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"Answering The Tough Questions Pt. 1" •
9.20.15 • Calvary Christian Fellowship, Sunday
Morning Service
Intro
- In recent years, the cry from Athiest and
Agnostic camps have grown increasingly vocal and persistent, steadily basing
their lack of belief upon the same claim.
- "If God truly exists, why doesn't He
reveal Himself?" The chapter before us stands as an eternal rebuke against
such a statement.
- The biggest questions that a person can ask
in their life follow in this manner: "Is there a god?," "If so,
what is He like?" and "Does he care about me?"
- Psalm
19 answers each question in a resounding fashion and that from the wisdom
of a man without the internet!
- David is simply a man laying out in an open
field, staring at the sky! The longer he looked, as day turned to night, the
greater his clarity. Thankfully, he wrote His experience down for us!
- He marvels at what he sees: A canvas of
masterful expression, revealing the design of a Master artist. He begins in the
first 6 verse with what theologians call "General Revelation."
Text
• Psalm
19:1 : "The heavens declare
the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork." : David reveals that the hemisphere, the sky
above us, is actively participating in God's program to reveal Himself, serving
as His clarion voice.
- We aren't privy to the period of time in
which this is written. Was it early in David's life, when as a shepherd, he
spent untold numbers of days and nights under the sky for his Father Jesse?
- Perhaps it was all he could do to catch a
fleeting glance as he remained one or two steps in front of Saul. The fact is
that it could have been in any season of David's life or ours!
- No matter what is happening on earth, a
signal beacon in the sky remains lit, testifying to the reality of an
intelligent designer.
- In Hebrew poetry, what we have just listened
to is known as "synonymous parrelelism," an expression which states
the same truth twice to emphasize the point.
- The heavens are descriptive of the sky as it
looks during the day, endlessly, eternally blue on a clear day. At night, it
looks like a dark sea of water, sparkling in the moonlight.
- Whether by day or by night, the sky
broadcasts a singular truth. The sky recounts, as one telling the same story
over and over again, the glory or the reality of God!
- At night, the firmament proclaims His
handiwork expounding His attention to detail, such as one who works with a
needle and thread, every star and every planet, perfectly hanging in it's
place.
- The wonders of amateur astronomy are
sufficient for David. Lacking telescope technology, David simply applied his
naked eye to the sky and noted the colors of dusk.
- Then, as the light dwindled, the first stars
of his sky began to twinkle. As with the previous night, there they stood,
clustered in the same magnificent arrangement.
- We can have the same experience. David tells
us that this is the result of artistic intelligence and omnipotence! How could
"chance" be so well ordered?
• Psalm
19:2-4a : "Day unto day utters
speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world." : The sky acts as God's clarion communicating
His existence. Verse 2 speaks of the
consistency of it's message. Day after day and night after night, there is an
incessant pattern of communication.
- The day bubbles or more literally, pours out
a discourse, a teaching about God's glory. Every new discovery under the sun
brings a new wonder and awe.
- Every night breathes out intelligence about
the handiwork of God! There isn't a time when this communication system is
disabled! Think about this, as we often talk about information overload.
- People talk about wanting to "get
away" and "unplug" because of their hurried lifestyles, so they
run out to the wilderness, only to discover that the information there is just
as constant!
- God's general revelation of Himself is
consistent and comprehensive!
- Language is a barrier that exists between
people groups, but is not hindered in understanding the simplicity of the
reality of God.
- Every where that you go on this planet, the
sky speaks and is heard. Please note and understand this vital distinction: It
is heard by all, but it does not necessarily follow that it is heeded!
- Those who are Athiests or Agnostic, have
looked for and created ways to dismiss what is otherwise patently obvious,
subscribing to beliefs that requires much more faith than believers have!
- In Romans
1, Paul argues that while all men know of God's existence, the creation
having clearly revealed Him, they have, with their unrighteous behavior,
suppressed His knowledge!
- Even so, God affords all men everywhere the opportunity
of knowing of His existence via the mode of the heaven's speech. David notes
however that this is not His sole methodology.
- The universe makes music! The word
"line" refers to the tightening of a musical string! There is a note
that resonates throughout the world and lyrics which run to it's limits!
• Psalm 4b-6 : "In
them He has set a tabernacle for the sun, which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoices like a strong man to
run its race.
Its rising is from one end of heaven, and its circuit to the other end; and there is nothing hidden from its heat." : The sky provides a clarion call that is consistent and
comprehensive. We also discover that it reveals a compassionate Creator.
- In the visible sky, God has given the sun a
dwelling place, a tent. In ancient times, certain people groups were inclined
to worship the sun.
- Biblical writers, men who had the wisdom of Genesis 1, understood that the sun was
a "bit" player. David likens the sun to man who is about to emerge
from his time home.
- Can you see David laying on the ground,
facing East, as the sun slowly rises over the horizon? "He's coming out of
his room with all of his strength."
- The sun is seen as being in it's prime and
eager to run it's race. There are natural courses that the sun is given which
he simply and joyfully complies with.
- As humans perceive it, the sun travels across
the sky from east to west, making it's rounds, giving it's warmth and often his
oppressive heat to all! That may be what David is speaking about.
- However, as we know, it is actually the Earth
that rotates around the sun. David writing under the inspiration of the Holy
Spirit may have known what we are only now understanding.
- Scientists tell us that the sun is also
moving in an orbit around the Milky Way at about 500,000 miles an hour. In 90
second, it travels 12,500 miles.
- At that rate, according to scientists, the
sun will complete it's circuit in about 230 million years, which is referred to
as a "Cosmic Day!" And you think YOU'VE had a long day!?
- Take a moment and consider our galaxy. The
Milky Way, which I used to think was just an amazing candy bar, is actually our
home galaxy and only one of an estimated hundred billion!
- In the Milky Way, it's estimated that there
are 400 billion stars and the diameter of the Milky Way galaxy alone, is
100,000 light years.
- Said like that, it does not seem to be that
big! However, when you think about what that means, you start to feel pretty
small.
- The speed of light is roughly 186,000 miles
per second. I travel just under this according to my eliptical machine!
- Now, if I continue to progress and get to the
place where I can travel at the speed of light, I can make it to our moon in
1.28 seconds.
- My next stop will be Mars. Again, maintaining
speed, I'll get to Mars in 4.36 minutes.
- Not bad. The next stop on my little galactic
tour will be Saturn. I'll get there 1.18 hours.
- Still doesn't seem that far does it. Next
stop is Pluto. At the speed of light, that will take me 5.35 hours! The next
star beyond Pluto is Alpha Centauri.
- All I'm gonna say is that you better stop at
an AM/PM because that trip is going to take you 4.3 YEARS!!
- Now, let's say that you realize that the edge
of observable space is likely going to be a bit more ambitious than you
originally thought. So, you figure, the center of the Milky Way will suffice.
- God bless you, as that will take you 30,000
YEARS!
- Just for your edification: To the edge of
observable space, at the speed of light, will take you 15 BILLION YEARS! Maybe
I'll just sit on the lawn and count the stars.
- The Milky Way galaxy contains an estimated 200 billion stars. So
you know I had to ask, "How long would it take to count that!?"
-
Let's say you counted to 200 in a minute. In 5 minutes you'd get to a thousand.
To get to a million, it would take you 83 hours! 83 hours, 3 days and change?
Alright, that's a worthy invesment.
- To
get to a billion, just one billion out of two hundred billion...let's just skip
to the end: It would take you 9.5 THOUSAND years to count to 200 billion!
- At
least their small, according to our eyes and from the front lawn. Not so fast.
"Our sun is so big that if you hollowed it out, it would hold 1
million, 300 thousand of our earths. But … There is a star called “Antares”
that is so big that if you hollowed it out, it would hold 64 million of our
suns. But … A star in the constellation Hercules is so big that, if hollowed
out, could hold 100 million “Antares” stars. But …the largest known star –
Epsilon – is so big that, if hollowed out, would hold several million Hercules
stars or 27 billion of our suns."
-
The point of the Sun's circuit, the reason that God has set it in the sky, is
so that it's benefit can reach to all! It warms every home and every person.
-
It's energy and power are meant to bless people! General revelation reveals a
God that gives common grace to all men!
- From telescope to microscope, the honest mind
is led to an inescapable conclusion: There is a God! General revelation
satisfactorily answers the question about God's existence.
- As magnificent as that is, in that it tells
us conclusively that there is a Master Artist, it fails to convey what this
omnipotent God is like in totality. For that, God has given us Special Revelation!
• Psalm
19:7-9 : "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the
simple; The statutes 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 judgments of the Lord are true and righteous
altogether." : Special Revelation begins with
what we now call "the Bible," God's Word.
- David lists 6 synonyms which describe to us
the Word of God giving us slightly different nuances which enlighten us as to
it's nature.
- First, the Bible is God's law, His
authoritative decrees recorded for those who wish to live a righteous, God
pleasing life.
- David describes it as perfect. It is sound
and complete. As it pertains to the spiritual man and to all that it speaks to,
it requires that nothing be added to it! It's first work is to turn back the
soul.
- It cuts clean through the outer man and
reaches to the very center of a person's being!
- The Word of God doesn't produce a better man.
It produces a different man! God's Word produces nothing short of soul
transformation!
- Second, the testimony of the Lord refers to
His own witness of Himself and His own witness to that which pleases Him!
- Within the pages of scripture, you will see
the Divine Hand raised, speaking of what He alone knows of Himself and what He
endorses as righteous and good!
- His testimony is sure, faithful or reliable,
as in a sure outcome. The effect is that it gives wisdom to the one that is
easily seduced. The word "simple" speaks of an open door.
- The Word takes a person who is unstable and
unsure, who is willing to believe anything to a fault, and it secures them,
keeping them safe from error.
- Third, the word of God are the statutes of
the Lord. These are the principles and the doctrines of God and they are right,
meaning that they are straight or proper.
- God's word literally straightens out the
person whose life has followed crooked or perverse paths! And it does so in a
way that gladdens the heart!
- There is no sadness in the individual who has
been straightened out! There is rejoicing and celebrating that the right path
has been revealed!
- Fourth, God's Word is His commandment, His
mandates revealing what He prohibits. His commandment is pure or sincere. God's
Word is untainted, flawless!
- The idea is similar to the examination of a
pure diamond, which is clear right through to the other side! The Bible is
clear in terms of it's absolute ability to be understood!
- This doesn't mean that there aren't peculiar
and obscure things in scripture. There are difficult portions and there are
things which we may not understand fully.
- What can be said is that it was absolutely
clear to it's original readers and in every place where something is conveyed
to all men, know that it is abundantly clear!
- Theologians call this
"Perspecuity." Whatever time passes, it will ever be the truth That
God's person who has studied and looked for the answer, will find a clear
command!
For the person learning to walk with God when God says
"no" the eyes of their hearts are lit up. A spiritual light goes on
and there is insight for direction.
- Fifth, we have the fear or reverance of the
Lord. This refers to our response of worship to the Lord. God's Word teaches us
to worship Him and it is clean, without corruption.
-
Here is an interesting allusion, as God's Word is called "the fear
of the Lord." Are we to fear the Lord or to fear His Word? The answer is
yes!
- If God's Word emanates from God, then His
Word is inseparable from His person! To respect, to honor the Lord is to honor
His Word! This is why His Word endures forever!
- God's Word will stand firm, it will hold up,
it will stand it's ground forever! The Bible will never be found to be out of
date. The wise of this world will eventually catch up to the Bible's
conclusions!
- Finally, David lets us know that God's
judgments bring about truth and righteousness. They tell us everything that we
need to know about a right standing before the Lord.
Conclusion
- God's World reveals His clarion call, which
is consistent and comprehensive! His sun reveals that He's compassionate and
good to all!
- Thankfully, He also endowes His creation with
special revelation, beginning with His Word!
- God's Word is His Law, contains His
testimony, His principles, His commandment, produces His fear and reveals His
judgments!
- God's Word is complete, faithful, straight,
flawless, incorruptible, revealing absolute comprehensive righteousness!
- God's Word effects our conversion, gives us
wisdom to live a godly life, brings joy to our heart, directs our course in
life, holds it's value eternally and leads us to a completely righteous life!
- What would the value be for such an item?
What would you pay? We'll discover that next week!
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