Psalm 19 8/3/15
Grace and peace to you
from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.
The earth is a
testament to the greatness of our God. I have travelled around a good deal of
Australia, though there is still heaps I have not seen. This country we live in
is amazing, I have seen numerous different landscapes, desert, rainforest,
mallee, Farms of all different sorts, I've swum in lakes, dams, oceans and
rivers. climbed mountains, trees and hills. This land we live in vast and
wonderful. At night, especially here at Rainbow the heavens put on a magnificent
show, and the sunsets and sunrises we get here are breathe taking.
Our psalm today reminds us that
creation points towards it's creator. " The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament
proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours forth speech,
and night to night declares
knowledge. "
The heaven tell us of God, but we as
Christians know that we shouldn't look to the heavens for our answers, we shouldn't
look up into the heaven to find evidence Of God and his will for us. Right
after telling us that the heaven tell of God's glory, the psalmist tells us
that we do not hear it's voice.
"
There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard; yet their voice goes out through all
the earth, and their words to the end of the world. "
The heavens, the mountains, this
earth proclaims God's handiwork, but you are not going to be able to come into
a loving relationship with God, by sitting on top of a mountain looking at
stars.
The one way, the only sure way of knowing
God, and having a relationship with him is through his word.
The old testament was broken up into
the Pentateuch, the prophets and the history
and wisdom books. The Pentateuch is the first five books, they are the more
important books of the old testament, where God creates everything and sets
forth the plan of salvation that reaches fulfillment with his Son.
In Lutheran theology we teach Law
and Gospel. Law is what you have to do to get into heaven, and the gospel tells
us that Christ, fulfilled the law on our behalf. In the old testament Law is
not always so narrow, sometimes it's those first five books of the bible, and
sometimes it's used to talk about all of scripture.
The
law of the Lord is perfect,
reviving the soul;
This
is clearly not just the laws we heard in the ten commandments. when I hear
those I do not feel revived, but I am reminded of my inability to live them
out. If I want to be revived I'll read something of Paul or go to a gospel and
hear What Christ promises to do through the water of baptism, and his body and
blood at Communion.
God's
word revives us, it brings peace and often puts things in perspective. It
reminds us of God's everlasting love for us and the joy he has in us. We are
all fearfully and
wonderfully made. each individuals created with our own strengths and
weaknesses and known and loved by God.
We know God loves us
because we read it in scripture, as we read it our soul is revived and we gain
a greater understanding of God, we gain wisdom.
the decrees of the Lord are
sure, making wise the simple;
Trust in God is the purest form of
wisdom. And it comes from the Holy Spirit through prayer, and hearing God's
word.
AS we read God's word, The Holy
Spirit works in us, changing us to be more like Jesus, and strengthening our
trust in Him. There is lots of practical advice in the bible. The ten
commandments and the book of proverbs are great for those sorts of things. It
is a good thing to have the ten commandments on your mind, to go through them
in the morning before you start the day, and go through them at night at the
end.
as the psalmist says,
Moreover
by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.
At
the start of the day if you think of the ten commandments use that as a warning
to keep you on the straight and narrow, praying along with the psalmist, Keep
back your servant also from the insolent; do not let them have dominion over
me. Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression.
And
then when the day has ended or when the burden of broken commandments weighs
you down, turn to God in trust and prayer, asking him for the soothing balm of
the gospel.
The commands of God are very good
things, they tell us how to live in harmony with ourselves and with others. But
in the end, knowing what the good and right thing to do does not help us do it.
It is only the Holy Spirit and the constant return to God in repentance that
helps us live a righteous life. I could tell you all the things that you could
and should be doing but it's useless unless I tell you that Jesus Christ has
already done what matters.
God is in control. He has given us
His word and the confidence that everything we need to know about God is in his
book. God has sealed us with his Holy Spirit, and it is through that Holy
Spirit alone that we do good works, and have come to believe in Jesus. we hear
it multiple times in the bible, God lets people suffer the results of their sin
and the sin of others, hoping that they will turn to him, who can redeem them
and cure all their wounds. Your sin,
your struggles to live out the Holiness you have received, does not mean you
are any less of a child of God.
This
world has amazing things in it, wonderful people, beautiful scenery all of it
singing the praises of it's creator It's good to enjoy the blessing's of God's
good creation enjoying fellowship and food, but by far is enjoying those things
along with God's word.
God
loves you, he knows you intimately, and he loves you. He sent his Son, to live
out the commandments perfectly on our behalf. We are righteous because of what
he did, We added no good things to Christ's sacrifice, but that's ok, because
the payment He paid, was the perfect amount. Trust in God, be filled with the
Holy Spirit and continue to deepen your relationship with God and your trust in
his word. amen.
the peace of God which passes all understanding
keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus amen.
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