Rule Of Faith and Life

Advent & Christmas

December 7, 2023

Rule Of Faith and Life

The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart.

The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living.

Psalm 19:8

Read: Psalm 19

C. S. Lewis said he believed Psalm 19 was the best poem ever written in any language. The beauty of Psalm 19 is matched by its deep theological significance. The writer uses two different names for God in the two parts of this psalm. First, the name El is used for the God of the universe. This refers to the general revelation of God through the wonders of creation. The Apostle Paul, in the Book of Romans, agrees with the psalmist. One only needs to look at the heavens to know there is a Creator God. John Muir said yes and amen to both the psalmist and Paul. He explored what is now Yosemite National Park and urged that the area be preserved as a national treasure because it was such a magnificent display of the beauty of God’s creation. I am blessed to live in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. Every day is filled with opportunities to join the chorus as “The heavens proclaim the glory of God.” (v.1)

In the second portion of the psalm, the writer refers to God as the LORD because he is referring to God’s word. He is thus reflecting on the special revelation of God. This revelation is personal and full of grace. As the sun, in the first portion of the psalm, brings its penetrating light and heat to all creation, so also the Word of God “is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.” (Hebrews 4:12-13) (Remember My Takeaway prayer on December 5 – “ALMIGHTY God, unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid. . .”

God is revealed in the glory of creation and in the glory of His Word which is a sufficient rule for my faith and my life.

My Takeaway: The writer then closes his psalm of praise with an intercession for God’s help to always live in a right relationship with God. His closing prayer is one of the most profound and eloquent expressions of a desire to walk in harmony with God:

May the words of my mouth

and the meditation of my heart

be pleasing to you,

O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Psalm 19:14

Sē’lah

<><  <><  <><  <><

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2023 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.