Dave's Diary

Daily Reading: Psalm 19

How do you come to formulate your beliefs about God? Do you base your beliefs on your personal experience of God? Is the church tradition you grew up with formative for you? Is it a matter of rational deduction from what you observe in the created world around you? Perhaps, you are very committed to seeking understanding about God from the Bible. Whatever source of knowledge or information you go to to formulate your beliefs about God, when you process that information or knowledge in order to come to a deeper understanding of God, you are doing theology.

Psalm 19 suggests a few trustworthy sources for our theology. It’s not that these are the only sources, but rather that they are particularly trustworthy for various reasons.

First the Psalm points out that nature – “the heavens”, “the skies” and “the sun” – provides us with some generally observable truths about God. This makes perfect sense when we realise that God created our natural world in such a way as to reflect His beauty and glory. Take a moment now to reflect on what the natural world around you proclaims about its Creator. Make a list and then turn that into a prayer of praise.

Secondly the Psalm identifies the written revelation of the Hebrew Scriptures as a trustworthy revelation of God. This revelation is far more detailed and sepcific than that of nature (for the average person). God’s “law … statutes … precepts … commands and … decrees ” are described as “perfect … trustworthy … right … radiant and … firm” and we are assured that they refresh our souls, make us wise, and that they give joy to our hearts and light to our eyes. The Word of the Lord helps us to know what is pleasing to the Lord and what is outside His will. When we come to this written Word with a spirit of “the fear of the Lord” (i.e. an overwhelming desire to please God in every way) we will inevitably allow the Word to determine our understanding of God, to refine or even correct the conclusions we have reached through other sources, and to guide the way we live our lives. We discover that the Word warns us when we’re about to go astray, pinpoints the errors of our thinking and acting, and helps us to identify our “hidden faults”.

Take a moment now to reflect on what the written Word of God has revealed to you lately. What truth about God have you discovered? What heart issue has it pinpointed? What correction has it offered to your behaviour or attitudes? Make a list and then turn that into an appropriate prayer.

Lord, reveal Yourself to me today, whether through Your world or Your Word. May thoughts and words about You be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. Amen.