The Glory Of God

Psalm 19:1-4 – The heavens are telling the glory of God; they are a marvellous display of His craftsmanship. Day and night they keep on telling about God. Without a sound or word, silent in the skies, their message reaches out to all the world. (TLB)

In the dictionary, among the meanings for the word "glory", I find: exalted honour, splendour, radiance. As I read this psalm it made me remember nights at the lake when the stars literally bounced in their brightness and I could see the entire sky. This is not possible in the city, amid the lights and the hustle, and as I stretched out on my back I was able to experience the splendour and radiance in a unique way: in quiet wonder.

The King James Version says that the heavens declare the glory of God, and in a physical way that has happened a good deal lately. We continue to hear astronomers in our day, by their speech and knowledge, telling of new discoveries, previously unheard of. Yet the psalmist in those early days was inspired to write in terms that relate so vividly, reaching beyond the knowledge of his day. The universe spoke to him of the glory of God as creator. Creation was to him the first word of God and the first word about God. No wonder Paul wrote that all people everywhere have some accountability to God because of what they can observe of Him in creation.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, God of creation, help us to honour you in all that we do. You are all around us in your splendour, radiance and love. All this comes together for us in Jesus who died so that we can be brought back into your family. Thank you, Lord. Amen.