God's Revelation Through Nature and Scripture (Psalm 19)
This sermon delves into Psalm 19, exploring how God communicates His truth and glory to humanity. It offers a profound look at both the subtle messages found in creation and the direct, transforming power of His written Word.
This sermon unpacks Psalm 19, revealing how God communicates through the 'soundless' natural world and the 'perfect' written word of Scripture. It argues that only through Jesus Christ, the 'searching' Word, can God's law truly delight our hearts and restore our identity.
Overview
The sermon begins by defining doctrine as something taken by faith, trusted, and promoted, asserting that doctrine-based living is unavoidable. It then introduces Psalm 19 as a guide to understanding how God communicates, breaking the psalm into three parts: the soundless word, the perfect word, and the searching word of God.
The first six verses of Psalm 19 describe God's "soundless word" communicated through the natural world—the heavens, stars, and sun. This non-verbal communication fills people with wonder and proclaims that life is meaningful and not accidental. The preacher highlights three implications: it fosters a high view of nature, reveals God's common grace to all people regardless of their beliefs, but ultimately is not enough to give us everything we need.
Verses 7-12 introduce the "perfect word" of God, the Scripture, which is described as flawless, trustworthy, and able to make us wise. Its power is seen in its ability to revive the soul by restoring our true identity, make the simple wise by preventing future mistakes, and delight the heart. The sermon addresses the contemporary challenge of finding biblical texts offensive, arguing that such offense often stems from our specific cultural location.
Finally, the sermon arrives at the "searching word" in verses 12-14, acknowledging humanity's inability to discern or overcome hidden faults. David's audacious prayer for a heart pleasing to God despite this contradiction is resolved through the concept of Jesus Christ as the Redeemer. Jesus, the greater David, perfectly fulfilled God's law, and His earned reward is imputed to believers, transforming their hearts to delight in God's commands and read the Bible as a story about Him rather than just rules for themselves.
Key points
- Doctrine is something taken by faith, trusted, and promoted, and doctrine-based living is unavoidable.
- God communicates through a 'soundless word' in the natural world (Psalm 19:1-6), which reveals meaning and design.
- This natural revelation gives a high view of creation and shows God's grace to all, but it is ultimately insufficient.
- God also communicates through His 'perfect word,' the Scripture (Psalm 19:7-12), which is flawless and trustworthy.
- The Scripture has the power to revive the soul (restore identity), make the simple wise, and delight the heart.
- Perceiving certain biblical texts as offensive often reflects one's cultural context, not an inherent flaw in Scripture.
- Humanity cannot discern or overcome its deepest, most characteristic hidden faults, as Psalm 19:12 implies.
- The solution to human sin and the means by which God's law becomes delightful is Jesus Christ, the Redeemer, who perfectly fulfilled the law and bore its punishment.
In Tim Keller's words
“There is no way to avoid doctrine-based living so we might as well ground it in the ancient wisdom of the Bible.”
“The scripture and the scripture alone can show you and make you who you really are.”
“Anything that's not Eternal is eternally out of date.”
Outline
- I. Introduction: The Nature of Doctrine
- II. The Soundless Word of God (Psalm 19:1-6)
- A. Communication from the Natural World
- B. Non-verbal, Universal Speech
- C. Implications of this Communication
- 1. A High View of the Natural World
- 2. God's Grace to Unbelievers
- 3. Nature's Limitations
- III. The Perfect Word of God (Psalm 19:7-12)
- A. The Perfection of Scripture
- B. The Power of Scripture
- 1. Reviving the Soul (Restoring Identity)
- 2. Making Wise the Simple
- 3. Delighting the Heart (Sweeter than Honey)
- C. Addressing Cultural Offense to Biblical Authority
- IV. The Searching Word of God (Psalm 19:12-14)
- A. Human Inability to Discern Hidden Faults
- B. The Confidence for a Pleasing Heart
- C. The Solution: Christ the Redeemer
- 1. Jesus, the Greater David, Fulfilled the Law Perfectly
- 2. His Reward Comes to Us, Our Punishment to Him
- 3. This Rewires the Heart and Makes the Law a Delight
- 4. Reading the Bible Through Jesus (True and Better Examples)
Scripture references
1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
2 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.
3 There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.
4 Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,
1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
2 (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)
1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
8 The high places also of Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed: the thorn and the thistle shall come up on their altars; and they shall say to the mountains, Cover us; and to the hills, Fall on us.
1 My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?
1 Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.
2 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.
Insights
Life is meaningful because all creation is a work of art.
Nature speaks of a designer, inviting wonder from every soul.
God's grace extends wisdom and goodness to all people.
Questions & answers
What does the sermon mean by 'doctrine'?
The sermon defines doctrine as something you take by faith, trust in and base your life on, and promote because you believe it is true and good. It argues that all people live by a set of doctrines, even if they claim not to.
How does God communicate through a 'soundless word'?
God communicates through the 'soundless word' by displaying His glory and knowledge through the natural world, such as the heavens, stars, and sun. This non-verbal communication speaks universally to humanity, proclaiming that creation is purposeful and not accidental.
What are the three powers of God's 'perfect word,' the Scripture?
The Scripture has the power to revive the soul by restoring one's true identity, make the simple wise by providing guidance against future mistakes, and delight the heart, making God's commands sweeter than honey.
Why does the sermon say nature is not enough for God's full revelation?
Nature's communication is mixed and unclear, sometimes hard to interpret, and can even appear contradictory with disasters. It gives general knowledge about God but does not provide the specific, clear communication found in Scripture that is needed for full understanding and heart transformation.
How does Jesus make the law a 'honeycomb' that delights the heart?
Jesus, as the only one who perfectly fulfilled God's law, takes the punishment for our disobedience and gives us His reward for perfect law-keeping. This ultimate act of love and forgiveness radically rewires the heart, making obedience a delight rather than a fearful obligation.
What does it mean to read the Bible through Jesus?
Reading the Bible through Jesus means recognizing that every part of Scripture ultimately points to Him and His work. Instead of seeing biblical figures as merely examples to live up to, we see them as types or foreshadowings of Jesus, who is the true and better fulfillment of God's intentions.
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