Psalm 19—Are You Listening to Handiwork and Precepts?

For the mourner who will listen, God is speaking. If you’re facing loss, make sure you don’t stay hemmed in by four walls.

And listen.

“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.” Psalm 19:1-2

Refuse to be walled off from his glory. Get outside. Study your surroundings. Look at the morning or evening sky and study the minute details of creation. The beauty of creation declares God’s glory and his handiwork. Speech and knowledge pour forth day and night. God is speaking to your soul in your pain.

Are you listening?

“Forbid that when all Thy creatures are greeting the morning with songs and shouts of joy, I alone should wear a dull and sullen face…” John Baillie, A Diary of Private Prayer

His voice is “…like a strong man,” who “…runs its course with joy” (Psalm 19:5). Brokenness is everywhere. But so is glory. So is his handiwork. His glory and handiwork are everywhere you look. The sky. The trees. The grass. People. Mountains. Rivers. Weather. His voice is riding a circuit from one “…end of the heavens…to the end of them…” (Psalm 19:6). He speaks.

Are you listening?

God’s speech through creation gives rise to faith and an appetite for him to speak through his word. He speaks, too, through Scripture.

Are you listening?

“The law of the Lord is perfect…more to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey…” Psalm 19:6, 10

If God’s creative wonders declare glory and proclaim his handiwork, his inspired word does more. His written word revives your soul with truth. If you’re facing loss, you need a revival or the rescue of your soul. You need words of faith to speak truth to your sight. The Lord’s testimony is sure and dependable.

Are you listening?

During grief, you need wisdom. And his testimony, his word, makes the simple wise. His precepts are right, and they bring rejoicing even to a broken heart. His precepts and commandments are pure, and they enlighten eyes. I came to realize I could not trust my sight. I had to walk by faith and not by sight. In loss, your eyes need to be enlightened by truth.

Are you listening?

God’s law endures forever, and his rules are true and provide the full picture of righteousness. His word is like the “…drippings of the honeycomb” (Psalm 19:10). Sweet words flow from a loving God.

But, are you listening?

During loss, you need straight talk. You need wise counsel. God’s word speaks through wisdom, testimony, precepts, and commandments and “…by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward” (Psalm 19:11). God’s word gives a journeyer the tools to discern his errors and faults.

But, are you listening?

“Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression.” Psalm 19:13

I remember stating the first few days following my wife’s death how I did not want to dishonor her or God in my response to my loss. I learned his creative wonder and his powerful word can protect you as you walk through grief. You can walk in righteousness. He will keep you from presumptuous sin. Evil does not have to have dominion over you. You are equipped to walk blamelessly and in innocence.

If you will listen.

I have lived in The Psalms. I have pored over every psalm numerous times over the course of my long unwanted journey. The psalter has been a balm to my injured soul. Press into his truth. Meditate. Hide yourself in the truths of his word. He is your rock and your redeemer.

He is pouring out speech through his handiwork and through his precepts. Are you listening?

“Awake, my soul, and sing of him who died for thee, and hail him as thy matchless king through all eternity.” Matthew Bridges, “Crown Him with Many Crowns”

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” Psalm 19:14