This post is part of a devotional series based on our 2019 Bible Reading Calendar.
The heavens declare the glory of God, and the expanse proclaims the work of his hands… The instruction of the Lord is perfect, renewing one’s life; the testimony of the Lord is trustworthy, making the inexperienced wise. – Psalm 19:1, 7
In theological terms, God reveals himself in two ways: Through general revelation and special revelation. General revelation is the way that God makes certain attributes about himself known through nature. Special revelation is the way that God broke into human history, giving his words to the authors of Scripture. David wrote beautifully about both revelations in Psalm 19.
The first six verses of the psalm are dedicated to general revelation, or the witness of nature/creation. He speaks of the features of the sky, day and night, and especially of the sun as it shines brightly overhead. The sun in its brightness, unable to be viewed by the naked human eye but in a brief flash, speaks to God’s majesty and power. The stars at night, countless millions stretch across our galaxy and millions more in countless galaxies throughout space, speak to God’s vastness, beauty, and infinite creativity.
The next five verses are dedicated to special revelation, the witness of scripture. David used a variety of words such as instruction, testimony, precepts, command, etc., to refer in various ways to God’s spoken word written by the hands of his prophets, apostles, and others. Whereas creation’s witness is visible, scripture’s witness is audible. Whereas creation’s witness can tell us attributes about God, scripture’s witness is what leads to the knowledge of salvation through Jesus and transforms a person’s life.
Creation might speak of God’s existence to the whole world, but it is scripture that renews life, gives wisdom, brings joy, and are more valuable than the purest gold as it tells us about Jesus.
God intends for his people to enjoy him and find happiness through the goodness of his creation. But he has designed it that we truly come to know him as God our Savior through the words of the Bible. As followers of Jesus, we need both revelations in our lives. See God’s beauty and majesty in creation, and pursue a relationship with God through Jesus in scripture.
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