THE GLORY OF GOD:
Ephesians 1:12 states that “we…[should] be for the praise of His glory.” A believer’s ultimate purpose in life is to glorify God. Psalm 19 expresses two ways in which God’s glory is revealed–through creation and through His Word. We glorify God when we recognize Him as Creator and when His Word is effectively applied in our lives and proclaimed to the world.
“For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.” Rom. 1:20
1. Read Psalm 19. This Psalm doesn’t explain the scene in David’s mind as he wrote of God’s glory displayed in the sky. Can you imagine what the shepherd boy saw when he lay down in the grassy hills of Israel in the stillness of a moon lit night? Can you imagine awakening to the sun’s rays shining across the glistening blanket of dew on the grassy hillside? Define glory. Explain what the heavens and skies declare.
2. Another word for “speech” in verse 2 would be “testimony.” “Pour forth” speaks of a perpetual activity. What knowledge do the day and night testify to? Read Gen. 8:22 and Deut. 4:19 to help with your answer.
3. According to Psa. 19:3-4, what communicates God’s glory without words? Who hears the “voice” of the heavens?
4. How did David illustrate the speechless evidence of the glory of God that reaches everywhere on earth? From verses 4b-6, describe David’s simile and write what is represented by each example.
5. What is the effect of the sun?
6. Nature declares the glory of God–His creativity, wisdom, power, and majesty. Using your favorite scene in nature, write a metaphor or simile that will illustrate an aspect of God’s glory.
“Because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.” Rom. 1:19
7. In Psa. 19:7-9 David shifts from God’s glory revealed through creation to God’s glory revealed in an even greater way. List six ways David described the sufficiency of God’s written Word. In your own words explain its effects. (Note: The law (teaching), statutes, (commands), precepts (principles), and commands are aspects of God’s Word.)
“Scripture reveals the only way to know God personally.”1
8. Read 2 Tim. 3:16-17. Summarize the encouraging words the Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy.
9. Review Psa. 19:7-9. Do you agree with the description in Psa. 19:10? Explain?
10. According to Psa. 19:11-12, how did a focus on the holy Word of God affect David? What did he remember about obedience? What action did he take?
11. David’s Psalm ends with self-examination and a prayer for cleansing so his life would be pleasing to God. “Just as nothing is hidden from the heat of the sun (v.6), and even as the “voice” of the natural revelation penetrates to “the ends of the earth” (v.4), so God’s Word with all its perfections (vv.7-9) penetrates and examines man.”2 According to Psa. 19:13, what did David ask God to do for him? What would result?
12. Have you ever experienced a warning from God as you read, heard, or remembered a verse or a passage of Scripture? How did you react?
13. Review Psalm 19. We glorify God when the Word is efficiently applied in our lives and proclaimed to the world. How did David effectively apply the Word in his life and proclaim it to the world? Do you?
14. Pray the words of Psa. 19:13-14.
“God has made Himself known to man through natural revelation in the physical creation and through supernatural revelation in the Scriptures.”3
Journal your thoughts and insights.
1&3 Holman New Testament Commentary by David Walls & Max Anders
2 The Expositors Bible Commentary, Frank E. Gaebelein, General Editor
© Copyright 2005 Bonnie Lisech (Permission granted to copy for nonprofit use.) Scriptures are taken from the NIV unless noted. [email protected]
With special thanks to Jan Harris for editorial perspective and Barb Snyder for editorial detail.
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