The Heavens Proclaim the Work of their Creator
The Heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork. –Psalm 19:1
By God alone can God be known. The first half of this chapter is all about how God reveals Himself through Creation—known as general revelation. The second half covers God’s written Word—known as special revelation.
General Revelation
Creation testifies, declares, and proclaims the handiwork of its Creator in Psalm 19:1-6. One can only suppress the truth revealed through creation by forceful and intentional effort.
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, –Romans 1:18-22
Even though nature clearly reveals God, evil men suppress the voice of creation. They reject God’s message that is literally right in front of their eyes. Nature has a voice, and it speaks loud and clear. But what is nature saying? God’s creation (i.e., Nature) sings the songs of God’s glory, power, wisdom, and goodness.
The Belgic Confession states that God’s masterpiece of creation is:
like a beautiful book in which all creatures, great and small, are as letters to make us ponder the invisible things of God.
In Psalm 8:3-6, the amount in which God cares for his people, who seem insignificant compared to the magnificence of the work of God’s hands, struck David when he looked at the heavens.
I also think about Job 38-39, when God asked Job, “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?”
Studying God’s creation should be a sobering task for the believer.
Special Revelation
The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul;
the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;
the precepts 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 forever;
the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.
Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.
Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults.
God reveals Himself in nature and through Scripture—the Bible, His Holy Word. God’s Laws, commands, precepts, and testimony tell of His greatness. If you put your hand in front of your mouth when you talk, you can feel your breath. Think upon that when you consider that all Scripture is God-breathed. There is no higher authority than God Himself. That is why when He swears, He can only swear by Himself.
For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, –Hebrews 6:13
Scripture describes the meeting when God told Abraham that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky (Genesis 15:5). Solomon encourages us to gain wisdom by considering at least one of the animals God created, namely the ant (Proverbs 6:6). Even Jesus encouraged his listeners to consider the lilies of the field and the birds of the air (Matthew 6:25-34).
Basically, our Lord and Savior is telling us to get outside and explore creation. Take a hike. Gaze at the moon and stars. Study the ants. Be still and know that He is God. The result just might be a deep, rich, rewarding, and confident faith in the one who made it all—God Almighty, maker of heaven and earth. The Word of God teaches, reproves, corrects, trains, and fully equips (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Scripture does not and will not change.
The grass withers, the flowers fade, but the Word of our God will stand forever –Isaiah 40:8
Our Response
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in God’s sight.
The following hymn is another way to express our gratitude to God Almighty, creator of Heaven and Earth and author of the Holy Scriptures.
How Great Thou Art
Oh Lord, my God
When I, in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder
Thy power throughout the universe displayed
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art
Prayer
Dear Father in Heaven,
I stand in awe of Your creation. Considering the birds of the air, the lilies of the field, the tiny and industrious ant, and mankind, reminds me that You are the Creator, and we are Your creation. Much like the sun, moon, and stars that declare your glory, may I speak of Your marvelous deeds with every breath I take. You are great and greatly to be praised.
In Jesus’s Name,
Amen.