Getting Plugged In

Psalms 19:1-14

Jim Davis
A lady was working at home on her computer when she suddenly noticed her laptop battery power was low and the computer was about to shut down. She thought the computer is plugged in; it can’t be using the battery. She began to trace the laptop cord to the extension cord; she finally noticed that the extension cord was actually plugged back into itself instead of the wall outlet! 
There is no one thing more important than getting plugged into to the right source. We find ourselves giving ourselves pep talks about how to think and feel about ourselves—is it a totally inward look? Are our lives defined by how we think and feel about ourselves or are they defined around what God thinks and feels about us? Are we plugged in to ourselves rather than to the source through whom all life flows?
In Psalms 19 we find the psalmist taking time to get plugged in. The psalmists often stopped to look inwardly and upward to remind themselves of the one they must be plugged into. In Psalms 19 we find the writer taking time to get plugged into the right source as he peers into the distant heavens.
Psalms 19:1-14
19:1 For the director of music. A psalm of David.

The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge. 
3 There is no speech or language 
where their voice is not heard.   
4 Their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.

In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun, 
5 which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion,
like a champion rejoicing to run his course. 
6 It rises at one end of the heavens 
and makes its circuit to the other;
nothing is hidden from its heat. 

7 The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,
making wise the simple. 
8 The precepts of the LORD are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant,
giving light to the eyes. 
9 The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever.
The ordinances of the LORD are sure 
and altogether righteous. 
10 They are more precious than gold
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the comb. 
11 By them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward. 

12 Who can discern his errors?
Forgive my hidden faults. 
13 Keep your servant also from willful sins;
may they not rule over me.
Then will I be blameless,
innocent of great transgression. 

14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart 
be pleasing in your sight,
O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. NIV

Have you ever sat down and looked up at the stars in the universe on a clear night. When I go backpacking I like to sit down at night and look up at the stars. It is so amazing early in the morning when the skies are the darkest to behold the wonder of the heavens. Have you ever sat down in a place like that and listened as the world awakens to a new day? In a place like this you look to the starry heavens in awe as you contemplate the wisdom of the creator of it all. There is a solitude there that makes you feel so small and alone and yet, there is a realization that the whole creation is guided by the sovereign hand of almighty God. His laws set it all in motion—and those very laws engulf your life declaring his glory. Those laws were set in motion to ultimately give me life. In the midst of the vastness of all creation God cups me in his hand. 

Can you imagine? Our modern world is just beginning to realize there are perhaps literally billions of planets in the universe. We are just now on the cusps of realizing the vastness of the universe. Scientists now believe that every star we behold in the sky has planets revolving around them. We can’t even comprehend the infinite God who set this seeming chaotic, yet orderly universe in motion. Yet, that same hand oversees my life.

We are beginning to understand that our universe is not static—in fact it is continually expanding and growing. Imagine the hand of an infinite God who continues to create stars and set planets in motion guiding your life—my life. Our knowledge today gives a whole new dimensional understanding of God creating a new heaven and a new earth for all the redeemed. 

The trustworthiness of God is as sure as the circuit of the sun that gives us night and day and the differing seasons of the year. The perfection of God’s law guides the universe and also desires to guide my seemingly insignificant life. It is hard to believe God has invested so much to give me life. This is what makes Christianity so believable for me. God’s story is not about what man has done—it is about what God is doing and the life he desires to give me. It is evident in our observation of the created universe.

Romans 1:20
20 For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities — his eternal power and divine nature — have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. NIV

I can only wonder what circumstances the psalmist was in when he contemplated this psalm. Was he on a Rocky Mountain high or was he walking through the valley overshadowed by death. There were times the psalmists were crying out—My God, my God why have you forsaken me. There were other times they were extolling God’s faithfulness. We find this psalmist seeking a view of life from an eternal vantage point. 

Psalms 19:1-6
19:1 For the director of music. A psalm of David.

The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge. 
3 There is no speech or language 
where their voice is not heard.   
4 Their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.

In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun, 
5 which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion,
like a champion rejoicing to run his course. 
6 It rises at one end of the heavens 
and makes its circuit to the other;
nothing is hidden from its heat. 

As the psalmist observes the planets and stars he reminds himself of the absoluteness of God’s laws as he gazes into the heavens. The rising and setting of the sun moon and stars serve as testimony of the precision of God’s universal laws. He is reminded that the law God set in motion to guide his life is no less perfect.

Psalms 19:7-11
7 The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,
making wise the simple. 
8 The precepts of the LORD are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant,
giving light to the eyes. 
9 The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever.
The ordinances of the LORD are sure 
and altogether righteous. 
10 They are more precious than gold
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the comb. 
11 By them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward. 

Words like these were not conjured up by some dreamy eyed poet. They were coming from a heart that had experienced or was experiencing the excruciating pain of heartbreak, troubles and life itself. The psalmist may have been on a Rocky Mountain high at this moment—but I have no doubt that he walked the deep valley of death to ascend to the peak. It was no doubt God’s laws that guided him to such a place. 

Thousands of thoughts run through our minds every day seeking to define our lives with an uncertainty of who we are and what we are doing here. In times like these we find the psalmists looking to God’s laws to discover his true purpose for being here. It has a lot clearer message than trying to define ourselves by the sum of all our thoughts and experiences. 

Conclusion:

The times between feeling forsaken by God and deciding to commit our lives to trusting God are difficult. The psalmist decides to look for clues as he gazes into the heavens. We often look inward to discover ourselves. We may simply look to others who seem to have a handle on life to discover our identity. The battles become so confusing most just simply get caught up in the swelling currents of popular opinion and never discover anything meaningful. 

There are times we cry out with the psalmist and our Lord as he hung on the cross, “My God, My God why have you forsaken me?” But in the end we trustingly say, “Into your hands I commit my spirit.” The psalmist determines to turn his eyes upward to the only one capable of directing the thoughts of his heart to the truth. He turns to the ONE who knows him from the inside out.

Psalms 19:12-14
12 Who can discern his errors?
Forgive my hidden faults. 
13 Keep your servant also from willful sins;
may they not rule over me.
Then will I be blameless,
innocent of great transgression. 

14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart 
be pleasing in your sight,
O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. NIV

Life comes at us in all directions and things are not always what they seem to be. But God knows us. He is the only one capable of directing our thoughts to a greater end. It is little wonder that we find the prophets declaring God as their salvation.

Psalms 27:1
The LORD is my light and my salvation — 
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life — 
of whom shall I be afraid? NIV

Psalms 62:1-2
My soul finds rest in God alone;
my salvation comes from him. 
2 He alone is my rock and my salvation ;
he is my fortress, I will never be shaken. NIV