(By Diego Cuartas)
I am drawn to the comparison between creation and the law of God. More specifically, between the perfection and effects of the Sun and the perfection and effects of God's revealed Word. The comparison between these two is unavoidable and very accessible to all humans. Perhaps there is more in creation that can help us know the character and nature of God than what we may realize on any given day. Looking at comparisons is helpful to us given that there is a tendency to be blind or be blinded by lesser realities. One of them being the fact that we are too easily satisfied--at least I am.
Let's look at the sun, not lietraly though. Is Psalm 19, the writer (the Israelite King David) tells us that that God has "set a tent for the sun" an he goes on to describe how this sun operates:
[the sun] comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber,
and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.
Its rising is from the end of the heavens,
and its circuit to the end of them,
and there is nothing hidden from its heat.
The sun runs a circuit and it does it like a champion who is confident and joyful. Nothing threatens its purpose or role in the universe. Another observation is that the sun's presence is evident to all and it does not depend on what humans or the rest of creation thinks about it or in their ability to acknowledge it or accept it. Furtheremmore, the sun's influence is irresistible and nothing is hidden from its heat. Interestingly that the writer does not say from its light and heat. I supposed anyone can hide from the sun's light but not from its heat or ability to warm our earhtly globe. I finding delightful that King David couches this dscription of the sun within the bigger context of a universe that has been created to declare the glory of God pouring "speech" through the amazing characteristics of created detail. He, as he does in describing the sun, emphasizes the fact that all of creation becomes another voice for God. A voice that speaks how glorious God, the Creator is.
Let's turn now to the Law of God with a warning in mind: the sun will seem considerably smaller when compared to the spoken and revealed Law of God. Consider these verses:
7The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul;
the testimony of the Lord is sure,
making wise the simple;
8 the precepts of the Lord are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is pure,
enlightening the eyes;
9 ...the rules of the Lord are true,
and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold,
even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey
and drippings of the honeycomb.
11 Moreover, by them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
It is amazing what we can experience as we interact and apply our minds and hearts to what God says. The Word God speaks has the power to make places of our soul alive. The presence of sin has a way of numbing or killing things God intends to be alive in us.
The Word of God transforms my simple knowledge into wisdom. The presence of sin has a way of blinding me to self, God and others. Furthermore, it causes me to misinterpret the situations I face on a daily basis.
The Word of God brings true joy to my soul. The presence of sin combined with my limited humanity often drives me to see life in a hopeless way or in a very temporal-bound hope way.
The Word of God helps me to see reality as God sees it, from where He sees it. The presence of sin disables my capacity to see well. I don't mean disabling as if we did have at some point the same capacities God possesses with regards to knowledge, but more in the sense that if humanity could consistently live under God's authority and His Word perhaps we would see more accurately as a pattern.
The Word of God pronounces and decrees and activates what is the best and most worthy in the whole creation. The presence of sin corrupts my heart into thinking that I know what is best or I can determine what is best for me.
Lastly, the Word of God warns me and paves the way for a great reward. Reward in two ways: the reward of experiencing God's best for my life and others as well as the reward of God himself. The presence of sin has a way of making me live in the moment and the pleasures or safeties of the moment without consideration of what my choices can bring about. That same sin presence of sin bends my heart towards immediate rewards that are so often meager crumbs of life.
For further thought...
1. which voice or voices have most influence in your day to day life?
2. what do that voice or voices promise to you?
3. how do that voice or voices compare to what Psalm 19 says about God's voice?
4. what results do you see in your life as you follow your own voice or voices of your choice?
