The Handiwork of God

Throughout the Eternal One’s love story the Bible there are many references to how creation is an expression of Himself. How His handiwork reveals His glory and majesty. Like a master craftsman, the Eternal One spoke light into existence, and breathed life into His creation. Yet even in its damaged state, the entire cosmos still has elements of its creator. So let us begin this journey through Psalm 19 and see the handiwork of the Eternal One. As you listen be blessed, empowered and transformed in Jesus name.

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Transcript

00:00 Intro music and voice over.

Welcome to jesus loves the world podcast. For more information and free resources visit our website jesuslovestheworld.info Be blessed empowered and transformed in Jesus’ name! 

00:21 Speaker

Throughout the Eternal One’s love story the Bible there are many references to how creation is an expression of Himself. How His handiwork reveals His glory and majesty.

Like a master craftsman, the Eternal One spoke light into existence, and breathed life into His creation. Yet even in its damaged state, the entire cosmos still has elements of its creator. 

In the age when kings ruled the earth, as a part of their worship of the Eternal One, the Ancient Israelites included poetry and song as their expression to Him. They are known as the Psalms. In the Old Testament of God’s love story the Bible there are 150 Psalms. Throughout the collection of these Psalms there are those that poetically describe the handiwork of the Eternal One. That is God Himself, the supreme almighty, self exisiting one who created. 

One such song that expresses the handiwork of the Eternal One is Psalm 19.  

Just like the songs of today, each Psalm has a rhythm and pattern. Psalm 19 has three movements. These are verses 1-6, 7-11 and 12-14. The first movement describes the handiwork of God in His creation and how His character, power and wisdom is still evident in it. In the second movement the writer details the ways of the Eternal One and His work in bringing enlightenment to humanity. The third and final movement of Psalm 19 reveals humanity’s need for a saviour and necessity to be set free of all offences ever said, thought or done. 

So let us begin this journey through Psalm 19 and see the handiwork of the Eternal One.

Psalm 19:1-6 The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language Where their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out through all the earth, And their words to the end of the world. In them He has set a tabernacle for the sun, Which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, And rejoices like a strong man to run its race. Its rising is from one end of heaven, And its circuit to the other end; And there is nothing hidden from its heat.

The writer of this Psalm was David, a shepherd boy who became king of the Ancient Israelites. He states that the heavens declare the glory of God. In a poetic way, David is expressing how the heavens continually declare or testify of God’s glory to us. By their very existence the heavens worship and celebrate their creator. 

For all the firmament, that is the visible sky makes known to us the handiwork of God. Even now, as all of creation is being damaged by evil more and more each day, the heavens and firmament still obey the voice of the Eternal One. 

Just like in the beginning when God said let there be lights in the sky, there were lights in the sky. He said let the sun rule the day and the moon rule the night. So since the dawn of time,  the sun and moon still govern the signs and seasons, days and years. Just as the Eternal One commanded them to be. As the eternal One spoke it is so.

For each day and night the light still separates itself from the darkness. The sun that governs the day and pushes back the darkness and provides light. With the sun’s energy of both light and heat, life upon the earth is able to exist. Just as the Eternal One in the beginning said it was to be, it is so. The sun that rules the day and give light and heat to the earth, testifies of their creator. For it is the day that all the handiwork of the Eternal One is visible. 

The moon rules the night, reflecting the suns light and together with the stars, lights up the night sky. In the night sky, the knowledge of God is revealed.

By their very existence, the sun, moon and stars, reveal the handiwork of God, testifying of Him. As night follows day and day follows night, all across the globe of the earth, the firmament or sky is seen. Whether it is the nights where the moon and stars are visible or the days where the sun lights up the earth, the handiwork of God is there for all to see. 

Like a musical cord of harmony and rhythms, the testimony of the glory of God goes out  throughout all the earth. This is what David refers to as their line has gone out through all the earth. So regardless of ethnicity, gender, age, socio economic status, the glory that heaven declares of their creator is for all to know and experience Him. Their testimony of their creator or their words are there to the end of time itself. 

David likens the heavens to a tabernacle or dwelling place of the sun. He poetically expresses  how the sun comes out from his chamber, like and bridegroom to join the celebrations. In this instance the celebrations are the handiwork of God.

The second movement of this symphony turns our thoughts to the ways of God. Specifically in giving the Ancient Israelites the law through Moses. 

Psalm 19:7-11 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them Your servant is warned, And in keeping them there is great reward.

The writer David expresses how the law of the Eternal One is perfect, sure, right, pure, clean and true. Each of these characteristics have a purpose. The law is perfect and its purpose is to turn the rebellious soul back to their creator and become one with Him in mind and heart. Where each one is part of the Eternal One’s salvation plan. In choosing to receive God and worship only Him, we are accepting the Eternal One’s salvation and deliverance from our selfish desires, evil and death. That is why the law for the Ancient Israelites is perfect according to David. As it’s purpose is to bring the rebellious soul back to their creator. So they can be truly free for all eternity and be one with only good. 

The Ancient Israelites at the time the law was given had turned their hearts away from the Eternal One. After the Eternal One had delivered them from slavery in Egypt, they chose to make themselves a golden calf and worship it instead. So the law was given through Moses as a testimony of the Eternal One and humanity’s need for a saviour. The law brought the wisdom of the Eternal One to the open mind and heart. 

David continues to express the handiwork of the Eternal One. For the statutes of the Eternal One are right or just. They bring equality into relationships and joy into the heart. A joy that is of the Eternal One. Where we can delight in Him and His ways as they are right and just. 

The commands of the Eternal One are clear and pure, opening our eyes to the unseen. To see, know and experience the delight of the Eternal One. Who like a master craftsman not only created everything very good but journey’s through time with humanity. Even in the rebellion, evil, injustices, sorrow and pain He continually pursues humanity in love. Communicating to individuals, people groups and nations in ways each can understand. To the Ancient Israelites and the writer David, it was the law. 

The fear of the Eternal One is a reverence, honour and respect that results in worshipping only Him. Being enjoined with the Eternal One in worshipping only Him in awe of Him is not only for all eternity, but as David declares, it is clean. That is ethically and morally correct. For the Eternal One created out of love and is the only one worthy of worship. The Eternal One continues to give all of Himself to humanity, so humanity can choose to be truely free. 

It is only in continual surrender of self to the Eternal One that true justice of the Eternal one can rule and reign once again. Like in the beginning of time, when everything was equal and clean. Where evil had no power and the handiwork of God was in it’s uncorrupted state. Oh how beautiful and majestic it all must of been. 

So out of a relationship of reverence and awe, in surrender to the Eternal One’s words and ways, just like creation in the beginning, David testifies that the Eternal One sustains him forever. 

For the judgments of the Eternal One are true and right. Evil can only be defined by the Eternal One who is only good. Only He can define what is right, equal and just. For only the Eternal One is pure and selfless, the self-exisiting one who has no need of anything or anyone. Yet out of His great love, the Father, Son and Spirit said let us make humanity in our own image. Both male and female who are equal and comparable to each other. When the Eternal One speaks it was so.

Yet the first man and woman both chose to activate evil into the Eternal One’s perfect creation. The Eternal One defined what is evil and warned humanity of what would happen now that they had become one with both good and evil, instead of only good. Significantly as a result of humanity’s choice, the whole of creation that was once very good has been corrupted by evil. 

So into a world damaged by evil, David expresses that the Eternal One’s judgements are to be desired more than the riches of this life. For Eternal One’s judgements are pleasant and sweet as the taste of honeycomb. 

By keeping the just judgments of the Eternal One, is to guard and keep ones heart and mind. That is giving total allegiance to the Eternal One and worshipping only Him. In aligning oneself with the Eternal One, there is the greatest reward. A reward that is eternal and pure, just and right. For the reward is an eternity with the Eternal One Himself. In a new heaven and new earth, where evil is eliminated and there is only God and good.

Let us continue on with the the third movement. 

Psalm 19:12-14 Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults. Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; Let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, And I shall be innocent of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.

In this final movement of Psalm 19, the writer David, having reflected on God’s handiwork and the law as given to the Ancient Israelites through Moses, turns his attention to within his own self.

David laments that the secrets of self cannot be accurately self accessed. David is aware of the war within self. For not only are there secret faults, but these faults or selfish desires long to control and dominate ones life. Not only ones own life but the life of others.

David’s desire at the time of writing was to be free of those controlling and dominating desires of self. So he cries out to the Eternal One, who is His redeemer and strength. For David knows it is only the Eternal One who can cleanse and heal, and renew and transform both the heart and mind. 

In conclusion to David’s reflection on the handiwork of God he asks of His creator, Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight…

This is a beautiful moment of surrender. Realising his need for a saviour, David surrenders his selfish desires to his creator. David’s selfish desires in this moment of surrender are placed in the hands of the Eternal One. For it is only through the handiwork of the Eternal One that David’s words and thoughts can be acceptable in the sight of His creator. Like a master craftsman, the Eternal One will meet each willing heart and mind in surrender. Praise His mighty name!

19:40 Outro music and voice over. 

For more information and free resources visit our website jesuslovestheworld.info Be blessed empowered and transformed in Jesus’ name!