The first six verses of the psalm celebrate a different form of God’s pedagogy. For the psalmist, the heavens proclaim God’s glory and handiwork. Perhaps gazing up into the heavens on a starry night, the psalmist sees the awesome glory of all creation. To translate his thoughts into the conceptual framework of contemporary scientific cosmology, our Earth, our sun, other planets and stars, galaxies, nebulae, black holes, and novae all praise God and tell of God’s handiwork.
How have you experienced God’s presence in nature? Walking in a forest of tall trees, I have been overcome by their majesty and felt God’s presence. Watching the unmitigated joy of my dog, Mr. Snuggles, as he bounds around the backyard, I am overcome by his exuberance for life and I feel God’s presence. Feeling my finger in the firm grasp of a newborn infant, I sense the sacredness of life and know that God is with me.
In its praise and proclamation, all of creation—from the tiniest raindrops to the immense galaxies—teaches us about God the Creator. Through creation, we witness God’s rich creativity and ingenuity. Creation is constant in its praise and proclamation: from day to day and night to night. This communication does not take the form of human speech, however. Creation communicates on its own terms. Left implied is the psalmist’s understanding that we humans must open ourselves to creation’s unique forms of instruction about God. We learn from God through creation only if we experience God’s presence in nature.
Take a leisurely walk today, or sit by a window and look outdoors; open your heart and mind to God’s presence and what God seeks to teach you through the natural world.
As we continue in the season of Lent, we remember another important chapter in salvation history. Just as God established covenants with Noah and Abraham and their descendants, so did God renew the relationship with the Israelites by giving them the law. Obedience to the law was not the means of earning God’s love, but a response of love by the people to the love God had already shown them. The psalmist understands that God’s law creates a cause for rejoicing, for it is more valuable than gold. Both Paul and John address situations in which some had distorted the worship of God. Either they considered themselves too good for the gospel (1 Corinthians), or they had violated the covenant by altering proper worship for the sake of profit (John).
• Read Exodus 20:1-17. How do you keep God central in your life? When do you relegate God to the margins?
• Read Psalm 19. What do the heavens tell you? How often do you spend time in nature? In what ways does that activity renew your spirit?
• Read 1 Corinthians 1:18-25. In what ways is the cross a stum-
bling block to you?
• Read John 2:13-22. What signs do you ask of God? In what ways might they be life-giving, a renewal of relationship with the Creator?
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