The Heavens Declare the Glory of God!!!
November 2, 2025
Scripture: Psalm 19:1-6
A young man told his mother one day he was an atheist, that he didn’t believe in God anymore. She quietly responded, "If there is no God, who made the world? He replied, "Nobody made it, it just happened." A few days later he came to cut his mom’s grass. As he arrived, he noticed the grass was already cut. So, he asked his mom, “Who cut the grass?” His mother said, “Nobody, it just happened. A few days later he stopped by his mother’s house and said, “Who painted the fence?” His mother responded, “Nobody, it just happened.” He dropped by a few days after that and noticed that there was a new roof. So, he asked, “Who put the new roof on?” His mother simply responded, “Nobody, it just happened.” Suddenly, the young man realized what his mom was trying to teach him. There is no creation without a Creator! Someone had to do it! It just didn’t happen.
In Psalm 19 the Psalmist states that God has revealed himself in two ways. The first, Psalm 19:1-6, notes that God has revealed himself through Natural or General Revelation. God has revealed himself through his creation. Then verses 7-11 notes that God has revealed himself through what is called, Special or Specific Revelation. God has revealed himself through history and his prophets, by raising up Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and Moses who the Lord gave the law. The Lord spoke through the Israelites and then special revelation climaxes in the person of Jesus Christ. God's written word provides a greater and more specific revelation of Him than creation alone. In response to God’s revelation, the Psalmist (verses 12-14) rejoices in God's word and asks to be kept from sin and hidden faults. Today, I want us to look at the first 6 verses as General/Natural Revelation is highlighted. Then next week we will look at the rest of the Psalm.
David writes, verses 1, 2, 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.
The heavens are 'narrating' God’s glory. Glory comes from a word meaning “weight” or “worth.” We see abundant evidence of God’s weight or worth by looking at His creation, especially at the vastness and grandeur of the universe. God’s greatness is seen in the world of nature. The skies, the infinity of space, proclaims or "shouts about" his handiwork, his power, his wisdom! The heavens make a universal appeal to all the earth – “The hand that made us is Divine.” Creation indicates an incredible powerful Designer-Creator.
The day pours out information about God, and the night spreads the knowledge of God before us. In other words, God reveals himself 24/7, if we only have our eyes open to see it.
Listen, life could not exist or form if any one of the following were true: Many in the scientific community are talking about “Fine Tuning” of this world, this universe. In fact, scientists have identified 75 different finely tuned aspects of our world. Everyone is necessary for the existence of life as we know it. If any one of them were “out of tune” we would die.
For instance:
If the universe’s rate of expansion was raised or lowered by, even one part in a million, and it would have ruled out the possibility of life.
If the earth were 1 degree closer to the sun, we would fry! If we were 1 degree further, we would freeze!
If the moon were any closer or larger, the tides would destroy the coastlines. If any smaller or further away, the oceans would die from a lack of nutrient movement.
If our distance from Jupiter were any greater, asteroids and comets would pepper the earth. If we were any closer our orbit would become unstable.
If the surface gravity were any stronger, earth would retain too much ammonia and methane. If it were any weaker, earth’s atmosphere would lose too much water.
If the magnetic field were any stronger, electromagnetic storms would destroy us. If any weaker, ozone shield could not protect us from stellar and solar radiation.
If the earth’s crust were any thicker, it would absorb too much of our oxygen. If it were any thinner, the volcanic and tectonic activity would make life impossible.
If the carbon dioxide level were any greater, runaway greenhouse effect would kill us. If it were any less, plants would be unable to maintain photosynthesis.
If the ratio of carbon to oxygen had been slightly different than it is, none of us would have been here to breathe the air.
If the polarity of the water molecule were, any greater vaporization would be too great for life. If it were any small, ice would not float – build up ice – freeze the planet!
Even the tilt of the earth’s axis is crucial to maintaining the earth’s temperature.
Roger Penrose, a major player in the development of black hole theory, estimates the odds for our universe to happen accidentally to be at one in 10 billion to the 30th power!
Vera Kistiakowsky, past president of the Association of Women in Science and MIT physicist, stated, "The exquisite order displayed by our scientific understanding of the physical world calls for the divine."
Albert Einstein claimed that cosmos is so complex that reveals a being of super intelligence! A being who is smarter than the combined intelligence of every human who have ever lived!
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Now, let me add this, religious belief does not have to contradict scientific knowledge. Faith and nature are not opposed to each other.
Scientists claim that within a moment following the big bang. All the fundamental particles necessary for life were formed. Scientists have calculated that it happened in 1043 of a second! That’s .000000000000000000000000000000001 of a second!
Psalm 33:8, 9 concurs as it states, Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the people of the world revere him. 9 For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.
Principle 1: If you want to know that God exists, to be in awe of Him, and/or to grow in faith, then look up! Look at nature! Do the research, investigate, THINK!
Some 50 years ago, 17 years old, I was a professing agnostic. I even told my Sunday School class that I had doubts of God’s existence. Shortly after that the youth pastor talked me into going to church camp. At church camp, a fellow camper and I went on an early morning walk. As we talked, he casually made the comment about the wonder of God’s creation. Suddenly, the light bulb came on. I had to admit to myself that nature has intelligent design. It was after that, I opened the door to God in my life. I believe nature is prep school to hearing him in His special revelation for once I came to realize a being beyond humankind had to create this amazing universe, my eyes were open to investigate the possibility that God revealed himself in a special or specific way.
Now, there have also been various times over the years in which I am reminded of His awesome creation! For instance, when I have walked on a beach in the morning, I stand amazed as the sun rises, the vastness of the ocean, the seagulls flying, the beauty of the seashells, and the list could go on. God’s creation teaches us of His being, His power and wisdom.
Listen, it takes greater faith to believe the universe formed accidentally without God; than to believe to an Intelligent Designer. Personally, I do not have enough faith to be an atheist.
Verses 3, 4, They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.
Nature is a silent witness. It speaks with unwritten words to everyone alike. In fact, being educated in the speculations of proud men may hinder you from grasping the simplicity of God’s revelation of Himself in creation.
There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. The voiceless knowledge poured forth by days and nights is available to everyone on the globe who is not physically blind. This is not private or secret knowledge. The sun you see today is the same sun that shines down on Tokyo, Moscow, and London. The same stars David saw; we see.
Principle 2: God’s natural revelation is silent, but it is evident to everyone!!
When the missionaries were teaching the Mouk tribe of Papua New Guinea, they shared the story of creation from Genesis. As they talked, they mentioned in the United States, their home country, many people believed that human beings descended from apes. These simple, uneducated people responded in mocking laughter by exclaiming, “That’s stupid!” Everyone should be able to look at the awesomeness and complexity of creation and conclude that there is a Creator.
The Psalmist states, verses 4b-6, In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun. It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. 6 It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is deprived of its warmth.
In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun. He thinks of the daily sunrise and says it reminds him of a bridegroom leaping and beaming from his honeymoon bed. The day breaking sun is like a champion rejoicing to run his course. Of the created realm, the sun is the supreme metaphor of the glory of God as it makes its daily triumphant sweep across the whole extent of the heavens and pours out it’s felt presence on every creature.
Yet, humankind so often instead of seeing that the sun is the greatest symbol of God in nature, has missed the message and instead of worshipping the God who made the sun, they worship the sun.
It takes a seeing eye to perceive what God has said in nature. Why don’t so many people see this?
The reason is people pay so little attention to God's omnitheatre is that we are fallen, sinful creatures. Fallen humankind is plagued with the proverb: "Familiarity breeds contempt.” We will notice the first buds of spring or the beautiful autumn leaves. Yet, it does not last long. Monday might fill us with delight and meaning and on Tuesday we ignore it.
Kathy and I used to have friends who lived in an apartment next to train tracks. When I asked them how they could stand the noise of the train. The simple response was, “We have gotten used to it. They simply stopped hearing the sound. The same can be said for humans who are surrounded by the most amazing miracles of nature.
The Apostle Paul further elaborates in Romans 1. He writes, The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 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.
21 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. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.
24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.
Yet, the notion of “suppressing the truth” is alive and well in our culture. People do not want to submit to God as Lord. They want to be their own lord. As Jesus noted in John 3, people love the darkness more than the light.
For your information, the Apostle Paul continues to describe the impact of a society suppressing the truth, not honoring the Lord, and having stupid thinking. He writes, Romans 1:26-31, Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.
28 Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. 29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy.
Over the past 40 years, I have observed that this progression of evil has happened. It has gone from suppressing God’s truth to buying into evolution, to sexual immorality and worshipping created things/materialism, to homosexuality, to a depraved mind with all kinds of sinfulness.
Today, sexual immorality runs rampant. Crime and corruption is widespread, including many governmental leaders. The family structure has vastly deteriorated! There is a lack of respect towards parents and other authoritative figures. The Church has lost influence and, in many ways, has become like the world. A humanistic philosophy/what I want, has become the norm!
Oh, how I pray that you will recognize Almighty God is the Creator! God’s creation teaches us that He is infinite in His power! He is consistent and faithful just as the sun rises in the east every morning and sets in the west every evening. The Lord is omnipresent and omniscient as the sun shines everywhere upon the earth. The Lord is an all-powerful, all wise being!
The LORD has given each of us free will. You must decide if you will be under the Lord’s authority or if you will have yourself as your lord. The sinful tendency of the fallen human race is proudly to exalt ourselves, to think that we are like God. But the clear truth is, we are not like God. He alone is the Almighty Creator. We are so small when compared to the Infinity of Him who created all things.
As Isaiah stated in 40:25, 26, To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One. 26 Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing (Isaiah 40:25, 26).
Natural revelation should provoke awe and reverence. His revelation leaves us without excuse. Because God has revealed Himself through nature, humans are responsible for responding to this revelation with praise and thankfulness. (Note Psalm 104!)
Principle 3: Recognize Almighty God as the Creator! Worship Him! Submit to Him! Wholeheartedly love Him!
I encourage you and even myself to take time daily to look up at the sky, stare at a tree, a flower, or a cloud. Reflect on God’s impressive creation!
Let me close with this classic story by William Paley. Suppose a man is walking and he happens to hit his foot against a watch. He picks it up. He examines it. He sees that the hands are moving round the dial in what is clearly an orderly way. He opens it up and inside he finds a host of wheels, cogs, levers, springs, and jewels. He discovers that by winding up the watch, you can set it going, and that the whole complicated machinery is moving in what is obviously a predetermined pattern. What then does he say?
Does he say: "By chance all these wheels and levers and jewels and springs came together and formed themselves into this thing I have in my hand? By chance they move in an orderly way. By chance this watch became an instrument which counts the hours, minutes, and seconds?" NO. If he applies his mind to this problem at all, he says: "I have found a watch. Somewhere there must be a watchmaker."
So also, when one discovers the world where there is order and design more accurate than any watch, one is bound to say: "I have found a world, somewhere there must be a Worldmaker!”
