Today, Wednesday November 16
The Revelation of Jehovah
Psalm 19:7-11
“The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them Your servant is warned, And in keeping them there is great reward.”
The God Who created us wants us to know Him and have a personal relationship with Him. Psalm 19 is one of the best passages in the Bible that helps to find and know that there is a God, but it also teaches us how we can experience Him as our personal LORD. In the first six verses, David tells us how creation speaks and tells us there is a God of glory. This is what we call general revelation. Then in verses 7-11, David speaks of God’s specific or special revelation, His Word, that tells us Who God is and enables us to experience the God of creation personally.
The revelation of God in creation is truly wonderful, but it is limited when it comes to manifesting the attributes of God and His purposes for creation. Following the fall of man, creation has been subjected to futility and bondage (Gen. 3:17-19; Rom. 8:20-22), so we need something that reveals more clearly the attributes and character of God. That "something" is the inspired Word of God.
In verse 1, when David wrote about creation, he used the name Elohim for God. “The heavens declare the glory of God – (Elohim)”. We are introduced to God by this name Elohim in Genesis 1. This name Elohim is used some 33 times in the very first chapter of the Bible that reveal’s God’s great power as He created the heavens and the earth and everything in them.
But here in Psalm 19:7-11, when David wrote about God's Word, he used the "covenant" name LORD seven times, which is the English translation of “Jehovah”. No doubt, this is because the God of creation is also the God of personal revelation to His people. Israel was a very special nation, chosen by God to receive His law, covenants, and promises (Rom. 9:4). "He declares His words to Jacob, His statutes and his ordinances to Israel. He has not dealt thus with any nation" (Psalm 147:19-20).
Jehovah is also pronounced Yahweh. This name comes from the Hebrew verb hayah, which signifies “to be” or “to become”. When translated in the first person, it becomes as in Exodus 3:14, “I Am,” said twice. “I Am that I Am”. This the way God introduced Himself to Moses at the burning bush. The name LORD, therefore, points to the God who is continuously becoming – “the Self-Existing One.”
G. Campbell Morgan defined it as, “The Becoming One – that is the One Who becomes to His people all that they need!” Some interpret the name LORD as containing two truths in one name. The first meaning is: “the One who exists in Himself.” The second is: “the One who reveals Himself.”
Jesus declared Himself to be Jehovah in John 8:58 when he said: “Before Abraham was, I AM.” Jesus is the Great I AM! Jesus said, “I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life, no one can come to the Father except through Me”. (John 14:6)
Yes, my friend, the heavens declare God's glory, but the Scriptures tell us what God did so that we may share in that glory. There is no conflict between what God does in His universe and what He says in His Word. It was by His Word that He created the worlds (Psalm 33:6-9), and it is by His Word that He controls the worlds (Psalm 33:11; 148:8).
In verses 7-11, David recorded six different names for God's Word, six attributes of the Word, and six ministries of the Word in the lives of those who receive it and obey it. We will be looking at these powerful words of encouragement over the next few days!
God bless!