1The heavens proclaim the glory of God.
The skies display his craftsmanship.
We, humans, value communication. We have more ways than ever before in history to communicate with each other every single day, from telephone calls to FaceTime to email to text messaging to social media. At the root of our desire for communication is a desire for relationships with the people around us, which comes from God. You see, when He created human beings, He created within us a need for relationships, both with the people around us and, most importantly, with Him. Even more, God chooses to communicate with us. As we talked about during the weekend message, one of the ways He communicates with us and reveals Himself to us is through His creation.
David understood the remarkable truth that God communicates with us and reveals Himself to us through creation, and he wrote about this truth in Psalm 19. He began this Psalm with the well-known verse, “The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display His craftsmanship” (verse 1). What a profound truth David expressed in this verse! The heavens tell us about God’s glory and point us to Him. You have certainly experienced this as you have observed the breathtaking sunrises in the morning or the sunsets and twinkling stars in the night sky. All of it points to Him, the God of the universe and the one who created it all. David continued writing in this Psalm, “Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make Him known” (verse 2). All creation, David explained in this verse, communicates that there is a God, and He is an all-powerful and brilliant creator.
The apostle Paul pointed us back to Psalm 19 as he wrote Romans chapter 10. He explained in this passage of Scripture that salvation is available to every single person who places their faith in Christ, saying, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (verse 13). He wanted readers to understand that salvation is not just for the Jewish people but also for Gentiles (verse 12). Every single human has the invitation to place their faith in Christ. Unfortunately, Paul explained, “not everyone welcomes the Good News” (verse 16). After expressing the truth that not everyone responds positively to the good news of Christ's hope and places their faith in Him, Paul asked an important question: “Have the people of Israel actually heard the message?” (verse 18). The question at hand was, “Had the Jewish people had an opportunity to turn to Christ?” Paul answered the question in the same verse, saying, “Yes, they have: ‘The message has gone through the earth, and the words to all the world’” (verse 18). With his answer, Paul pointed his readers back to Psalm 19:4, reminding them that God’s message echoes throughout all creation. As a result, anyone who has observed creation has been pointed to God, who created it all. `
To this day, God speaks to us through His creation. Every lightning strike, crashing wave, high peak, and glistening night sky echoes one resounding message if we will pay attention and listen: Our God is all-powerful, and He is the hope of the world. Yes, “the heavens proclaim the glory of God,” and He is, indeed, glorious.
Moving toward action
It may be hot outside in the thick of the summer heat, but take some time to get out and be in God’s creation today. Pay attention to His power and His hope on display through this world He created. As you observe His glory in all of His creation, praise Him for being a brilliant Creator and speaking to us through His creation.
Prayer Prompt: Use this prompt to guide you as you pray.
“God, as I consider Your brilliant creation, I praise You for…”
Going deeper
1Dear brothers and sisters,[1] the longing of my heart and my prayer to God is for the people of Israel to be saved. 2I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal. 3For they don’t understand God’s way of making people right with himself. Refusing to accept God’s way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law. 4For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given.[2] As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God.
Salvation Is for Everyone
5For Moses writes that the law’s way of making a person right with God requires obedience to all of its commands.[3] 6But faith’s way of getting right with God says, “Don’t say in your heart, ‘Who will go up to heaven?’ (to bring Christ down to earth). 7And don’t say, ‘Who will go down to the place of the dead?’ (to bring Christ back to life again).” 8In fact, it says,
“The message is very close at hand;
it is on your lips and in your heart.”[4]
And that message is the very message about faith that we preach: 9If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. 11As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.”[5] 12Jew and Gentile[6] are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. 13For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”[7]
14But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? 15And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”[8]
16But not everyone welcomes the Good News, for Isaiah the prophet said, “Lord, who has believed our message?”[9] 17So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ. 18But I ask, have the people of Israel actually heard the message? Yes, they have:
“The message has gone throughout the earth,
and the words to all the world.”[10]
19But I ask, did the people of Israel really understand? Yes, they did, for even in the time of Moses, God said,
“I will rouse your jealousy through people who are not even a nation.
I will provoke your anger through the foolish Gentiles.”[11]
20And later Isaiah spoke boldly for God, saying,
“I was found by people who were not looking for me.
I showed myself to those who were not asking for me.”[12]
21But regarding Israel, God said,
“All day long I opened my arms to them,
but they were disobedient and rebellious.”[13]
Translation notes (13)
- 10:1 Greek Brothers.
- 10:4 Or For Christ is the end of the law.
- 10:5 See Lev 18:5.
- 10:6-8 Deut 30:12-14.
- 10:11 Isa 28:16 (Greek version).
- 10:12 Greek and Greek.
- 10:13 Joel 2:32.
- 10:15 Isa 52:7.
- 10:16 Isa 53:1.
- 10:18 Ps 19:4.
- 10:19 Deut 32:21.
- 10:20 Isa 65:1 (Greek version).
- 10:21 Isa 65:2 (Greek version).
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