Last time, we said, “`In the beginning, God created…’ is a bold declaration that God is the Author. If anything exists, there was a Someone before it making it in space and time.”
We could easily stop here for a year (s) of studies on matter, energy, atomic structures, nuclei and sub-atomic particles, the structure and properties of different atoms, the periodic table, chemical compounds, molecular structures and bonding properties, chemical reactions, heat, thermodynamics, solid states, electricity, magnetism, waves and wave motion, the universe with its galaxies, stars, and solar system, the earth’s properties, structure and composition, minerals, rocks, the atmosphere and hydrosphere, the oceans, freshwater bodies, weather, climate, the geologic record with its eras and periods, the vital stuff of life on earth, such as metabolism, bioenergetics, biosynthesis, cellular forms and functions, regulation and integration within living species, skeletal and muscular systems, nutrition, gas exchange (like Anglo-Romewardizers) but meaning transport and elimination, reproduction and sex, growth and differentiation by stages, heredity and genetics, nature and behaviour responses in communal life systems, medicine in all its numerous disciplines, as well as sociology, social change and organization, economics and wealth-creation and distribution, politics and various forms of government, among many others can be seen as the consequence of three word, “In the beginning God…” God created the heavens and the earth, its laws and nature, and gave life to the heavenly and earthly creature “according to their kind.”
God is in action in the beginning as Actus Purrisimmus. It is the creation of the universe. We might say that God was the Artist. He created the hymnology of birds and humans in their respective spheres. I am not sure about where you are. But here in Jacksonville (Camp Lejeune), NC, the birds are very active in the morning, singing and flying. Not a single one of them escapes the divine eye or His providential government (St. Matt.10.29-31).
The study of astronomical movements, botany, flowers and the oceans is marvellous. Yesterday, I took some time to study the xylem and pholoem of numerous leaves and vines near where I sit; that botanical circulatory system, evident to the eye, is unbelievably complex in support of the photosythesis. Each leaf bears witness to His Majesty's glory (Psalm 19.1).
In the sphere of human labour, art is a mediated activity. However, in Genesis, God’s act of creation is mediated through no other laws or venues, other than His divine fiat. God has no paint, palette, canvass, and brushes. He creates as the theologians would have it: ex nihilo, or “out of nothing.” He speaks and it comes to life.
We turn our attention briefly to two Creation Psalms, 19 and 104. We will deal with Psalm 19 today and 104 in the next post.
Let us read Psalm 19 in full. This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Psalm 19 (New King James Version).[1] 1 The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. 2 Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge. 3 There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. 4 Their line][2] 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, 5 Which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, And rejoices like a strong man to run its race. 6 Its rising is from one end of heaven, And its circuit to the other end; And there is nothing hidden from its heat. 7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; 8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; 9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. 11 Moreover by them Your servant is warned, And in keeping them there is great reward. 12 Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults. 13 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. 14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.”
The Psalmist uses creation language here; one may compare Genesis 1.1-8 where this word, “firmament,” has been used. It means “expanse” in reference to the heavens and galaxies. In 19.2, the Psalmist uses a metaphor for daily and nocturnal utterances and speech; day unto day utters speech, night unto night reveals knowledge; while this is metaphorical, we can conceive even of moments of literality when it thunders, the winds blows, the seas rage[3], and the birds sing. 19.4: This utterance or speech has gone through all the earth. This forms a basis and foundation of inexcusability in St. Paul’s argument at Romans 1.18-32. 19.4-6: We are told that In them He has set a tabernacle[4] for the sun which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoices like a strong man to run its race. The sense is that the sun, strong and powerful, courses the sky. It is powerful and gives life to all; how much more so, an argument a fortiori, is the power of our sovereign God. 19.6: …and there is nothing hidden from its heat. Whether one is in the Amazonic jungles or Norwegian mountains, the sun is inescapable like the Creator. A wonderful transition occurs from Creational to Redemptive comments by the Psalmist. This is how justified and instructed saints think. In light of his ruminations from God’s Word, he is brought to the central issue of redemptive history, God’s free grace. In 19.7-11, the law, or God’s special revelation, reflects the character and operations of the Redeemer. 19.7: The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The law, e.g. Leviticus, teaches the free and unmerited mercies of God. More will be said on that later in the lectures on Leviticus and the sacrificial system. Different terms are used for the “Law.” It is synonymous with other terms, but points to God’s special revelation or redemptive revelation; this forms a contrast with 19.6, what theologians have called natural revelation. The power of God’s revelation is two-fold: it converts and brings wisdom. God’s Word has transformative power is the basis for doctrine, reproof, and correction in righteousness that the man of God may be perfect[5] (2 Tim.3.15-17). 19.7: It makes wise the simple. The idea is not intellectual superiority, but a governing disposition to reverence and respect for His Majesty. From this, the Psalmist proceeds to seek his conspicuous and inconspicuous sins and asks for cleansing and preservation. Meditating on creation (19.1-6) and redemption (19.7-11), the Psalmist closes with Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.[6]
We draw this to a close with that very prayer and aspiration of the Psalmist.
[1] We have received unsolicited “correction” from one Anglican Bishop that only the King James version is the correct and allowable version. The same even raised questions about the orthodoxy of the Rev. Dr. R.C. Sproul for his involvement and sponsorship of other versions. We regret that we cannot put the Hebrew here for our readers, but also him—although he knows no Hebrew. Further, unlike many systematic theology classes, even books, we quote the Author's comments, to wit, God's. They are above our puny scribblings. As an aside, we continue to commend Robert Reymond's Systematic Theology where a constant effort is made to quote the text, including exegesis of the Greek and Hebrew texts.
[2] Psalm 19.4. The Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate read sound; Targum business. The sense of the English word line would appear to be phrases, words, songs, etc.
[3] One gets a real sense of the power of the seas. 50-foot waves, 50 feet above the baseline and 50 feet below the baseline for a 100-foot wave, creates noise and utterance to His glory.
[4] “Tent” probably in the sense of the “Tabernacle” of Exodus 25-40? In any event, the sun is within this “tent.”
[5] A better translation of “perfect” would be “mature.”
[6] For the Hebrew-deficient Bishop, a literal translation is “Rock,” although most of us weaned on The King James version and the English service books are familiar with the phrase and my Redeemer (prior to a sermon). The allusion and ascription is to Christ the Rock, not Peter and Papist perversions of Mt.16.16ff.. I Corinthians 10.4: For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.
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