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IN SEARCH OF GOD

Will I Like What God’s Like If I Find He Exists?

Psalm 19

For the director of music. A psalm of David. {1} The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. {2} Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. {3} There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. {4} Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun, {5} which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. {6} It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is hidden from its heat. {7} The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. {8} The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. {9} The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the Lord are sure and altogether righteous. {10} They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. {11} By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. {12} Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults. {13} Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression. {14} May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

WARM-UP

  • If you were to draw a picture of God, what would He look like?
  • What was the first idea of God that you had? What was He like? Where did you get this view of God?
  • Is there any particular setting in which you feel closest to God?

We can’t answer everyone’s questions about God in one hour, but let’s explore Psalm 19 and try to find what it might say to us about our search for answers to these questions: How can you prove there is a God? If there is a God, what is He like? Is God someone I would like if I got to know Him?

CREATION TELLS US GOD EXISTS

{1} The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Evidence of the existence of God can be seen in the universe that surrounds us. The existence of the created requires that there be a Creator.

  • What is there about the natural world that tells us there is a God?
  • What do you learn about God from the natural world?

{2} Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. {3} There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. {4} Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun, {5} which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. {6} It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is hidden from its heat.

  • According to this verse, what is the nature of the natural world’s testimony about God?
  • Is the evidence of the existence of God limited in any way?

THE SCRIPTURES TELL US WHAT GOD’S LIKE

The natural world may tell us God exists and tell us something about Him, but God has chosen to reveal His nature and relationship to His creation through the Bible, His Word to us. His Word provides for moral and social order, which give us insight into what God is like.

{7} The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. {8} The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. {9} The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the Lord are sure and altogether righteous. {10} They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. {11} By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

  • What five different terms are used for God’s Word given to us?  (law, statutes, precepts, commands, fear, ordinances)
  • Are there differences between these terms?
  • What is meant by "the fear of the Lord"?
  • What terms are used to describe the nature of each of these terms?  (perfect, trustworthy, right, radiant, pure, sure, righteous)
  • What is the result of knowing and following God’s Word?  (reviving the soul, making wise, giving joy to the heart, giving light to the eyes, being warned, great reward)
  • Why do you think the writer, in verse 10, saw God’s Word to be such a wonderful thing?

KNOWING GOD HELPS US KNOW OURSELVES

Knowing the Creator helps us understand His creation. God has created us with a moral nature. Violation of the moral principles that He intended for us creates disorder in our society and in our internal lives.

{12} Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults. {13} Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression.

  • What four imperfections does this verse recognize in our moral lives?  (errors, hidden faults, willful sins, great transgression)
  • How do these imperfections differ from each other?
  • According to verse 13, what is the result of willful sin?
  • What does the writer want God to do regarding these imperfections?  (help him discern errors, forgive hidden faults, keep him from sin, keep him blameless and innocent, keep him from greater transgression)
  • If God is not only capable of doing these things, but earnestly desires to do them, what does it tell us about the nature of God?

{14} May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

The writer recognizes God’s ability to see external action—"the words of my mouth"—and internal attitudes—"the meditation of my heart." The writer is motivated to want his actions and attitudes to be pleasing to God.

  • What is the importance of the meditations of our hearts?
  • In the closing statement, what two roles does the writer see the Lord filling in his life?  (Rock, Redeemer)
  • What does he mean by these two terms?

SUMMARY

What do we learn about God in this psalm?

  1. God is revealed to us in the natural world.
  2. God is revealed to us in His Word to us.
  3. God is the Creator of the universe and has put in place principles for natural, moral, and social order.
  4. God expects the best from His creation.
  5. God is personal. He communicates himself and His purpose to His creation.
  6. God has provided for our salvation. We can build our lives on His principles. He deals redemptively with our imperfections.

What do we learn about ourselves in this psalm?

  1. We have been created to be a part of God’s moral order.
  2. We are prone to error, fault, sin, and transgression.
  3. We are the recipients of special attention from God.

APPLICATION

  • If He is the Creator of all things, including us, is there a responsibility that the created has toward the Creator?
  • Can you trust your life to the One who created you, believing He has your best interests at heart?
  • Have you developed a view of God that sees Him as a loving, caring God?

PRAYER

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