God Speaks
For the choir director: A psalm of David.
1 The heavens proclaim the glory of God.
The skies display his craftsmanship.
2 Day after day they continue to speak;
night after night they make him known.
3 They speak without a sound or word;
their voice is never heard.
4 Yet their message has gone throughout the earth,
and their words to all the world.
God has made a home in the heavens for the sun.
5 It bursts forth like a radiant bridegroom after his wedding.
It rejoices like a great athlete eager to run the race.
6 The sun rises at one end of the heavens
and follows its course to the other end.
Nothing can hide from its heat.
7 The instructions of the Lord are perfect,
reviving the soul.
The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
8 The commandments of the Lord are right,
bringing joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are clear,
giving insight for living.
9 Reverence for the Lord is pure,
lasting forever.
The laws of the Lord are true;
each one is fair.
10 They are more desirable than gold,
even the finest gold.
They are sweeter than honey,
even honey dripping from the comb.
11 They are a warning to your servant,
a great reward for those who obey them.
12 How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart?
Cleanse me from these hidden faults.
13 Keep your servant from deliberate sins!
Don’t let them control me.
Then I will be free of guilt
and innocent of great sin.
14 May the words of my mouth
and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing to you,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
For the choir director: A psalm of David.
1 In times of trouble, may the Lord answer your cry.
May the name of the God of Jacob keep you safe from all harm.
2 May he send you help from his sanctuary
and strengthen you from Jerusalem.
3 May he remember all your gifts
and look favorably on your burnt offerings. Interlude
4 May he grant your heart’s desires
and make all your plans succeed.
5 May we shout for joy when we hear of your victory
and raise a victory banner in the name of our God.
May the Lord answer all your prayers.
6 Now I know that the Lord rescues his anointed king.
He will answer him from his holy heaven
and rescue him by his great power.
7 Some nations boast of their chariots and horses,
but we boast in the name of the Lord our God.
8 Those nations will fall down and collapse,
but we will rise up and stand firm.
9 Give victory to our king, O Lord!
Answer our cry for help.
Source: New Living Translation: BibleGateway.com
We Respond
Reflection: Psalms 19 and 20 will be considered together here. Psalm 19 can be seen as depicting two ways in which the LORD God reveals Himself to us: through Creation and through the Bible. Since the psalm begins with the heavens, so will this author. The heavens display the vastness and order of God. The billions of stars each have its own degree of brightness and location. If it has moons, they revolve in an orderly manner. This testifies that God loves and directs order. The sky consistently changes from day to night and back again. This shows that God is consistent. Although not mentioned here, the other elements of Creation demonstrate God’s love for beauty and variety. Without uttering a word, creation points to God in all His majesty. The sun, for example, points to God’s power, light, heat (provision), and exuberance. All of this can be observed by any person who pays attention no matter where they are geographically or how educated they are. Next, Psalm 19 shows how the written Word of God enriches mankind and points him back to God. God gives complete instructions and revitalizes people’s souls. God gives trustworthy decrees that make people wise. The LORD’s commandments and commands are right and clear and obeying them brings joy and insight for living. Holding the LORD in reverent awe and obeying His laws will bring purity, truth, and justice to all, which has more lasting value than gold and is sweeter than honey. In verses 11-14 the psalmist focuses on how to avoid sin in one’s own heart and life, specifically his thoughts and words. Psalm 20 could be offered as a request to God on behalf of anyone including oneself; however, it is particularly fitting in praying for a ruler or anyone in authority. It specifically advises against relying on anything other than the LORD.
Prayer: Dear Creator and Sustainer of the universe and everything in it, thank You for designing it all to demonstrate who You really are. Thank You, LORD God, for these two ways in which You reveal Yourself to us: through Creation and through the Bible. The heavens display Your vastness and love of order, detail, variety, and beauty, O God. The billions of stars each have its own degree of brightness and location. If it has moons, they revolve in an orderly manner. This testifies that You love and direct order. You made the sky to consistently change from day to night and back again. This shows that You are consistent. Without uttering a word, creation points to You in all Your majesty. The sun points to Your power, light, heat (provision), and exuberance. You made it like this so that people can observe it, if they pay attention, no matter where they are geographically or how educated they are. Next, Your written Word, O God, enriches mankind and points us back to You. In it You give complete instructions and revitalize people’s souls. You give trustworthy decrees that make people wise. Your commandments and commands are right and clear and obeying them brings joy and insight for living. Holding You, LORD, in reverent awe and obeying Your laws will bring purity, truth, and justice to all, which has more lasting value than gold and is sweeter than honey. The scriptures even show us how to avoid sin in our individual hearts and lives, specifically our thoughts and words. I offer Psalm 20 as a request on behalf of anyone in authority at any level or aspect of my nation and world. Please keep me from relying on anyone or anything other than You, LORD. AMEN
Action: (Ask God, the Holy Spirit, if He wants you to work on one of the suggestions below or something else more personal that He points out.)
- I will take time daily to think about what attributes of God are demonstrated in nature.
- I will thank God for showing me attributes of Himself through nature.
- I will write out at least ten laws or principles in the word of God that point to His character and obey them.
- I will pray Psalm 20 as a blessing over at least one person in authority that I know.
Share: I plan to share what I’ve learned with __________.