Psalm 19:7 – 10 – God’s Special Revelation
Although man is left without excuse if he does not recognise and glorify God through his revelation in the created universe, God is so gracious that he did not leave man with only that revelation, but also provided a more specific revealing of himself and his way by speaking directly to his creatures. In the garden of Eden, God had given everything that Adam and Eve needed for a full and happy life in the presence of God. They lived in the garden and enjoyed fellowship with the creator, but even with the beauty of the unfallen world, there was still need for God to speak to man in a more specific way that they might know how to live to please him. Just after the creation of man, God told them to ‘be fruitful and multiply’, to ‘have dominion’ over the rest of creation, and he told them what he had given them for food, Genesis 1:28-29. So that he would know exactly what he must do and what he must not do in order to please God, God gave Adam further specific instructions concerning the one tree in the garden from which he was not to eat. Genesis 2:16,17.
The pattern in the Garden of Eden is the pattern that God has used since the fall of man. God has always given instructions to mankind so that they might know him and to walk in his ways, and that is what the second half of Psalm 19 is all about! The revealed word of God is set out and described in verses 7 to 10 by six different words that have six differing characteristics and produce six particular effects.
It is a matter that should bring great joy to the child of God that the sovereign God should condescend to sinful men and be pleased to communicate with them at all, let alone by giving them precise and detailed instructions about how men and women can know the Lord and how they can love and serve him. In the next couple of days, we will consider the details of this gracious revelation that God has given to us.
Questions
- How can we have a better understanding of what God requires of us?
- How does God speak to his people now?
Prayer Points
- Thank God for the gracious revelation he has given to men.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters.