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.
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.
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.
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.
and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing to you,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
S(cripture) - They [the heavens] speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard.
Yet their message has gone throughout the earth,
and their words to all the world.
and their words to all the world.
O(bservation) - The Psalmist makes it pretty clear that God has added his signature to all of creation. Creation is an icon through which we can see God. How Great Thou Art! And the Psalmist delights in this. The Psalmist also delights in God's law. He delights in the orderliness of both. Look at the imagery he uses - gold and honey. These were not common items in Israel. Gold/money was held by a few. No cane sugar. No domesticated bee hives. Honey and gold were rare and thus treasured. The Laws of the Lord are "more desirable than gold."
A(pplication) - Is your Bible your gold? Do you crave it more than chocolate? Or has it become common, gathering dust. You visit your refrigerator more than you visit your prayer closet? These are not questions to gloss over. If you cannot claim the words of the Psalmist, then pray. If you don't have that desire, pray that God makes you hungry - gives you a craving for a deep relationship hat is satisfied in spending time alone with God and His Word.
P(rayer) - Abba, Jesus made it clear that humans don't live by bread, but by EVERY WORD that comes from the mouth of God. Please give us grace to realize we need spiritual nourishment even more than food for our stomachs. And then give us moments, alone with You, that are sweeter than honey so that we long for more. In Christ, Amen.
Extra - Here's an exercise modeled after a priestly ritual in the Orthodox Church. Gather a plate and a bottle of honey (squeeze bottle). Take the honey and write a favorite scripture reference on the plate. Now pour milk onto the plate to cover your writing. Take a spoon and stir the honey into the milk. Then lift the plate with both hands and drink . . . while meditating on "You're laws are like honey, even honey dripping from the cone." (I'm serious - try this!)
A(pplication) - Is your Bible your gold? Do you crave it more than chocolate? Or has it become common, gathering dust. You visit your refrigerator more than you visit your prayer closet? These are not questions to gloss over. If you cannot claim the words of the Psalmist, then pray. If you don't have that desire, pray that God makes you hungry - gives you a craving for a deep relationship hat is satisfied in spending time alone with God and His Word.
P(rayer) - Abba, Jesus made it clear that humans don't live by bread, but by EVERY WORD that comes from the mouth of God. Please give us grace to realize we need spiritual nourishment even more than food for our stomachs. And then give us moments, alone with You, that are sweeter than honey so that we long for more. In Christ, Amen.
Extra - Here's an exercise modeled after a priestly ritual in the Orthodox Church. Gather a plate and a bottle of honey (squeeze bottle). Take the honey and write a favorite scripture reference on the plate. Now pour milk onto the plate to cover your writing. Take a spoon and stir the honey into the milk. Then lift the plate with both hands and drink . . . while meditating on "You're laws are like honey, even honey dripping from the cone." (I'm serious - try this!)
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