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In this well known Psalm the Psalmist speaks firstly about general revelation in nature before moving on to speak about specific revelation in the Law of the LORD. The Psalm concludes with three verses of more personal application.

What jumps out from these verses especially when compared with vv.7-11 is the limited value of general revelation in nature.

It is true that the psalmist is keen to point out the fact that nature "speaks" of the existence of God and is able to a limited extent to "speak" of some of His attributes. However not much is revealed and certainly nothing about how we should live our lives in relation to this God.

It is interesting to note the way in which the Psalmist speaks of God in this Psalm.

vv.1-6 General revelation and the general name is God is used and that only once! When we move on to consider the second section of the Psalm vv.7-11 – the God of nature is revealed through His Law (special revelation) to be the LORD, the covenant, relational name of God! This name is not used just once but appears 6 times and a 7^th is found in the very last verse of the Psalm.

What does this mean for us? What does it signify?

Well the answer is simple general revelation is sufficient to speak to all and sundry about the existence of God. This means that none can legitimately deny the fact that God exists. However it also means that general revelation must be supplemented by something else if man is to be brought into relationship with God.

Yet nature does not tell us very much about Him and certainly does not tell us how we may come to know Him and how we should live out our lives before Him. For answers to these questions we must turn to special revelation and that is what the Psalmist does in the second section of this Psalm.

In this section the Psalmist speaks to us about the way in which God, the LORD, has provided us with special guidance and instruction. God has spoken and made Himself known and He has done this because He is a generous God of grace and mercy. No amount of seeking would enable man to find out these truths by himself but where man is incapable God is kind and compassionate and freely gives His truth.

In the vv.7-9 David uses a wide range of words to describe the revelation God has given in His written word – even more synonyms are used in Ps.119 that great Psalm applauding the merits and value of the word of God.

We must be careful in thinking about them not to have a narrow view of law as something restrictive and limiting. The Law of God contains its negative elements – eg. The "thou shalt nots" of the 10 Commandments but we must remember that the Law of God positively shows how to live a proper and full life. So we should as we come to "law" and law-words in the Bible see them as including this wider concern. Perhaps the idea of a manual is useful – we buy a new TV and we have to set it up before it'll work properly – the manual explains how to do it! Following the instructions and the TV works as intended. A knitting pattern, or directions for a journey or similar examples – police in Canterbury.

David uses a whole range of words to describe the Word of God which in the OT was the way God sought to make Himself known and how He sought to bring people to know Him not simply as the Creator God but also as the Covenant LORD:

·       Law

·       Testimony

·       Precepts

·       Commandments

·       Fear

·       Rules

This same Word of God is described in very positive terms. It is:

ü  Perfect – "without blemish"

ü  Sure – ie. True and to be trusted

ü  Right (straight) – it isn't tortuous but good and upright and straightforward. See the contrast with Pr.14:12 "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death." & Pr.15:19 "The way of a sluggard is like a hedge of thorns, but the path of the upright is a level highway."

ü  Pure – bright/clear/radiant

ü  Clean – very similar to the above

ü  True

This same Word of God is also highly effective.

=      Revives the soul

=      Makes wise the simple

=      Rejoices the heart

=      Enlightens the eyes

=      Endures forever

=      Altogether righteous!

Oh how valuable is this Word of God!! In vv.10-11 David expresses his appreciation of the Word of God and just how profitable it is to those who will follow and keep the Word!

The Psalmist having celebrated God for His self-revelation firstly in creation and secondly through His Word realizes that his psalm is incomplete.

It is not enough to know about the truth.

It is not sufficient to know the value of this truth.

This truth must bring man into direct relationship with God and David concludes his psalm by declaring His need of this God's help in his everyday life. He wants to be made obedient and his concern is to be right with God. In fact he wants every part of his life to be approved by God:

v.14 "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer."

How does this Psalm lead us on to think of Christ? You'll remember our conviction is that all the Scripture speaks of Him – so we need now to review the Psalm through NT eyes.

The NT also speaks of the positive though limited usefulness of general or natural revelation. Paul wrote in Romans ch.1 that general revelation leaves man with no excuse: vv.19-20 "For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse."

So then we all know that God exists – we are without excuse and if we deny the existence of God we are actually guilty of suppressing the truth in an unrighteous manner!

However the way in which the NT responds and provides an answer to the question of just how we can get to know God our Creator as our Covenant LORD goes beyond the answer supplied by the Psalmist.

The Psalmist speaks of the revealed and written Word of God the NT proclaims the Living Word of God which is made incarnate in our Lord and Saviour Jesus-Christ.

Jn.1:1; 14 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth."

And again:

Heb.1:1-2 "Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world."

Because Christ is the fullness of God's revelation all that is said about le Law of God in the Psalm can also be predicated of Him! And as we look back over the Psalm we find this to be just the case.

According to the Law of the OT a sacrifice to be offered to God had to "without blemish" ie. Perfect. This is said specifically about our Lord in the NT:

Heb.4:15 "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin."

And this great High Priest of ours offered Himself as a sacrifice:

Heb.9:14 "how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God."

1Pe.1:19 "but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot."

When something or someone is sure he/it is trustworthy or faithful. These qualities are also found in Jesus who is described in Rev.1:5 as Jesus "the faithful witness"

2Tim.2:13 "if we are faithless, he remains faithful - for he cannot deny himself."

He was "a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God" (Heb.2:17) and "is faithful over God’s house as a son" (Heb.3:6).

Jn.14:6 "Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

See also

Mt.7:13-14 "“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few."

Jn.8:46 "Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me?"

1Jn.3:3 "And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure."

Not only is Jesus pure and clean – He makes others pure and clean!

Mk.1:40-41 "And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean."

Jn.15:3 "Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you."

Jn.14:6 comes to mind again: "Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

But there's more eg.

1Jn.5:20 "And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life."

Rev.3:7 "“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens."

Not only are the same words applied to Him as were applied to the word of God in the Psalm but what this word of God accomplished in the Psalm is accomplished by Jesus in the NT!

ltogether righteous

In his first letter the apostle John in writing of Jesus as our advocate describes Him as "Jesus Christ the righteous (1Jn.2:1). Paul describes Him in 2Tim.4:8 as being "the righteous judge".

v  Revives the soul

Not only does He give eternal life to all those the Father has given Him (those who come to Him believing in Him, feeding upon Him, trusting in Him), He also sustains that life by His Spirit .

Acts.3:20 "Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus,"

v  Makes wise the simple

1Cor.1:24 "Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God."

Col.2:3 "in (Christ) are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."

v  Rejoices the heart

He is the source of all real joy:

Jn.15:11 "These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full."

v  Enlightens the eyes

Jn.9:26 "They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” physical healing.

Jn.9:39 "Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.” Spiritual sight.

v  Endures forever

Heb.13:8 "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."