Light of the Word
Pastor Steve Mays
Tape #: SN20140316
Category: The Guidance of God’s Word
Psalm 19
In Psalm 19 David goes on to write just the incredible story about the heavens. Verse
1: “The heavens declare the glory of God…” In fact, sometimes I think it’s just
better to keep on praying, you know; but the word is so rich here. David is writing and
we really don’t have an idea when he did this. Sometimes we think he probably did it
when he was a youth there laying on the back of the dirt looking up and seeing the
incredible Orion. And there seeing the different stars and the belt and so on and just
the incredible things that David saw. Just the glory of God and the third world and you
get over there and it’s so dark. I mean Israel’s so dark, and it’s like you can see the
Milky Way.
You can see just galaxies, it’s like here we’ve been robbed, you know; and
to go out to the mountains and just look up. Two things really just touch my heart.
One is to see the stars. Millions of them and we don’t see them but you know they’re
there believe it or not.
And then the second thing is the ocean. Some of the most depressing times of my life
I’ve caught myself walking on the sands just trying to get the perspective back. No
doubt in my own heart what I’ve done is I’ve limited this limitless God.
I have
somehow used the thing I’m going through to block out the very thing that God is. And
in a few minutes just walking, it doesn’t take long. I don’t know why. Maybe because
you know you’re born in water, 100%. Maybe 70% of your body is water. And there’s
something about water that just kind of cools, I mean going swimming or the rain and
there’s something about water. You like to live by the river; you know you like to live
by the lake. There’s just something about water. It just calms the heart. A tidal wave
doesn’t but this does. Or he could have been in his later life when he’s on top of the
palace laying on top.
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There was a time Gail and I kind of got into it; we were on a trip we called “The
vacation from hell,” and I got upset. I remember it, it was a long time ago, and I don’t
want to give you the idea that it’s happening now, but I remember we were in I think a
McDonalds, I got so uptight I threw the hamburger up and it didn’t come back down.
And I just thought “Where’s my hamburger at?” And my wife just says, “You threw it
and it’s sticking on the ceiling. And the people looked at me like. “Are you real; what’s
wrong with you?”
And that night I was down in the camper and we were on a
houseboat, and Nathan and my wife were on top laughing about the hamburger on the
ceiling; and I’m getting madder and madder. I mean I can’t sleep, I’m so angry. And
there’s a cute little thing about my wife when she gets angry she laughs. So, I’m kind
of saying, “I want to go sleep” and she starts laughing.
So now they’re laughing,
they’re looking at the clouds and they’re seeing the stars and dad is inside just
grumbling. And sometimes you grumble, and sometimes it’s good to get out and look
at what you’re missing.
Some believe that it’s when Absalom was chasing him and he was caught in a cave.
His eyes are pitch black and he finally goes in and he can’t see anything and he comes
out and there are the stars. And some believe it was when Saul was chasing him. It
doesn’t make a difference.
It’s just that two things stand out; actually three “The heavens declare the glory of
God,” (Psalm 19:1) and you realize how powerful it is. And so, three little thoughts if
you’re going to hang on to something to think about I think is good. Number one,
God’s world is revealed. God’s world is revealed. And to see God’s world, the Bible
says He flung the stars into existence with His right hand; just like playing marbles —
boom. He measures the universe with His right hand, nine inches. The heavens of
heavens of heavens cannot contain Him. The clouds are the dust of His feet. And so
we see the greatness of our God. And he says here, Verse 1: “The heavens declare
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the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth His handywork. Verse 2: Day
unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. Verse 3:
There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Verse 4:
Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the
world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun.” So when you look at the
sun going down where does it go? Oh, we know, it goes to the other side, but what
God is saying is that “I made a place for it. I flung the stars into existence, I created
the Milky Way, I made the heavens and the earth; I created everything that you see.
When the waters come in, according to Ecclesiastes, I tell it how far it can come in. I
tell each cloud how much they can take and how much they have to get rid of. I
communicate to the stars, and to the clouds, and to the animals where they could eat
tonight. Everything I do; everything is in order except one thing. The things I made to
bless me — people, the only creation out of order. And you look at the stars and you
see that the Magis followed that star, according to the book of Numbers. Stars have
always been gorgeous.
And Gail has an interesting thought. She says, “You know Steve, we can go over here
and see what man has done. The view’s great, but we can look over here, over the
ocean, and over a lake and we see what God has made. Which one do you want?”
And sometimes I think we choose the lights of man over creation. The one brings you
sadness because you can hear voices; the other brings you absolute harmony.
And the question comes is when is the last time you went out and looked up? When’s
the last time you’ve taken a walk and just thought about it? When’s the last time you
got your life in perspective? It’s not as bad as you think it is; it’s only as bad as I make
it. And really, with a dime I can block out the sun. It all depends on the perspective;
how I see things. I need to see the greatness of my God. And so, he declares here
“the glory of God” in verses 1 through 4, and then he declares the greatness of God
in verses 4 through 6. “Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their
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words to the end of the world. In them hath He set a tabernacle for the sun,
which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a
strong man to run a race. It’s so cool when you think of it that way. The sun rises
and takes over everything. Verse 6: “His going is forth from the end of heaven,
and His circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat
thereof.” There’s nothing that hides from the sun. And that’s what God’s saying is,
this is the closest star we have; it’s the thing that gives us life, and yet every night God
tucks it away; every night God wakes it up. Every morning God brings it as a strong
man and every day it’s so far away from us. The ozone is perfect; everything’s perfect
so we can enjoy our life. So that’s the world God made; it’s perfect. There’s nothing
wrong with it. It’s man that’s the problem.
And then we come to the second, not only God’s world is revealed in verses 1 through
6, but in verses 7 through 10 God’s word is revealed. And check it out; His word is
precious in verse 7.
His law is once again challenged.
“The law of the Lord is
perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise
the simple.” That’s a great Psalm. And it talks about this; it says, “The law of the
Lord is perfect.” It’s not evil. Some people say that “I’m Christian and so the law is
not good.” No, the law is the schoolmaster; agreed, that brings you to Christ, and once
that you know Christ you don’t need the law. But don’t kid yourself, the law is good,
and just, and holy. It condemns you, it destroys you; in other words, it puts you in
your place. It brings you to God because you can’t live up to it. And when you finally
understand that then you run to the grace of God and now the law is only a
schoolmaster to bring you to another law which is the grace of God. So, that’s why we
would never sin against grace, we’d never go against the grace of God because of the
freedom I have in Christ.
But if I desire to live under the law like some people do, it’s
going to be no joy in my life because I can’t do it. And if you’re not perfect then you’re
condemned. If you don’t do everything perfect then you’re going to be condemned.
But it is only one person, it was the second Adam that was perfect; not the first. And
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so the law is perfect converting the soul. It brings you to absolute guilt you’re going to
hell.
There’s nothing that you can spare from it. There’s one man between God and man.
That man is Jesus Christ; unless you come to Christ that’s it. “Well, I think God’s too
narrow.” He can be as narrow as He wants. He made the heavens, He made the
earth. You’ve been fighting everything, but you won’t surrender your soul. You chose
to go that way, the way is broad, the way of sin; the way of righteousness is narrow.
There’s only one way. “I am the way the truth and the life…” (John 14:6) And so it
declares here, His law challenges us, it brings you to Christ. “I can’t do it.” “I know.”
And Paul said “That which I don’t want to do that I do. That which I do want to do, I
don’t. (Roman 7:15) “O wretched man that I am! Oh who is going to deliver me…”
(Romans 7:24) He goes outside himself to get help. The Holy Spirit is the answer in
chapter 8 of Romans. And then in verse 8, His law cheers us. “The statutes of the
Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening
the eyes.
The eye is the sin gate. You know, when you’re in trouble, your kids — let’s say your
kids. When you kids are in trouble you know it because they will not give you what?
Their eyes. When you’re in trouble with God you will not give Him your what? Your
eyes. And the Bible said that we are led by His eyes. But when I’m not right with God
I look down, I don’t look up. It’s a great day in your life when you can look up into the
eyes of Jesus Christ and not be ashamed. He knows who you are, He knows how much
you love Him, and He knows it’s not enough, but He has died for your sins. And all He
wants is for you to give Him your eyes, for those eyes are like flames of fire. And out
of those eyes and out of that tongue comes a sharp two-edged sword. The naked are
going to be there, in other words all things are naked and open before His eyes.
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And the word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword able
to divide asunder between the soul and the spirit, between the joint and the marrow.
It’s the only thing that can cut you like nothing else can cut you. And it’s able to do
that pretty well. When we do it we butcher everything, we kill everybody. Like Peter,
we whack and we get an ear; that’s all we get. But when the Holy Spirit does it there’s
no person that’s hurt. It’s always good. So, what type do you want? Do you want the
Holy Spirit to operate on you or do you want some pastor operating on you?
The Holy
Spirit, amen. You don’t want no one to touch you apart from God.
And then, not only that but notice in verses 9 and 10. His law changes us. So, the law
can challenge me, “Stephen, you’re not right before God, therefore, you’re
condemned.” “Well God, what am I going to do?” The law needs to bring you to
Christ. You are condemned. I need Jesus. Amen. Now I’m set free.
Second, the law will cheer you. He goes on to say, “The statutes of the Lord are
right, rejoicing the heart:
the commandment of the Lord is pure,
enlightening the eyes.” (Psalm 19:8) And then, the law can change us in verses 9
and 10. And he says here, “The fear of the Lord is clean… Isn’t that cool? What
I’m saying by this is when I am not gossiping I don’t have to ever worry about who is
behind me.
And I don’t ever have to get sick to my stomach because I didn’t do
anything wrong. Sometimes when we say too much we know it and then we’re kind of
dealt with and the person coming to us knows what we’ve said and our stomach is real
sick.
I remember, I told you before Chuck called me the next day after I flew with him for
the first time. He said, “How interesting how Greg Laurie knows this and I didn’t tell
him. Do you know who did?” “Well I believe Chuck, it’s just me and you. That’s all I
know, just me and you.” “I didn’t open my mouth Steve. Did you?” So being 20 years
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old I just started crying. He says, “You want to travel with me, yes or no?” “Yes, I do.”
“Are you going to learn your lesson?” “Yes, I am.”
So, it’s easy for me to hang on to confidence, why? Because God taught me. But here
“The fear of the Lord is clean…” So, if you are really doing the very best and
committing the rest, you have peace in your heart. That’s so good. When you are into
things you shouldn’t be into there’s a guilt in your life, there’s a shame. “The fear of
the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and
righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much
fine gold: sweeter also that honey and the honeycomb.”
In other words,
what’s your dessert? It’s the word of God. What is the thing that is going to feed you?
It is the man of God’s word. It’s not gold, it’s not silver. Those things will never satisfy.
You eat of this or you drink of this you’re going to do it again. Jesus said to the woman
at the well “But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst;
but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into
everlasting life. (John 4:14)
And lastly, God’s work is revealed in verses 11 through 14. And this is really neat. It
says here, it convicts us.
Verse 11, and so this is the work of the Holy Spirit.
“Moreover by them is they servant warned… “What do you mean?” In other
words, how am I warned?
devotional life.
By the law of God’s word, by the teaching of the spirit, by
I’m warned by the word of God.
There’s a great reward.
…and in keeping of them…
That’s where prosperity comes.
It says of Joshua he
meditated day and night then that wilt thou have great success. (Joshua 1:8) See, the
great success comes from meditating on the word day and night. If I have a difficult
time with my relationship with God then I should be in the Psalms because Psalms
strengthens my relationship with God.
If I have a problem with people then I should
be in the book of Proverbs because Proverbs teaches me how wisely to take care of
each other and myself included.
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So, it tells me that if you be a man given to appetite take a knife to your throat. You
don’t go to someone’s house and stay too long. Sometimes we do. Not only does it
convict me, but check it out, it cleanses me. Verse 12: “Who can understand his
errors? Cleanse thou me from secret faults.” “God, there are times that I think
I’m good. “Have you ever taken somebody out and just bought them lunch and then
down the road you realize your motive was not pure.
You were trying to get
something. There’s a lot of times we think we do good, we don’t. A lot of times we try
to do things that buy people. We really don’t think about it but we do. A lot of times
we hint. “Well you know I really need some size 9 shoes.” “Oh really?” “I don’t know
why I said that, forgive me.” “Yeah, you did.” And down the road you begin to realize
what you have need of. “So God, cleanse my heart.” Verse 12: “Who can understand
this error? Cleanse thou me even from the secret things” I don’t think I do.
And lastly, correct me.
Verses 13 and 14.
“Keep back thy servant also from
presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me; then shall I be
upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. Transgression is
outward rebellion; iniquity is inward twisting, and sin is missing the mark. Let the
words of my mouth…” And this is the song that we sing. “Let the words of my
mouth and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my
strength, and my redeemer.” This is what you need to memorize: “Let the words
of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O
Lord.” “God, listen to my heart, listen to my thoughts. Put an angel by my mouth, put
blinders, Job says, by my eyes, put the helmet of salvation on my head, give me the
breastplate of righteousness; Lord, the sword of the Spirit, and God give me feet for the
gospel, and make sure You help me to do what’s pleasing to You.
But two things stand out to me: “The fear of the Lord is clean…” That I believe is
the number one problem. People do not fear God and that’s why they sin.
When I
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know and fear God, I don’t want to get in trouble. And so, I want God’s eyes. I don’t
want to be left by myself, and so I covet the eyes of God. The last thing I ever want is
for God to say, “Fine, go ahead and do it.” I don’t want Him to hear my whining and
complaining. I don’t want to have Him hear all the misery in my life. “I want to come
to the wells of salvation with joy in my heart. But most of all, God, let my meditation
be accepted in Thy sight.” “Lord, at the end of the day can I say, “Who shall ascend
unto the hills of the Lord? ...He that hath a clean hands, and a pure heart…”” (Psalm
24:3- 4) That have not talked about each other. Who have been holy and righteous
and have done everything they can to inherit the kingdom of God. Blessed are the
meek for they will inherit the kingdom of God.
Closing Prayer: Father, I pray tonight; and God, as we just ask that, Lord, as we look
at this Psalm that it would become the meditation of our hearts. And that God we
would begin to cry out to You more than we’ve ever cried out before, and God so many
of us tonight are in just in dire need for prayer. And so God as we give to You tonight I
pray that, Father, we would be obedient to that which You laid upon our hearts. And
God may all the offerings that we ever take in this church be a time of worship; not a
time of complaining. But may we give unto You for that which You have so graciously
done in and to our lives. Lord, teach us the fear of the Lord is absolutely clean. It is so
good to have that in the back of our minds; not to have to do things to hint. Because
You know what we have need of. But Lord, help us to seek ye first the kingdom and all
these other things will be added. We have not because we ask not. Well, tonight we
ask that You would heal our bodies and we ask that You would heal these broken
relationships, but You said, “Come and let the elders pray over you.” And so tonight,
would You anoint our hands and God would You anoint our mouths that we might be
able to minister to Your people and teach them the greatness of our God.
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