Psalm 19 & "Of the Glory of God in the Starry Heavens"

 

NASA Image GSFC_20171208_Archive_e002074 

You can pick up any Bible and turn to Psalm 19's opening verses:

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. (Psalms 19:1-3)

If you've been to numerous church services, you might have heard the open words to one of my favorite hymns:

The spacious firmament on high,

with all the blue ethereal sky,

and spangled heavens, a shining frame,

their great Original proclaim.

Nature speaks of God in so many ways. There is a in the makeup of human beings an urge, a species memory, a need to seek explanations. One primary explanation we seek is whether or not there is a Creator (as mentioned by Paul in Romans 1:25 and Peter in 1 Peter 4:19), the center of Pascal's Wager by a seventeenth-century French mathematician, philosopher, physicist, and theologian. We don't have to have that much intelligence to understand that all people make a choice whether or not to believe there is a Greater Power. Judaism is based on such a belief, as is Christianity, Islam, and a number of other religions who exist to worship the creative deity.

Over millennia, thousands of other deities have been worshipped. Several are mentioned in the Hebrew Torah, both Greek and Roman histories, along with tribes around the world who had no written word to write down a name. Each group believed their deity was the right one. That's the step beyond Pascal's Wager - once you determine a deity exists, which one is the One. 

I'm here encouraging Bible reading because the One who inspired Genesis 1:1 and John 1:1 is the choice I made after decided there is a (singular) God. Part of Psalm 19 outlines what I believe to be true:

The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: 
the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. 
The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: 
the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. 
The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: 
the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. 
More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. (Psalms 19:7-10)

I've read the Law, and its confirmation in Matthew 22:35-40. I've read the testimony God inspired in men. I've read the results of living by His statutes and know His Commandments are enlightening. I do fear - I've read what happens to those who hate and disobey - Him, but believe His judgment is true righteousness. I've read of examples where He kept promises that resulted in good for people, and promises that resulted in judgment even to death. As Paul, I, too, know who I believed:

. . . for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. (2 Timothy 1:12b+)

And:

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)

(As an "Aside": I wrote a poem using those last two verses and included them in a blog. Now I need to look that up and exchange this paragraph for a link to that blog. Wonder when I'll get around to that?)