The paradox in the famous declaration of Psalm 19 that the heavens 'narrate' the glory of God and that this message of nature is 'inaudible' prompts the question as to the sense of speaking about a striking divine appearance without words (pun intended). In the light of the equally paradoxical presence of the motif of not-seeing in Old Testament theophanies where God himself appears, it seems that wordless speaking and unseen beauty need to be examined in association with each other, especially because the theophanies of Exodus and 1 Kings associate the motifs of not-seeing and silence with both the appearance and the speaking of God. This article investigates the cluster of ideas in Psalm 19 in the light of the theophanies and other texts. It then proposes a way in which this may be understood, notably that God's own beauty is visible in that which he has created beautifully, that is, nature. It is argued that, if this proclaims God's בבדו, the latter must be a divine quality observable in nature.
The Heavens Declare The Glory of God, Psalm 25:1
The famous opening of Psalm 19 contains a paradox often under-exposed or not recognised for the power it holds. The psalm's grand introductory proclamation is no less celebrated for being the subject of Johann Sebastian Bach's Cantata Die Himmel erzählen die Ehre Gottes, BWV 76 (1723), for being immortalised later by Joseph Haydn in his oratorio Die Schöpfung, Hob 21.2 (1798) and finally having its fame emphasised by Ludwig van Beethoven in the song cycle Sechs Lieder von Gellert, Opus 48.4 (1803). All three musical settings may suggest the idea long regarded as consensus in commentaries, annotated Bible versions and theological reflection generally, namely that divine revelation is manifested in nature as well as in God's word, usually understood to be the Torah or Scripture. But in none of the famous compositions it is clear what the magnificent first line essentially entails. Some lines after the opening statement Bach has the tenor voice proclaim that 'Nature and grace speak to all humans' and he lets the soprano call, 'Listen, you nations, to God's voice!' - leaving unclear how nature speaks and whether God's voice is to be heard in nature.1 Haydn's first line is quite clear in that it closely follows the first line of the Hebrew text that 'The heavens tell God's glory', but he then ignores the motif of the spoken word.2 In turn Beethoven's setting of the poetic adaptation by Christian Fúrchtegott Gellert, narrows down nature's proclamation to the sounds that can be heard in nature, speaking as he does of the sound ('Schall') reverberating along the sky and the sea.3
One step further brings us to the ננדר testified to by the marvels of the firmament. Disappearing at the western beacon stone an reappearing at the eastern one, covering the distance around the world twice a day, once in shining light and once in darkness, seen on one trip and unseen on the other, the unending warmth issuing forth from the sun's resources (v. 7) - all of this is a matter of majestic glory, that is, ננדר. The splendour proclaimed by the heavens is explicitly called God's splendour.
The answer to the question posed in the title of this article is therefore: the heavens declare that God is beautiful by being so themselves. A dynamic translation can therefore be: 'The heavens reflect the beauty of God.' The reason why the poet is so overwhelmed by the heavens, the sun and the cyclical wonder of light and darkness, is that beauty by definition overwhelms.
Don McClain 1 W. 65th St church of Christ - December 7, 2008.\n \n \n \n \n "," \n \n \n \n \n \n God\u2019s Two Bodies of Revelation A Study of Psalm 19.\n \n \n \n \n "," \n \n \n \n \n \n THE WALKING DEAD Psalm 19. The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. 2 Day after day they continue to speak;\n \n \n \n \n "," \n \n \n \n \n \n Why Read the Bible? Psalm 19:7-11. Why Read the Bible? Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God\u2026 Psalm 19:7 The law of the Lord is perfect\u2026\n \n \n \n \n "," \n \n \n \n \n \n Today\u2019s Sermon: Psalms 19-20: \u201cThe Works and the Word of God \/ Prayer for Victory over Enemies\u201d by Pastor Jim Bomkamp.\n \n \n \n \n "," \n \n \n \n \n \n 1-3 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul, The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. More to be desired are they than gold,\n \n \n \n \n "," \n \n \n \n \n \n PSALM 19. Your words, O Lord, are Spirit and life. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.\n \n \n \n \n "," \n \n \n \n \n \n How You Can Know God Personally Psalm 19:1-14. Pertinent Thoughts A Profound Truth A Perplexing Problem A Plain Fact.\n \n \n \n \n "," \n \n \n \n \n \n \u201cSomething out of Nothing\u2026Please?\u201d. Psalm 19:1-6 \u201cThe heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour.\n \n \n \n \n "," \n \n \n \n \n \n Samson: Boundaries Judges 14. Nazirite Vow (Numbers 6) Unwise Unclean Unnecessary.\n \n \n \n \n "," \n \n \n \n \n \n Philippians 3: \u201cBrothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to.\n \n \n \n \n "," \n \n \n \n \n \n When The Bible Is Enough (Part I) Psalm 19:7-8 March 30, 2008.\n \n \n \n \n "," \n \n \n \n \n \n Survey by Self-Described Christians - Barna Research Group 22 % God is not the \u201call- powerful, all-knowing Creator of the universe who rules the world.\n \n \n \n \n "," \n \n \n \n \n \n PSALM 1 PSALM 19. God\u2019s General Revelation: vv.1-6 God\u2019s Special Revelation: vv Application to the redeemed: vv\n \n \n \n \n "," \n \n \n \n \n \n Psalm 119. Lamp and light, Psalm 119:105 Sword, Ephesians 6:17 Food for spiritual life, Hebrews 5:13-14 Powerful to save, Romans 1:16; Heb. 4:12 Tool.\n \n \n \n \n "," \n \n \n \n \n \n Discovering God Through the Psalms Grow in your intimacy with God!\n \n \n \n \n "," \n \n \n \n \n \n The Law of the Lord is Perfect The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. Psalm 19:7 Psalm 19:7-11 THE LAW OF THE LORD irreg. Trinity Hymnal #152.\n \n \n \n \n "," \n \n \n \n \n \n Psalm 19:1-6 ESV 1\u00a0The heavens declare the glory of God, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0and the sky above\u00a0proclaims his handiwork. 2\u00a0Day to day pours out speech, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0and night to.\n \n \n \n \n "," \n \n \n \n \n \n 5 Word Psalms.\n \n \n \n \n "," \n \n \n \n \n \n Unspotted is the fear of God, And ever doth endure;\n \n \n \n \n "," \n \n \n \n \n \n 3 Gospel Commitments Gospel Truth - We are committed to the truth of scripture, and believe its central message is the Gospel; the message of God\u2019s gracious.\n \n \n \n \n "," \n \n \n \n \n \n Psalm 19 The Works Of God.\n \n \n \n \n "," \n \n \n \n \n \n Welcome to Calvary!.\n \n \n \n \n "," \n \n \n \n \n \n Sin defined\u2026 To be without a share in To miss the mark\n \n \n \n \n "," \n \n \n \n \n \n Article 1 \u2013 The Bible We believe that God has spoken in the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, through the words of human authors. As the verbally.\n \n \n \n \n "," \n \n \n \n \n \n Psalm 19.\n \n \n \n \n "," \n \n \n \n \n \n Message Pastor Walt Kellcy.\n \n \n \n \n "," \n \n \n \n \n \n 064 - PSALM 73 Refrain: Whom have I in heaven but You O Lord\n \n \n \n \n "," \n \n \n \n \n \n Joy From God\u2019s Revitalizing Word\n \n \n \n \n "," \n \n \n \n \n \n Psalm 19:7-10.\n \n \n \n \n "," \n \n \n \n \n \n CLICK TO ADVANCE SLIDES\n \n \n \n \n "," \n \n \n \n \n \n The Wisdom of the Law What is the value of the Law for Christians?\n \n \n \n \n "," \n \n \n \n \n \n 1 - Psalm The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul,\n \n \n \n \n "," \n \n \n \n \n \n God\u2019s Two Bodies of Revelation\n \n \n \n \n "," \n \n \n \n \n \n In the life of doxology, we praise God for\u2026\n \n \n \n \n "," \n \n \n \n \n \n Hearing God, Moving toward God\n \n \n \n \n "," \n \n \n \n \n \n The Beauty and Power of God\u2019s Two Revelations\n \n \n \n \n "," \n \n \n \n \n \n The God Who Communicates\n \n \n \n \n "," \n \n \n \n \n \n More to be Desired Psalm 19- Part 2.\n \n \n \n \n "," \n \n \n \n \n \n Psalm 19:7-14 The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul: the decrees of the Lord are sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are.\n \n \n \n \n "," \n \n \n \n \n \n Chase Pratt Romeo Church of Christ 2\/4\/18\n \n \n \n \n "," \n \n \n \n \n \n Psalms of Praise.\n \n \n \n \n "," \n \n \n \n \n \n Evidence Of God 19:1 The heavens and the firmament show His handiwork.\n \n \n \n \n "," \n \n \n \n \n \n Psalm 19.\n \n \n \n \n "," \n \n \n \n \n \n So what is your Bible reading plan for 2017?\n \n \n \n \n "," \n \n \n \n \n \n My Words God Sees Psalms 19:4 06\/17\/2018\n \n \n \n \n "," \n \n \n \n \n \n FAMILY HEIRLOOM?. FAMILY HEIRLOOM? CLASS TEXTBOOK?\n \n \n \n \n "," \n \n \n \n \n \n THE VALUE OF SCRIPTURE Andrew Florestano.\n \n \n \n \n "," \n \n \n \n \n \n The Law Of The Lord (Psalm 19)\n \n \n \n \n "," \n \n \n \n \n \n God\u2019s Will and the Bible\n \n \n \n \n "]; Similar presentations
23. But every man in his own order--rather, "rank": the Greek is not in the abstract, but concrete: image from troops, "each in his own regiment." Though all shall rise again, let not any think all shall be saved; nay, each shall have his proper place, Christ first ( Colossians 1:18 ), and after Him the godly who die in Christ ( 1 Thessalonians 4:16 ), in a separate band from the ungodly, and then "the end," that is, the resurrection of the rest of the dead. Christian churches, ministers, and individuals seem about to be judged first "at His coming" ( Matthew 25:1-30 ); then "all the nations" ( Matthew 25:31-46 ). Christ's own flock shall share His glory "at His coming," which is not to be confounded with "the end," or general judgment ( Revelation 20:4-6 Revelation 20:11-15 ). The latter is not in this chapter specially discussed, but only the first resurrection, namely, that of the saints: not even the judgment of Christian hollow professors ( Matthew 25:1-30 ) at His coming, is handled, but only the glory of them "that are Christ's," who alone in the highest sense "obtain the resurrection from the dead" ( Luke 14:14 , Luke 20:35 Luke 20:36 , Philippians 3:11 ; point of time, but a period beginning with the resurrection of the just at His appearing, and ending with the general judgment. The ground of the universal resurrection is the union of all mankind in nature with Christ, their representative Head, who has done away with death, by His own death in their stead: the ground of the resurrection of believers is not merely this, but their personal union with Him as their "Life" ( Colossians 3:4 ), effected causatively by the Holy Spirit, and instrumentally by faith as the subjective, and by ordinances as the objective means. 2ff7e9595c
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