Psalm 19

Mario Coronado, a student in his final semester at The Master’s Seminary, was the guest preacher on Sunday.

The heavens declare the glory of God … So begins Psalm 19, which is all about God’s revelation of Himself. The first stanza describes general revelation, God’s disclosure of Himself in creation. The skies, including the sun and the other heavenly bodies, pour out continual praise of the Creator in a way that can be universally understood. It is ironic that these nonliving parts of creation are more lavish and consistent in praise than are we human beings, the pinnacle of God’s creation. As we go about our day-to-day lives, how often do we notice and pay attention to the work of God’s hands? When we take time to really look, do we hear the voice of creation, proclaiming the glorious and powerful Creator? Do we join in that praise? Take time this week to go outside and look up. Ponder what God has made and what it says about Him and add your voice to the chorus of praise.

In the second stanza of the psalm, the psalmist moves to special revelation, God’s revelation of Himself in the Bible. God’s word is described as perfect, sure (or trustworthy), righteous, pure, and true. The psalmist compares God’s word to gold – fine gold – and declares God’s word more valuable. Mario asked, do we approach God’s word with that attitude? Or, do we approach God’s word casually or skeptically or selectively? To view God’s word as the psalmist does, we must be steeped in it. The Bible is not a reference book, like a dictionary, to dip into occasionally when we have a pressing problem to solve or a decision to make. It is our daily food, showing us what our God is like. That knowledge then informs every circumstance of life we face. If your Bible gathers dust all week, consider using the book of Psalms to taste the whole character of the Lord. Start at the beginning; read and pray your way through.

The two self-revelations of God call for a response. God wants His word –
“Let there be …” which spoke creation into being,
His word written down in the Bible, and
the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ
– to transform us. Pray for anyone present on Sunday who has not yet turned to God in repentance for salvation. Then, for God’s servants, pray for the fruit of sanctification, which is what the third stanza of Psalm 19 depicts. Mario encouraged us to “respond with joy to the truth, even if it hurts.” Pain comes with sanctification, but so does joy.

Calvary Family

Be praying specifically for the two seminary students, Mario Coronado and Tyler Anderson, who will be preaching through April 6. Let’s also pray for all the men called to the ministry by the Lord and for the faculty at the seminaries that are preparing them. We can pray with confidence because the church is the bride of Christ, and he is faithful to her.

Lift up the Calvary men and their boys who will be camping together this weekend in San Clemente. Ask the Lord to bless this time away and to strengthen the crucial bond between fathers and sons.

In Christ,
Carol Gilbert

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