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Feb 11, 2024 06:00am

The Skies Speak

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The writer of Psalm 19 must have spent some serious time looking up.

King David, presented as “a man after God’s own heart,” wrote most of the Psalms focusing on God’s mercy, His deliverance, His ability to step into a seemingly impossible situation and prevail, and His never-ending love. In this particular section of chapters, David is praising God over and over for His faithfulness through extremely difficult circumstances and recognizing how, without God, he would be nothing.

So, when I read Psalm 19 it really popped because the focus is slightly different. It feels more intimate somehow, almost as if David was lying on his back looking straight up as these words surfaced. No doubt David’s life reveals he was someone who had a very real, very personal, and very powerful relationship with God — a connection I want, too.

Question: have you ever wondered what you can do to spend time with God and deepen your relationship with Him?

We know at our very core we need Him. We sense the importance, but sometimes we struggle with how. Life is busy and distracting and sometimes it is hard to settle down. Hard to connect. It is easy to drift. Easy to skip the time and easy to find an excuse.

Maybe David can help. In this chapter, David lets us know how God speaks to his soul, through creation and through His word.

To quickly summarize, the first 6 verses of this chapter focus on the heavens, what David sees and hears. Then verses 7-11 focus on the powerful and profound results of keeping God’s word. Finally, verses 12-14 share David’s desires and response by concluding,

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.” Psalm 19:14.

What a beautiful prayer!

But, I want to circle back and think specifically on this whole thing about the skies.

Psalm 19:1 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.”

Verses 2-6 go on to describe how the skies “speak”. Indeed, the views change, the skies have no end, and nothing is hidden from its’ heat. The implied voice of the skies reach everyone and everything according to David’s commentary.

How incredible! How cool is it God would reveal Himself through something so universal? This concept alone causes my heart to praise Him. The word says God designed the skies to be a declaration of Himself and to show His glory and that they certainly do.

Ironically, as I attempt to write this, I am riding in the front seat through the state of Iowa. It occurred to me, while God designed the skies to be a declaration of Himself, I also think they reflect our human experience. Why? Because today the sky is gray. Like gray-gray. Cloudy. It’s light outside, but with no visible rays from the sun there is no need to break out the sunglasses. No one in the car is taking pictures of the sky to post or share. In fact, no one has mentioned the view. I’m sitting here trying to write about the glory of God seen in the sky and the sky is…well…gloomy.

This isn’t working out the way I originally thought!

Contrast the above with what was my first reaction to Psalm 19. Immediately when I read it, my mind envisioned the most beautiful scene. In fact, we’re headed home to a cattle ranch with incredible views of the sky. No buildings or structures block the view and farm sunsets feel unmatched to me. When the skies are clear and the sun begins to set, we enjoy the most breathtaking displays of God’s handiwork. This past summer my daughter and her friends got on a “take pictures of the sky” kick. Every evening (or morning if they were awake early) they took and sent and posted pictures of the sky. The skies here are often filled with extraordinary pinks, blues, oranges, yellow and purple hues sweeping to the horizon in a different pattern every day. Each one unique. All stunning.

What strikes me today is how both versions of God’s handiwork speak to who He is. He is the ultimate Creator. He is every bit as much in control and present on the dark, gloomy days as He is on the days it feels like He is showing off.

And I am so glad. Not every day is sunshine and rainbows, is it? We all have days that feel less than glorious with nothing to share, nothing worthy of attention or applause–days we just seem to get through and yet, God is there. The same God uses the same power to paint the sky gray as He does to paint the sky to take our breath. He has purpose in the gloomy days, for out of the gray sky comes the rain, and without the rainy days, we would never have a harvest. God reigns over the sky. He knows what He is doing. And in our lives, the same masterful God shows up, faithfully, day after day to guide us and love us no matter how things look. Just because the day doesn’t look a certain way, doesn’t mean God has somehow changed or forgotten or missed something or disappeared.

It just means a better day is coming.

God always has a bigger plan and a bigger picture. So, be patient. In the same way you can count on a change in the sky above, you can count on God. He has a way of making the difference. He has a way to meet your need, to give you wisdom, to forgive your sin, to mend your relationships, to comfort your soul and to heal your brokenness.

God shows you His creativity and faithfulness every single day of your life. All you have to do is look up. Examine the skies. Ponder the power, the creativity, the glory of the God you claim and allow His handiwork to remind you our days don’t stay the same, but He does.

A bad day today can morph into the most beautiful day tomorrow.

Truly, His mercies are new every morning. I am so thankful for the hope-filled skies above. Hear them speak.