749. Glory to God

Welcome to The Daily Platform from Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina. The school was founded in 1927 by the evangelist Dr. Bob Jones Senior's intent was to make a school where Christ would be the center of everything, so he established daily chapel services today. That tradition continues with fervent biblical preaching from the University travel platform today on The Daily Platform. Dr. Steve Pettit, president of Bob Jones University is continuing a study series entitled encountering God, which is a study of select chapters in the book of Psalms.

If you would like to follow along in the study booklet you can get one on Kindle or you can order a printed copy from the website. The Daily Platform.com. Let's listen to today's message from Psalm 19 which is entitled glory to God like to ask you to take your Bibles this morning. Please, and turn with me to the book of Psalms Psalms chapter 19 I hope that you enjoyed this study in Psalms as we are studying actually encountering God. How do we get to know God. We get to know God through his word and Psalms was written for us to instantly come into his presence is personals practical in its heart touching this morning were going to look at this very famous Saul CS Lewis wrote in his book reflection on the Psalms that this Psalm Psalm 19 is the greatest claim in the entire book of Psalms and is one of the greatest lyrics in the entire world. So why did Lewis think this all was so great. And the reason is because it addresses the most magnificent theme in the world and that is the theme of the glory of God.

What is verse one say the heavens declare the glory of God.

That's the thing. God's glory, Jonathan Jonathan Edwards, the greatest American Feo theologians live in our country road in his famous dissertation.

The end for which God created the world that God's ultimate end in all things is the manifestation of his glory. The purpose of everything. Why do we exist. Why are we here, why did God make the world it is for the display of his own glory.

So what do we mean by the glory of God. Honestly, it's hard for us to grasp. It's difficult but if I were to simply define it. I would say in this way, that glory is putting something or someone on display in order to reveal or reflect their character, their reputation and their ability simple illustration last night I was flying from Saginaw Michigan back home to Greenville.

I got to it is a long story I will go into the to the entire story of it, but I got on the plane at 830 in Detroit last night with about a foot of snow on the ground and we were in the air. We left the airport at 11 o'clock and I landed last night in Greenville at 1220. While most of you were fast asleep.

I drove home.

Got home at 1245 and I just can't go jump in bed and go to sleep so I hadn't seen anything about the Super Bowl. Nothing.

Nada didn't know what was going own. I had heard that the Eagles want, but that's all in.

So I just happen to have a DVR so I crawled in bed at about 1 o'clock and two from 1 to 140. I watch the last two minutes of the and that's all about way all the ballgames is all you need. Want to last two minutes, and of course the Eagles one and they beat beat the what was the name of patriots, yet they beat those guys and and of course you know of course they were they were rejoicing and they were happy and and the the Lombardi trophy was walking down they were taking it all the players were kissing it.

That's really gross.

I mean really gross but what was happening is they were displaying their their greatness, their abilities, they were displaying their glory as good a Bible illustration you recognize this one. It's a woman that goes to see Solomon.

She's a queen. Do you know her name, the queen of what Sheba she hears about Solomon's fame so she goes to Jerusalem to find out about when she arrives in Jerusalem Jerusalem she meets him and she begins to ask him hard questions, whatever was on her mind she got it off everything she could think of, and Solomon answers all your questions in first Kings 10 verse four. Listen with the Bible says this is when the wing Sheba had seen all the wisdom of Solomon Halsey built the food it is table the seating of his officials. The attendance of his service their clothing.

The cupbearer's the burnt offerings he offered in the house of the Lord, the Scripture says that there was no more breath in her. It means she was speechless. She was blown away and then in verse six it says, she said these words. The report was true that I heard in my own land of your words and your wisdom but I did not believe the reports until I came in my own eyes have seen it, and behold 1/2 was not told your wisdom and prosperity surpass the report that I heard she was blown away by what she Saul own display what was being displayed. Solomon's glory is wisdom's power is well.

His reputation what is glory in someone's excellence put on display.

That's what we mean. So when Jonathan Edwards says the end for which God created the world's display is glory. It means the purpose of the world is to reveal God and his wonderful excellencies for us to see now if the end for which God created the world is his own glory, then where do we fit in, and all of that and that is this that we are created you. God made us to discover his glory and to display that glory through our lives. What is our life's goal to discover God's glory. And then the put that on display. Listen to what Jeremiah chapter 9 verse 23 says, thus saith the Lord net. Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the rich man glory in his riches, nor the mighty man glory in his mind, but let him that glory of glory this if you can boast post in this, that he understands and knows me that that's that's our life's purpose that I am the Lord that exercises lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth, and then he says, for in these things I delight, saith the Lord, what is God's greatest delight is his own perfections. What else can God delight in then his own self and God's greatest delight is in his own perfections is lovingkindness is judgment is righteousness, and therefore, since we are created in God's image. Our greatest delight in life is to discover to understand and then to reflect that glory. You said this verse many times whether therefore you eat or drink, or whatsoever you do, do all to the what, to the glory of God.

What is art what is sin is coming short of God's glory. So what is Psalm 19 all about. It is God's glory being put on display. God intends for us to think about this, to meditate on this and to discover the glory of God. And so this song divides up into the really to nice parts.

Part one is verses one through six, where the glory of God is displayed to the world that God is created so through natural revelation world we live in. We see God's glory and his cycling God's glory is displayed. More specifically, through the word that he has spoken the Bible so we have general Revelation that's creation that we have special revelation. That's the Bible, God. So let's look at these two things this morning. First of all God's this glory, as it is displayed in the world.

Notice David starts out by asserting that all of creation is the story of his glory. What is it say the heavens declare the glory of God. The firmament show with his handiwork the entire heavenly panorama the sun the stars the planets give God a perpetual shout out as it displays the skill fullness of his own creative hand. My 35-year-old daughter Becca was three years old I used to take her outside of my shoulders at night and we would look at the stars and I say Becca, who made the stars and she said that he, God made the stars. I said hallelujah. She said Lou yeah, every hour of every day God's message is gushing forth like a mighty spring of water of who we is volumes are being communicated 24 seven about the knowledge of God. This is called general Revelation day on the day utters speech night at midnight shows knowledge. Their line is gone throughout all the earth and the words to the end of the world. There is no language on earth it doesn't hear God's voice.

God folks is not silent as one writer said he is preaching a soundless sermon through creation. If anyone claims to be an atheist is because he is tone deaf to the voice of creation and what is the whole world saying it consistently teaches this number one God exists, he is real creation cries out for creator God is eternal.

He's not a human being that can make this world.

He is all powerful.

He has made each one of us unique key holds us accountable for that knowledge.

We can't just fluff it all, like we don't care, and he will judge us. If we reject the knowledge that he is given us of himself. Listen to what Paul says in Romans one pieces for the invisible attributes, namely, God's eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world in the things that been made so that they are without excuse.

Our own eyes, know that the creator is all powerful and he is eternal. So David tells us that creation declares his glory and what is he do, he pulls out one simple illustration from creation that describes the glory of God. What is that is the sign. Look at verse four. In them he had set a tabernacle for the sun which is, as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoicing is a strong man to run a race is going for that is the sun from the end of the heaven and a circuit to the ends of it and there's nothing hit from the heat. David describes the heavens as a huge tent. The sun is sliding that tent like a blazing torch. When the sun comes up in the morning. It's radiant brilliance is like a bridegroom who comes out of his tent, beaming with happiness.

We talk about a dude that just got married.

I'd never met somebody one week in the marriage that was unhappy yes man. If I'd known it was his good got married right at a kindergarten fired. That's the sun coming up every morning fired when the sun moves its course around the earth is like an Olympic winner who enjoys running his race. He never gets tired he never grows weary and so what is what is David saying the glory of the sun is the reflection of the glory of the creator, the son of God.

He fills the universe with his presence, God's own light is so brilliant like the sun. If we look at God's brilliance would blind our own eyes like the sun runs its course of God is tireless in his work and powerful in all that he does like the warmth of the sun goes to the ends of the earth. God's presence and God's goodness is known and felt throughout the world.

God's presence is manifest everywhere and I believe that as David points to the sun to show God's handiwork get the same time is dismantling the idol worship of his own day represented in those who worship the sun for the Egyptians and the Babylonians of the Assyrians all had their gods that they worship and they worship the sun what David is saying is, those are idols.

The sun that you worship was created by another son that to your worship. I also believe that today God demonstrates his glory through his creation.

And when God does that today he's destroying the insidious nature of rebel of evolution for what is evolution is a belief in no God. It all, that all things happen over materialistic millions of years when the Bible declares a supernatural creator who spoke in the world came into existence as of God demonstrates his glory through this creation. This general revelation. However, what God is created is not sufficient to fully understand for God needs to reveal himself to us in a very specific way, and how is he done that he is done that to the Scripture and it is through the Bible, we can more fully comprehend the nature of God and so not only do we see God's glory displayed in the world that we see God's glory displayed in the that's what he saying here. Beginning in verse seven in verse seven, down to verse nine David gives us six descriptions of the Scripture. John MacArthur said of these verses God with an astounding and supernatural economy of words sums up everything that needs to be said about the power and sufficiency the comprehensiveness and the code bleakness of Scripture. Spurgeon said of these verses that we have six titles of the word with six characteristics of the word, and he concludes with six divine effects of the word. It's almost as if David picks up a diamond and he turns it in six different ways and he expresses the brilliance of each facet. As he looks at. So let's look at the statements about the word notice he says the law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul. The Hebrew word for law is the word Torah that refers to the first five books of the Bible Genesis through Deuteronomy here. He's talking about God's laws for man's conduct.

The Bible tells us how we are to live on this earth.

The Bible is a manual for human behavior.

If you want to enjoy life to its fullest as God designed it, then you need to follow the word of the law of the Lord is perfect, it means complete sufficient for comprehensive he's talking about the sufficiency of Scripture gets enough for the complete transformation of your life if you get into the word it will change you from the inside out in the notice. Secondly, the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. What is a testimony is when you reveal something about yourself you share your testimony. The Bible is God's testimony about who he is. It's his own autobiography and since God is telling you about himself and everything he says about himself is sure that means it's reliable it's trustworthy. It's without error. Speaking about the inerrancy of Scripture, and what is the result of this inerrant word. It makes the Y's. It makes the simple winds you know what it means to be simple is not really a cut down is just a reality to be simple means to be naïve and experienced it.

Somebody who doesn't know somebody who is ignorant is an interesting word that comes from it literally means open door, for example, if you leave your door open at night. That's not very wise it's kinda stupid simple people leave the door of their mind open to anything is like somebody says I'm very open minded which actually means they're very ignorant, wise people, close the door and the only open it when they want to let something in their discerning they discriminate with what they lead into their minds and what is the Bible do.

It helps you know what you should let into your mind and also what you should keep out of your mind and in the end, the Bible makes you wise because it helps you to be skilled in knowing how to live.

The Bible is the one book that can give you the way to live life to the maximum in the notice number three since the statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart is a statute a statute is a principal or we would say a proper is a proposition it's it's like the BJ you creed we we make these propositional statements.

I believe in the inspiration of the Bible is a doctrine based on what the Bible teaches. And we know that all of our behavior. The way we live is based on the way we believe a statute sets down truths to believe that leads us in the right direction and on the right path in life and what is the result. He says the statutes of the Lord are rightly lead you in the right way and it rejoices the heart. What is the result of following God is a life filled with joy John ask you a question this morning.

Are you living a joy filled life is your heart filled with joy. This is not fake. This is not like some kind of pious nits. This is like really I'm really happy I'm really full of joy and where is that joy found is found in the truths of Scripture that lead us in the right direction and then notice the fourth statement about the Scripture. He says the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The word of God gives us his commandments. The Bible is not a book of suggestions this semester were not studying the 10 suggestions were studying the 10 Commandments and he says the commandments of the Lord are pure the word pure means clear or transparent. You could say this way, God's commands are not muddy. They're not hard to figure out they turn on the lights for us and we don't have to live in the dark about what we should do and what we should not do. The word of God is crystal clear and in some places it's so clear that people don't want to believe it's that clear. We face at the day when the Bible speaks so clearly about sin. People want to muddy the water instead of just taking the Bible for what it says in the number five uses the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever word fear means the idea of reverence or all our worship when we spend time in the word of God was a dude it creates in us a reference and a respect for God and this desire to worship him. You could say the Bible is a manual own worship God saved us to make us worshipers. The Bible tells us how we were supposed to worship the Lord and it also tells us how we should not worship the worship in the Bible is a big deal because it is our fear of him.

This is the fear of the Lord is clean. That means it has nothing wrong with it. It's infallible speaks of the infallibility of Scripture it says it endures forever.

That means it speaks to the fact that the Bible doesn't change the immutability of Scripture what he saying is the Bible is good for all people in all places at all times. You can preach the Bible anywhere in the world and it always works and I think fundamentally he's telling us that the content and the object of our worship should never change folks we worship the same God. Abraham worship a man we worship the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob, and the God of David and the God of Moses and the God of Daniel and the God of Isaiah and of Paul and the apostles and the great saints in history we worship the same God with the same manual.

This kind of attitude is not old-fashioned. It's eternally relevant for all people in all time travel the world and realize that wherever you go in the world will be differing aspects of culture.

So an African church will be a little different than maybe say a Russian church and I have different aspects of their culture. But fundamentally, is the same spirit and same truth. True worship comes out of a heart that knows God, and fears God and worship will never be higher than you're going deeper. The purpose of the church is not to manipulate people to get them to worship but to facilitate the hearts of people who are worshiping God. Six days a week and they come in and they can't wait to worship God and sent and then finally says the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. The Bible gives us God's judgment on everything we talk about judgment we mean God is very decisive. He tells us, for example, where the righteous will spend eternity and he tells us where the unrighteous will spend eternity.

The word of God also contains all of God's judgments on the human race. God is very clear about the wages of sin.

In contrast, the first lie of the devil is that God will not judge men for their sins, they will not die but we know God's judgments are true because the reality of our own death means God judges us for our sin, and he says these judgments are righteous altogether was at mean it means that they make the righteous is righteous is ill ever need to be as comprehensive. So here's what David is showing us he is showing us that the Scripture is God's law is God's testimony is precepts his commands. His fear is manual for worship and is judgments. The Bible is inspired, it is inerrant, it is infallible is immutable. It is totally sufficient and comprehensive. It is clear it is clean and it is true, it totally transforms our inner person. It makes us wise. It produces joy. It takes us out of darkness into light.

It endures forever. Every culture, every place every age and every person finds the Bible relevant and comprehensive for my life. So what is David say in the conclusion about the work the word of God well uses to move metaphors of things that we really like uses dessert and money. How would you like dessert. I maybe like money. He says that feeding on God's truth is like eating honey and mining God's word is like finding gold. What is the Bible is our greatest pleasure in it is our greatest treasure is our greatest protector for he says. By then my servant is warned is our greatest provider.

He says in keeping them there is a great we will and he concludes by saying it is our greatest purifier purifies our hearts who can understand his errors, cleanse me from secret faults keep back that servant from presumptuous sins with the presumption of sin is when we push the limits of what is appropriate with God. We go too far when the greatest struggle. Some of you faces you push the limits you want to go too far in the prayers Lord keep me back from presumptuous sins, and then David concludes with this and finish, he said, let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in my side, oh Lord, my strength and my Redeemer. What is that mean well if you go back to Joshua 18. He says the book of the law shall not my book shall not about part of your mouth but you shall meditate therein day and night, when he prays for acceptable words and acceptable meditation. He's not talking about his own words in his own thoughts. He's talking about God's words and God's thoughts and what he is saying is Lord is on meditate and let your word flow over me like a river flows over a cliff. As I fill my mind with your truth, God, you help me to grow in you. Keep me in. You purify me because the greatest purifier you can ever bring into your life is God's precious asked his horse. I love the Bible that we can know God and delight in him. Father, we thank you for your wonderful word you given us by inspiration and you kept it by preservation and we have your word today. Oh Lord, I pray revive us with the truth, and Lord.

May you receive glory out of our life as we come to understand the glory that is in you in Jesus name, amen. You been listening to a sermon from Dr. Steve Pettit, president of Bob Jones University from the study series encountering God, which is a study from the book of Psalms we would urge you to get a copy of the study booklet so you can follow along as you listen to the sermons you can get the booklet on Kendall or get a printed copy from our website. The Daily Platform.com. Thanks for listening and join us again tomorrow as we continue the study of Psalms here on The Daily Platform