The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament showeth, is
announcing or extolling, HIS HANDIWORK. The entire universe reflects
the majesty of God's creative power, and therefore all nature is here
personified as a preacher of His omnipotence and providence.... [ Continue Reading ]
A PROPHECY OF THE GOSPEL.
Luther says of this psalm that it is a prophecy of the Gospel as it
was intended to go forth into all the world, as wide as the heavens
extend, and to be proclaimed and taught both day and night, and not
only in the language of the Jews, but in all tongues. To the chief
mu... [ Continue Reading ]
Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge,
all nature being engaged in one mighty and uninterrupted sermon and
anthem of praise, which will last as long as the change of day and
night will continue, all creation being a witness to the majesty of
the Creator.... [ Continue Reading ]
There is no speech nor language, literally, "Not is there speech, and
not are there words," WHERE THEIR VOICE IS NOT HEARD. The message
proclaimed by the inanimate creatures everywhere and at all times is
of a nature to be clearly discernible to all ears which are not
deliberately stopped up. God ha... [ Continue Reading ]
Their line, the territory belonging to the sphere of the heavens, as
they proclaim the glory of God, IS GONE OUT THROUGH ALL THE EARTH, has
encompassed the earth, has reached as far as creation extends, AND
THEIR WORDS TO THE END OF THE WORLD. All the inhabitants of the earth
are able to hear the an... [ Continue Reading ]
which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, happy in the
possession of the bride whose love gives him strength to cope with the
problems of life, AND REJOICETH AS A STRONG MAN, like a valiant hero,
TO RUN A RACE.... [ Continue Reading ]
His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto
the ends of it, as he completes his course to the western horizon; AND
THERE IS NOTHING HID FROM THE HEAT THEREOF, the beneficial effects of
its light and wamth are felt by all creatures. But in addition to this
revelation of God in... [ Continue Reading ]
The Law of the Lord, Holy Writ, the Word of the Lord, IS PERFECT,
CONVERTING THE SOUL, restoring it to its fullness, to the strength it
ought to have; THE TESTIMONY OF THE LORD IS SURE, trustworthy,
dependable, MAKING WISE THE SIMPLE.... [ Continue Reading ]
The statutes of the Lord are right, straight, without devious bypaths,
REJOICING THE HEART; THE COMMANDMENT OF THE LORD IS PURE, ENLIGHTENING
THE EYES; in short, the Word of God, the glorious message of the
Gospel, contains in itself the power to sanctify men, for it is the
truth, John 17:17.... [ Continue Reading ]
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of the
Lord are true and righteous altogether. The childlike fear and
reverence of God is purity, holiness, truth, because it flows out of
the Gospel.... [ Continue Reading ]
More to be desired are they, the contents of the Word, than gold, yea,
THAN MUCH FINE GOLD, SWEETER ALSO THAN HONEY AND THE HONEYCOMB, the
droppings of honeycombs, on account of the incomparably beautiful
facts stated in the Gospel.... [ Continue Reading ]
Moreover, by them, by these same glorious truths as contained in
Scripture, IS THY SERVANT WARNED, lest he forget their beauties, AND
IN KEEPING OF THEM THERE IS GREAT REWARD, namely, the reward of God's
mercy, of the indwelling of the Triune God, John 14:23. What
application will the believer, then... [ Continue Reading ]
Who can understand, who can notice, who can keep track of, HIS ERRORS?
How far is the ideal which the Christian holds before him from the
reality in which he finds himself! Even the believer still has so many
weaknesses that he is hardly conscious of them. Therefore he adds the
plea: CLEANSE THOU ME... [ Continue Reading ]
Keep back Thy servant also from presumptuous sins, from proud
wickedness; LET THEM NOT HAVE DOMINION OVER ME, for open transgression
will surely drive faith out of the heart; THEN SHALL I BE UPRIGHT,
perfect, making progress in true sanctification, AND I SHALL BE
INNOCENT FROM THE GREAT TRANSGRESSIO... [ Continue Reading ]
Let the words of my mouth, his sincere prayer, AND THE MEDITATION OF
MY HEART, which dictates the prayer, BE ACCEPTABLE IN THY SIGHT, O
LORD, MY STRENGTH, the Rock of his refuge, AND MY REDEEMER, by whose
deliverance he has been kept time and again. Thus every child of God
will pray and sing with mo... [ Continue Reading ]