“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.” (Psalm 19:1-6)
Take a moment, wherever you are in this vast world, to look up. Perhaps you see the vast expanse of a clear, blue sky, or the countless pinpricks of light that are stars on a moonless night. Perhaps you see the intricate dance of clouds forming and reforming. What do you hear? Psalm 19 tells us that what we see and what we hear in the natural world is a constant, undeniable testimony. The heavens themselves are proclaiming the glory of God, and the firmament — the expanse above us — is showcasing His masterful handiwork. Day after day, and night after night, creation “uttereth speech” and “sheweth knowledge.”
This isn’t a language we learn in schools. It’s not English, Spanish, Mandarin, or Swahili. Yet, as the psalmist declares, “There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.” The silent sermon of the skies resonates universally, reaching every tribe, every nation, every continent.
The sun, as Psalm 19 describes it, is like a “bridegroom coming out of his chamber,” radiating joy and strength, and like a “strong man to run a race.” It faithfully rises and sets, warms the earth, and sustains life, all according to a divine decree. This consistent, powerful, and life-giving celestial body serves as yet another daily reminder of the God who ordained its existence and its purpose.
This profound truth brings us to a sobering reality, beautifully articulated by the Apostle Paul in Romans 1:18ff.: “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse…”
The intricate design of a flower, the unfathomable complexity of the human eye, the precise orbital mechanics of our solar system, the sheer power of a thunderstorm – these are not random occurrences. They are undeniable fingerprints of an all-wise, all-powerful God. The order, beauty, and intricate balance of the universe speak volumes about its Creator. God has made Himself known through His creation, so plainly that no one can claim ignorance. All people, in every corner of the globe, are therefore “without excuse.” The testimony of creation is so clear that it leaves humanity morally accountable.
Consider Paul’s encounter in Athens, as recorded in Acts 17:21ff. The Athenians, known for their love of novelty and philosophical discourse, spent their time seeking out “some new thing.” Paul, however, used their own altar “To the Unknown God” as a springboard to declare the God who made the world and all things therein. He emphasized that this God “giveth to all life, and breath, and all things… For in him we live, and move, and have our being.” Even among those immersed in their own intellectual pursuits and diverse deities, the natural world around them pointed to a singular, sovereign Creator.
Therefore, let us recognize and respond to the undeniable testimony of creation. May our hearts be softened to the truth that is proclaimed not only by the heavens, but by every blade of grass, every ocean wave, and every breath we take. For the voice of God’s glory echoes throughout all the earth, leaving all without excuse.
What will our response be to such an evident God? Let us humble ourselves before Him, give Him the glory He is due, and seek to know Him more fully through His revealed Word and through His Son, Jesus Christ.
Open our eyes, O Lord, to see Your unfathomable knowledge and power in all of creation, and give us the wisdom to seek You out and learn of You and Your unfathomable mercy in Jesus Christ, Your Son and our only Savior. In His name we pray. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]