Declare The Glory Of God
BRD REFLECTIONS
Genesis 25; Psalm 19 (NIV)
(Eric Ang, Chairperson, Finance Committee)
READ:
Psalm 19 (NIV)
OBSERVE:
I have taken a panoramic photo. It captures a magnificent view before me. What else do I see? I see the glory of God.
Psalm 19 is a short chapter with only 14 verses. David, the author, beautifully captured how great and wonderful God is. He showed how God has revealed Himself in creation and in His Word. The glory of God is declared through the beauty and splendour in the heavens (v1-6), and in His Word that is described as perfect, sure, right, pure, clean and righteous (v7-11). I encourage all to read and reflect on this Psalm and join David in praising and declaring God’s glory.
Allow me to now focus on the last three verses (v12-14) as David tells us how to follow God. As David saw God in His glory, he then reflected on his own life and saw his sinful nature (v12). He pleaded to God as he did not want sin to rule over him and ruin his life (v13). He also knew that in his own strength, he would not be able to overcome his weaknesses. He however knew that God could make him innocent and blameless by His transforming power. In his prayer of surrender, David therefore prayed that “the very words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer” (v14). This is at the very heart of David.
APPLY:
There are three applications that I can think of.
The first is that God made mankind in His own image so that we can discover and declare His glory. God has revealed Himself through nature and scripture. Like David, I want to worship God, to follow Him, to make Him my Lord.
The second is to heed God’s warning. God’s Word warns me of my sinfulness and the need for cleansing. As I examine myself, I see my own shortcomings. I have secret faults and presumptuous sins (deliberate sins done in a proud and knowing way). I too do not want sin to rule over me.
The third is to persevere. God is telling me that it is not too late to heed His warning. What must I do? Be intentional and disciplined. Persevere by continuing to trust, obey and love God. Let Jesus be my Rock and my Redeemer.
DO:
I need to have a real relationship with God: He speaks to me 24/7 but gets a deaf ear from me. God does not want to have a monologue with Himself.
– I need to set aside time for God to hear him. I can do so by pausing and being still.
– I must have a dialogue with Him daily through my prayers and supplications. I may appear to be speaking to myself but God knows.
– I must read the Bible, study it, meditate on it; and above all, love His Word as it is the living Word from the living God who leads me, guides me, comforts me.
Believe, obey, and persevere. Only then can I discover and declare the glory of God.
PRAY:
Heavenly Father, I pray that in whatever I do, I do it all in the name of our Lord Jesus and for the glory of God. Amen.
