We are reading the Bible through together this year, using the Discipleship Journal Reading Plan published by the Navigators. You can download it free of charge from: https://www.navigators.org/resource/bible-reading-plans/
Today’s 4 readings are: Matthew 8:14-22; Acts 11:19-30; Psalm 19, Genesis 42-43.
Psalm 19 holds its own place as one of the loftiest and most profound. Verses 1-6 give what is called by some “the book of nature”.
As Paul would write in Romans 1, in the book of nature or creation “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.” With the result that no has an excuse for not acknowledging Him rightly.
Verses 7-11 open up the wonder and glory of God’s 2nd book – the book of special revelation – the Word. It is in this book we learn about man’s purpose and fall, and God’s plan of redemption through Jesus Christ. We could know those things no other way. He has not left us without clear witness.
Verses 12-14 contain David’s prayerful response to pondering these realities. All of the light from these 2 books has revealed to him an astronomically inscrutable God, and the horror of his own sin. So he pleads to have his sin revealed, cleansed, guarded against, and then vs. 14. The indication of why God calls David a man after His own heart. For his prayer there is not a simple – “help me live my life right.” It is “work in me so that I AM right, in concert with your own holiness.” I want the words of my mouth to be ordered so as to give glory to this great and glorious God, but more – I want those word to come out of a heart which truly desires that.
Heavenly Father, what would we be like as your family, if this were the case? Oh may it be true. Answer this prayer Father. Let every word that crosses my lips be worthy of the Name I bear. Let me never speak but that it would be what Christ Himself would say in the very same place. And my Heart – how I plead with you today to grant that the things I ponder, consider, mull over and allow my mind to entertain would be just as acceptable to you as if they were your own thoughts. What do you give your great, holy and infinite mind over to thinking about? This is what I would have for myself. To have a mind that in purity and justice and sweetness and mercy and grace and holiness is occupied at all times with those things so that I should never blush to have them declared before you, and the whole world.
ResponsiveReiding 