“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handiwork.” These words are the beginning of the 19th psalm, a psalm of David. Both the works of God and the Word of God declare His glory and majesty. Spurgeon called this psalm, “The World Book and the Word Book, both of them having been written by The Father” (Charles Haddon Spurgeon, p. 85).
All one has to do to see the glory of God is look up. The sun, moon and the heavens filled with the starry nights declare His glory. All one has to do to observe His handiwork is look around you. At this time it is magnificent indeed to observe the beauty of the world He created for our habitation while preparing for eternity.
This past week Shirley and I were able to view the states of New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont. Vermont and Maine were in peak fall colors. I believe Vermont is the most beautiful state that I have ever been in. When one observes the beauties of nature, he is seeing the handiwork of God. When one fails to acknowledge God, or even denies His existence, David calls it foolishness. In fact, he wrote, “The fool has said in his heart, There is no God” (Psalm 14:1).
“Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard” (Psalm 19:1-2). There are no human beings of whatever language which are beyond the reach of the glorious message thundering in the ears of all men from the starry heavens themselves. Wherever one lives, anywhere on earth, regardless of what language they speak, they are able to hear what the heavens are continually saying. “Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world” (v. 4). The psalmist is simply declaring that the heavenly world is indeed delivering a message to mankind, regardless of where they live or what language they speak.
And yet, as beautiful as our world is, it is nothing compared with what God has prepared for those who obey and follow His will faithfully. In the words of the chorus of the song, “Great Things He Hath Done”, the writer urges us to praise Him.
“Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the earth hear His voice;
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the people rejoice;
Oh, come to the Father, through Jesus the Son,
And give Him the glory; great things He hath done.”
Are you listening to the voice of God’s creation and the voice of His Word? Are you praising Him for the great things that He has done, and continues to do? Thank You Father for creating such a beautiful world and thank you for making Heaven available for us when this life is over.
Paul M. Wilmoth
