Transcribed from the Words of Life Radio Program.
It’s great as we are together again as we look into the Word of God. And the title for the lesson is: “The Heavens Declare the Glory of God.” And our primary text is taken from the Old Testament Psalm 19 verses 1 through 4A. Please listen to the Word of God. “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge.
There is no speech, or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the earth.”
This is the Word of God, may he add his blessing to the public reading of his Word.
Robert Dick Wilson, PhD, and Doctor of Divinity was a linguist, he knew many languages, and he was also an Old Testament scholar who devoted his life to prove the reliability of the Hebrew language Bible. He taught Hebrew at Princeton Theological Seminary. One of his students was Donald Barnhouse (1895-1960) who became a Pastor and a Theologian. Barnhouse tells of his going back to Princeton Seminary to preach after having graduated from there twelve years earlier. Dr. Wilson, his former professor, came to the chapel, and sat down near the front to hear his former student preach. Now there is something rather intimidating about going back to the school where you were trained and teach the Scriptures to those who taught you. Been there, done that.
At the close of the meeting Wilson came up to Donald Barnhouse and said “If you come back again, I will not come to hear you preach. I only come once. I am glad that you are a “big-gooder.” When my boys come back, I come to see if they are “big-gooders” or “little-gooders,” and then I know what their ministry will be.” Barnhouse asked him to explain.
“Well, some men have a little God, and they are always in trouble with Him. His God can’t do any miracles. He can’t take care of the inspirations and transmission of the Scriptures to us. He doesn’t intervene on behalf of His people. They have a little God, and so I call them “little-gooders.” Then there are those who have a great God. Who speaks and it is done. He commands and it stands fast. He knows how to show Himself strong on behalf of them that fear Him. You, Donald, have a great God; and He will bless your ministry.” So, Donald Barnhouse was a ‘big gooder.’
C. S. Lewis (Defender of “the Faith”) wrote: “Many think not so much a Father in heaven but a grandfather in heaven -a senile benevolence who, as they say ‘Likes to see young people enjoying themselves,’ and whose plan for the universe was simply that it might be truly said at the end of each day ‘a good time was had by all.’” That’s a ‘little gooder.’ As C. S. Lewis is describing. Dear listener don’t be a little gooder, be a big gooder. Because God is almighty.
Chuck Swindoll (Preacher, and Christian author) wrote: “I went into the office of the company commander (while in the military). I remember doing that (only) one time. He did not say, ‘Oh, Chuck, how nice of you to drop by. Come in son, have a seat. What’s on your heart?’ (Instead) the first words I heard that I can repeat, were ‘What do you want?’” Now that’s a wonderful greeting for a guy who’s standing there with his knees knocking against each other. You know what? I couldn’t even remember what I wanted to ask him! Which made it worse.
When I was a little boy, I had that type feeling about God. I’d gotten that idea from a ‘Lil Abner’ cartoon. This guy (he meant God) is walking around with a club. It had a nail in it, more like a spike. He was looking for people. When I was a little kid, I used to think ‘that’s God!’ Just looking for folks and saying, ‘There he is,’ “Then Whomp! All that describes also a ‘little-gooder.’ Don’t be a little gooder, be a big gooder.
This lesson is about our great God, the glory of God meaning, biblically, it’s about God’s majesty, it’s about God’s splendor, it’s about honoring God. Glory signifies all His awesome, all powerful divine attributes, and character that are revealed to humanity. This glory is through His creation, through scripture, and including all His marvelous works especially in the Person of Jesus Christ, His Son, His one and Only Son. The glory of God is, essentially, God’s display of His greatness and His worthiness! Are we ‘great (big) gooders’ or not? This lesson is also in the category of worship toward Him and our witness of His greatness to others.
I nave a small Bible devotional book, that in part, wonderfully describes and applies a focus on God’s glory. I’ll share some of its contents. “Everything exists for the purpose of glorifying (that is honoring God). In fact, it’s been stated well that: ‘The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.”
So, now let’s consider Psalm 19 verse 1 “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.”
Here the psalmist David is showcasing the far-out, far-flung stars, which are visible at night. Modern astronomy estimates that there are 200 billion trillion (or 200 sextillion) stars in the expanse of the universe. That is modern astronomers’ estimate. This is actually a rough estimate, as the actual number of stars could be much, much higher as more sensitive telescopes reveal fainter galaxies and stars. Indeed, our Creator God is a great God!
The idea here is that the stars of the heavens and our sun (which is actually a star) are so very glorious that the One who created them then must be far more glorious still! Creation testifies to God’s existence, His power, and creativity.
God’s existence and power should lead every human being on the earth to seek Him, to worship Him for His mind-boggling creation, including humanity. God created the human race.
Psalm 19 verse 2 “Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge.” Meaning poetically, the book of Psalms, in poetry, in poetic style, meaning poetically that the stars of the skies reveal God’s glory every night (at least visibly on clear nights, yet of course the stars are still there constantly whether we can see them or not). God’s revelation of His glory is ever-present since their creation by Him.
The heavens provide ‘General Revelation’ or knowledge about God; however, God’s Word (Scriptures) provides ‘Specific Revelation’ (or knowledge) needed for faith and salvation. Both point us to the grandeur of God.
Psalm 19 verse 3 “They have no speech, they use no words, no sound is heard from them.” Even though the heavens do not speak audibly in words, nevertheless, its communication is marvelous and constant, every night, every week, every month, every year they shout the glory of God.
Psalm 19 verse 4A “Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.”
Remember this is poetic language, therefore, the poetic license used here is not cause for any contradiction.
The heavens declare the glory of God not just marvelously, not just constantly, but also everywhere on earth to all of mankind in the world.
Certainly, this creation revelation of the glory of God is most comprehensive.
Yet Paul wrote in (Romans chapter 1 verses 20 through 21) “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile, and their foolish hearts were darkened.” These are the “little-godders” that still predominate today, even though religious, they do not glorify, the do not honor God in all of His power, in all of His majesty, and love for humankind proven by the cross of Jesus Christ.
You have probably heard of a man who has been called “Alexander the Great.” (He lived from 356 BC to 323 BC) According to historians it’s unlikely that Alexander III of Macedon explicitly desired to be called “The Great,” during his lifetime. “The Great” was an epithet, more honorific toward Alexander after his death by the ancient Latin speaking Romans, and others who admired especially his military prowess, his military accomplishments. And how do we know this? Because this is supported by the earliest references to “the Great” applied to Alexander which are in Latin “Alexandrium Magnum” and therefore coined by the Romans.
King Louis 14th of France, who preferred to be called “Louis the Great” declared, “I am the state”. King Louis the 14th died in 1717. His court was considered the most glorious (as in magnificent) in all of Europe during his time.
His funeral was most spectacular; no cost was spared.
In the cathedral where the funeral ceremony was performed, his body lay in a golden coffin. To dramatize his greatness, orders directed that the cathedral be very dimly lit with only one special candle that was to be set above his coffin. These were the directions of King Louis the 14th for his funeral.
Thousands of people were in attendance and waited in silence. The Bishop Massillon began to speak. Slowly reaching down, he snuffed out the candle and stated, “Only God is Great.” Well said, he was a big gooder.
Curiously, Jesus Christ never, explicitly used the term “great” in referring to Himself. He was great, He is Great. But He never recorded and preserved in Scripture used the term great in reference to Himself. However, the concept of “great” is certainly implied in comparing, for example, the gospel of John chapter 8 verse 53 the Jews stated: “Are you greater than our father Abraham?” John chapter 8 verse 58 “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I AM.” Jesus is Great; He is ever glorious! “In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John chapter 1 verses 4 and 5. We need to be ‘Great gooders’ in Christ Jesus because He is eternally great. Preexistent, infinite in all of His marvelous attributes and character, and virtues.
David Johnson is Minister of the Sellersburg Church of Christ in Sellersburg, IN.