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morning everyone welcome to the house of the Lord for worship this morning couple of announcements before we get started of course our evening service will be at 5:00 P p.m here in the church there will be no Wednesday night bible study this week just so everyone's aware no Wednesday night bible study on this Wednesday next Sunday is the baptismal service of Steve luttin and Mike ltin so next Sunday morning and then this Sunday Pastor Butler is up in Armstrong at the Trinity Reformed Baptist Church of Armstrong for the installation of their first Deacon Braum fop son of uh Steven Charlotte here so we can remember them in prayer this morning and trust that will be a blessed occasion as they worship together and as they install their first Deacon for our call to worship we'll turn to Psalm 148 in our Bibles 148 praise the Lord praise the Lord from the heavens Praise Him in the Heights praise him all his angels praise him all his hosts Praise Him sun and moon praise him all you stars of light Praise Him you Heaven of heavens and you Waters above the heavens let them praise the name of the Lord for he commanded and they were created he also established them forever and ever he made a decree which shall not pass away praise the Lord from the earth you great sea creatures and all the depths fire and hail snow and clouds stormy wind fulfilling his word mountains and all Hills fruitful trees and all Cedars beasts and all cattle creeping things and flying fowl Kings of the earth and All Peoples princes and all judges of the earth both young men and Maiden old men and children let them praise the name of the Lord for his name alone is exalted his glory is above the Earth and Heaven and he has exalted the Horn of his people the praise of all his Saints of the children of Israel a people near to him praise the Lord amen for our first hymn this morning we'll turn to 230 in the Himel 230 stand with me as we sing Holy Holy Holy the glor shall be holy holy holy mer and mighty all holy holy holy ad down their [Music] ground all down holy holy might Glory see there iside me holy holy holy Gody all praise holy holy holy merciful and might may be seated let us turn to the Lord in prayer our gracious Heavenly Father we thank you for this glorious day this Joy day of joy and gladness a day when we have the privilege of coming into your house to worship you together of coming into your house to hear the word preached we thank you that this is a special day a day of harvest Lord we know that through the preaching of the word men and women are called out of Darkness into Marvelous Light your hand is not shortened and you are able to save in many different places many different ways you can you can knock a man off his horse and and save him on his on the road to Damascus but in a special way when the word is preached we know that you call men and women out of Darkness into Marvelous Light and we know that you have called us to pray that that you would send forth laborers into the harvest men that would preach the gospel we thank you for those men that you have raised up here in our midst we thank you for sending forth men from this church we thank you that you are raising up men elsewhere all over this country and all over this world to preach the gospel and we pray that you would continue to do that we thank you for the good work that you are doing in the north Okanagan thank you for pastor malar's there we pray your blessing upon that congregation and in a special way this day as they install Rah as their first Deacon we pray Lord that it would be a day of of much celebration and rejoicing there we pray oh God that you would continue to build that church up Lord we pray that you would bring other men into the dicate and even other men to come alongside as fellow laborers to preach the gospel alongside of Pastor malar Lord we pray that you'd bless them this day bless Pastor Butler as he enjoys this time of fellowship with them and and participates in this installation service we pray it be a glorious day Lord we pray for our bre out in sui as well encourage them we thank you for raising up pastor kirpatrick and and sending him to that location we pray Lord you'd bless that congregation thank you for the the deacons that you have raised up there we pray again that you would bring more men into the leadership of that church as well and Lord continue to add to their numbers and continue to cause them to grow in Grace Lord we pray for the church plant out in Ryden Ontario that you'd be gracious to them this day that you would continue to to work in their midst continue to give them a vision for the future and continue to uh bless the leadership as they look forward to officially constituting as a church Lord we pray that you would continue to work there and continue to bless them and may they be a light and a and a a beacon in that hung in that uh area of Ontario or we thank you for the churches that we have connection with in other parts of the world we pray that You' bless pastor ogallo and his church there in Elder Kenya this day encourage them bless the church down in Honduras we pray for the missionaries that we support and that we have followed and prayed for for many years be gracious to those who are preaching the gospel especially in difficult places in difficult circumstances be gracious to your church where your people are being persecuted by the authorities or by false religion be merciful oh God to those that this day are in prison for the sake of of the gospel and for the name of Christ we pray oh God that you would encourage your people in a special way on this your day and Lord May their hearts soar with joy in the knowledge that they have been called to the place where they are at and in the knowledge that you have saved them and will one day free them to Glorious Freedom thank you for your your kindness and your mercy toward your people Lord I pray that you'd be here with us this day as we worship we we pray oh God that you would bless cam as he comes to preach to us later we pray that you would give him unction and anointing from on high to preach with authority the whole Council of God lord we know there are many other churches in this city where the gospel is preached we pray your blessing would be upon them this day and all across this country where the gospel is preached may your spirit attend the preaching of the word Lord we pray for our nation that you would be merciful to us that you would raise up Godly leaders even in the the magistrates of our country and that you would restrain the hands of those that are that are wicked and that are set on evil and Lord we pray that we would continue to have freedom that we would use this opportunity wisely and Lord we pray that your blessing would be upon us again this day for your own name's sake we pray this amen amen for our next hymn we'll turn to Psalm 19B Psalm 119 B is in Bravo in your Himel and please stand with me again as we sing Psalm 119b sour 19B and we are only singing the first uh five stanzas [Music] 19B the glory of our God might all there dwelling for the his to the [Music] will and true the simple one the [Music] may be seated for our morning scripture reading we'll turn to Matthew Chapter 13 once again we will complete the reading of this chapter today Matthew 13 and beginning in verse 31 to the end of the chapter Matthew 13:31 another Parable he put forth to them saying the Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed which a man took and swed in his field which indeed is the least of all the seeds but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches another Parable he spoke to them the Kingdom of Heaven is like leaven which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened all these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in Parables and without a parable he did not speak to them that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet saying I will open my mouth in Parables I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world the world then Jesus sent the multitude away and went into the house and his disciples came to him saying explain to us the parable of the tears in the field he answered and said to them he who SWS The Good Seed is the son of man the field is the world the good seeds are the sons of the Kingdom but the tears are the sons of the wicked one the enemy who sowed them is the devil the Harvest is the end of the age and the reapers are are the Angels therefore as the tears are gathered and burned in the fire so it will be at the end of this age the son of man will send out his angels and they will gather out of his kingdom all things that offend and those who practice lawlessness and will cast them into the furnace of fire there will be wailing and nashing of teeth then the righteous will shine forth as a sun in the Kingdom of their father he who has ears to hear Let Him hear again the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field which a man found and hid and for Joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field again the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls who when he had found one pearl of great price went and sold all that he had and bought it again the Kingdom of Heaven is like a Dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind which when it was full they drew to Shore and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels but threw the bad away so it will be at the End of the Age the angels will come forth separate the wicked from among the just and cast them into the furnace of fire there will be wailing and nashing of teeth Jesus said to them have you understood all these things they said to him yes Lord then he said to them therefore every scribe instructed concerning the the Kingdom of Heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old now it came to pass when Jesus had finished these Parables that he departed from there when he had come to his own country he taught them in their synagogue so that they were astonished and said where did this man get this wisdom and these Mighty works is this not The Carpenter's son is not his mother called Mary and his brothers James Joseph Simon and Judas and his sisters are they not all with us where then did this man get all these things so they were offended at him but Jesus said to them a prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house now he did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief amen let us pray gracious Father in heaven we pray oh God that this day you would grant us faith to believe we know that our hearts are by Nature hard by Nature we are unbelieving and we refuse to come to the light and yet you have commanded us all men everywhere to believe the gospel and we pray oh God that you would grant us that Faith this day and if there be those amongst us that have not yet sealed their their destiny that have not yet closed with Christ that have not yet been called out of Darkness into Marvelous Light may this be that day where they are granted Faith to believe and where they come forth we pray in Jesus name amen for our final hymn we'll turn to number 463 in the Himel 463 we'll be singing it to a different tune than to what is written but one that we're familiar with please stand with me as we sing 463 holy as mighty ocean glor all is the C of my over to my glorious [Music] Jesus for his all for we inter Jesus his o blessing his to glory for good morning to everybody it's nice to be in the house of the Lord with everyone it's uh nice to see almost a full house here I pray that uh as we continue in worship it'll be a blessing for all of us to have congregated here you you can turn in your Bibles to Psalm 19 Psalm 19 and just as a note to let you know where we're going we're also going to read from two other passages and I'll explain why after we read and pray after reading Psalm 19 we're going to turn to Luke 24 and after reading Luke 24 not the entire chapter I'll tell you where to turn after reading Luke 24 we're going to read a passage from Romans 10 Psalm 19 beginning in verse one this is the word of the Triune God to the chief musician a Psalm of David the heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament shows his handy workk day unto day utters speech and night unto night reveals knowledge there is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard their line has gone out through all the Earth and their words to the end of the world in them he has set a tabernacle for the son which is like a bridegroom coming out of it out of his chamber and rejoice es like a strong man to run its race its Rising is from one end of heaven and its circuit to the other end and there is nothing hidden from its heat 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 yay 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 who can understand his errors cleanse me from Secret faults keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins let them not have dominion over me then I shall be blameless and I shall be innocent of great transgression let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight oh Lord my strength and my redeemer amen if you'll turn with me now to Luke 24 and specifically verse 44 Luke 24 and verse 44 then he said to them that is Jesus these are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses and the prophets and the Psalms concerning me and he opened their understanding that they might comprehend the scriptures then he said to said to them thus it is written and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day and that repentance and remission of sin should be preached in his name to All Nations beginning at Jerusalem and now finally turn to Romans 10 with me Romans chap 10 and when you get to Romans 10 you can turn to verse 16 Romans 10 and verse 16 but they have not all obeyed the gospel for Isa Isaiah says Lord who has believed our report so then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God but I say have they not heard yes indeed and then quoting Psalm 19 their sound has gone gone out to all the Earth and their words to the ends of the world Amen well let us pray Heavenly Father we thank you for your word we rejoice in the fact that we can gather together in Liberty with Bibles in our hands to freely worship you we do pray that you'd help us in this act of worship the preaching of your word uh do help us to uh glory in your word to glory in the god of the word and to rejoice in the Christ to whom the word points do bless our time give us your spirit that our eyes might be Open the Eyes of our F of our faith might be illuminated that we might behold the glory of God and the Christ whom he has sent we pray in his name amen amen well if you go if you'll go back with me to Psalm one uh to Psalm 19 as that is the passage under consideration just an ex an explanation as to why we read those passages why did we read Luke 24 after reading Psalm 29 and why did we read Romans 10 verses 16 to 18 after that well in uh the account of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ he says something very striking that all Christians should appreciate he says that the scriptures are about him he says he says to his disciples that the the the law of the prophets and the Psalms all spoke concerning me that the Old Testament that three-fold way of summarizing the Old Testament law Prophet Psalms the old Covenant documents the old Covenant scriptures spoke concerning me and he opens up their minds that they might understand the scriptures and then the Apostle Paul an apostle of the Lord in writing to the Romans speaks with regards to the proclamation of the gospel and he cites and he interprets Psalm 19 as applying prophetically to the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and so we're going to look at p Psalm 19 this morning with the title The psalmist's prophetic anticipation of the apostolic proclamation of Christ we we have a common surface and legitimate reading of Psalm 19 as a two-fold sort of Declaration of General Revelation or natural Revelation that creation proclaims that there is a God who is to be glorified in by rational creatures and then the second part of the psalm applying to special Revelation so the supernatural revelation whereby God reveals himself in the Holy scriptures and re reveals uh his will his Christ to the sons of men well we have new testament interpretation of Psalm 19 as using that legitimate figural language though concerning the apostolic proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ we have figural language in our Bible we have the use of metaphor we have the use of symbols we have in this case uh both things and the use of personification the heavens declaring as if they are rational creatures the glory of the Creator so as we work through this particular passage in the for the first six verses we're going to notice first the symbol so the symbolic language used and then the referent what do those symbols refer to um and then the particular message that is being conveyed by David writing and speaking as a prophet anticipating gospel Proclamation so as we work through the first six passages you know what symbols Do symbols stand in the place of another thing or they refer to another thing so the symbol itself the figural language and then the literal reference uh to which it applies and then the message so as we work through seven points hopefully uh within uh you know across the next two hours just kidding we won't be that long um but as we work through we're going to look at seven points here regarding this passage so let's look then first at the glory in the apostolic preaching of Christ and this is seen in verse one the heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament shows his handy work now you might be asking okay you know preacher are you just trying to interpret Psalm 19 in this particular way know Paul does in the Bible in Romans chap 10 he isn't just borrowing the language from Psalm 19 but rightly interpreting and applying Psalm 19 to the apostolic preaching of Christ this is John Gil this Psalm was penned by David and inscribed to the chief musician as others to be used in public service uh service and was designed for gospel times as the subject of its shows which is first not an account of the light of Nature and then of the law of Moses but of the gospel of Christ and especially as ministered in the times of the Apostles as a citation out of it in Romans 10:18 makes clear but we want to notice first the symbol notice the symbol used and it's glorious the symbol used by the psalmist the heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament shows his handiwork isn't it a wonderful thing as Christians saved by amazing and Victorious Grace made to known the Triune God and Jesus Christ whom he has sent to look up to the heavens and not just stop at the burning Sun not just stop at the whitened Moon not just stop at the sparkling stars but to move beyond that and glory in The God Who made those things who created those things who placed them in the heavens that we might observe the glory and the Majesty of God God we are not atheists that just stop in our particular worldview that out of chaos comes order and we stop at the Sun and we stop at the moon and we stop at the stars and glory and chance there is no such thing we glory in the god of perfect creation who has set in the heavens witnesses to his glory some of you might know might know and remember the quote I'm about to quote but CH Spurgeon in his uh in his comments on verse one the heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament shows his handiwork he speaks with these sorts of words he says in the expanse above us God flies as it were his Starry flag to show the king is at home and he hangs out his coat of arms bearing Shield that he might show The Atheist how much he despises their denunciations of him then he go goes on to say and this is this is absolutely correct he goes on to say that he who looks up to the heavens the heavens and the firmament he who looks up to the heavens and then writes himself down an atheist Brands himself at the same time either an idiot or a liar the heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament shows his handywork what is then the referent what is according to the interpretation of the Apostle Paul in seeing this as a prophetical spiritual mystical Psalm that points to the Lord Jesus Christ and the apostolic age what is the reference it is the church and specifically the Apostles of Christ this is Augustine on this point on this verse the righteous evangelists in whom as in the heavens God dwelleth set forth the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ or the glory wherewith the son glorified the father upon Earth now you see in this exercise of preaching this morning we need to stretch our minds a little bit because in you know in the relaxed posture and perhaps the uh I don't want to say laziness but I just said it anyway sometimes we can come to passages and we cannot appreciate or move forward from um a fully informed posture of recognizing as we noticed this morning that Christ is the scope of the scriptures he is the center the aim the target the the Blessed the Blessed Terminus to which all Holy Scripture points the Bible page after page chapter after chapter points to the righteous Christ upon the cross working out the salvation of men we noted a quote this morning in our study in the doctrine of Christ Nehemiah Cox a particular Baptist Forerunner of ours he said in in all our search after the mind of God in the Holy scriptures we are to manage our inquiries according to Christ that's what Christ is saying essentially in Luke 24: 44-47 so here we have the symbol of the heavens and the firmament referring to the Apostles of Christ and the proclamation of the Gospel just so that we understand or that we see that the Bible supports and touches upon this sort of symbology you can turn with me to Genesis 36 Genesis 37 you'll remember some of this language in your reading of uh this passage over the years the language of Heavens applied to men notice regarding this dream of Joseph in verse 9 of Genesis 37 then he dreamed still another dream and told it to his brothers and said look I have have dreamed another dream and this time the sun the moon and the 11 Stars bowed down to me so he told it to his father and his brothers and his fathers rebuked him and said to him what is this dream that you have dreamed notice shall your mother and I and your brothers indeed come to bow down to the Earth before you you see immediately the father understood that all of these things that he just used uh in figural speech the Sun the moon um uh uh oh sorry uh where am I here um verse 9 the Sun the moon and the 11 Stars bowed down to me he recognized immediately that Joseph is speaking concerning his father his mother and his brothers so there's language used of heavenly bodies applying to persons now you can turn with me to Revelation 12 we see similar language used this time with respect to the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ and how Christ in a sense comes out from out of comes forth from out of the true church of god notice Revelation 12 beginning at verse one now a great sign appeared in heaven a woman clothed with the sun with the moon under her feet and on her head a Garland of 12 stars then being with child she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth now now we don't see or we don't find here the interpretation or the reference of the symbolic language but as John is informed strongly and is citing and is utilizing the Old Testament in his writing to the seven churches in Asia Minor we're to understand this in the same way that Joseph was understood in Genesis 37 that this applies in this in this case to the true Israel the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ from whom whom comes forth the Messiah himself this woman here is not Mary but this refers symbolically to the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ so as we find our way back to Psalm 19 hopefully we can see here the Bible's use of figural language and how heavens and firmament firmament can apply to church and specifically the apostles and in fact just one more passage if you turn with me to Daniel 12 Daniel chap 12 we're going to see some language there that applies to Christ and the church and the proclamation of Truth notice Daniel 12:3 those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever so hopefully you can see that passage and its relation and relevance to psalm 19 the heavens the Stars those who turn away many to righteousness the firmament written here as the firmament who declares wisdom or who brings wisdom to those as they shine in a sense like Heavenly Bodies so finding our way back to psalm 19 the symbol is the heavens and the firmament the referent is the church specifically the Apostles of Christ and then so what's the message the heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament shows his handiwork there's language of Declaration being uh being cited here being stated there's language of proclamation it's an interesting thing the heavens in a sense here personified proclaim the glory of God and referring then to the Apostles of Christ we're to see here the proclamation of the Gospel as Augustine and as John Gil and others recognize the message is just as the light of nature shows that there is a God and declares in a measure his glory so the Apostles of Christ declare the glory of God and the Perfection of Jesus Christ it's a blessed thing you know in a sense in a measure the stars were given so that the Apostle so that David being a prophet and Paul interpreting him rightly that those heavenly bodies created by the Triune God can serve as symbols for the proclamation of the Gospel of God we have a bright reminder as Christians the light of nature joined with conjoined with the light of special revelation we can look up to the Stars we can look to the Sun and the Moon and we can remember the symbol and that to which it refers the Apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ because we at one point in time were the recipients of the Declaration the proclamation perhaps the reading of God's holy word we were recipients of the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and by Grace we believed what a blessed thing as you look up to the stars as you look up to the Sun and the Moon we don't as atheists stop there we look beyond that to whom those things point the god of glory and as Christians with full and complete Bibles we can even move beyond that and recognize that the glory of God was proclaimed in and through his son the Lord Lord Jesus Christ we have a blessed thing here in Psalm 19:1 so that's the glory in the apostolic preaching of Christ secondly the significance of the apostolic preaching if you're in Psalm 19 notice verse two day unto day utters speech and night unto night reveals knowledge so with respect to the symbol we see here the constancy of day leading to night leading to day there's something of a constancy here a persistence in the proclamation of something the heavens and the firmament day after day and night after night Proclaim that there is a God and Proclaim knowledge uh our confession uses the language of the light of nature in fact the quote I think there from from Gil or from someone uh refers to the light of nature our confession says uh the light of nature proclaims that there is a God who is to be feared loved a giver of goodness a giver of good things the heavens and the firmament declare that and day after day atter speech so with respect to the symbol here the the the movement of the Sun the burning of the Sun the rotation of the earth revealing the moon um the moon in the sky the stars that we can look upon all of those heavenly bodies are not silent on some days but there is a constancy there is a persistence in their proclamation of the glory of God the heavens and the firmament Proclaim that and they are constant in that Proclamation day unto day utter speech and night unto night reveals knowledge you see when the atheist comes to the the the creation and he can't move and he doesn't move beyond that to recognize the Creator he is running against the full weight of the utterance of the stars and the Sun and the Moon and the heavenly bodies and galaxies spinning in their orbit because those things day after day and night after night Proclaim that there is a God moving then beyond that blessed symbol to the referent what is it it is then the constancy of the gospel's proclamation in the apostolic age the Apostle Paul understanding this in a in recognizing the symbol and then the referent we have in the apostolic age a constancy and a persistence with regards to the Declaration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ you can turn with me to see some of this turn with me to Acts 20 Acts chapter 20 notice in Acts chap 20 at verse 31 therefore watch and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears with regards to the Apostle Paul there was an Apostolic persistence there was a constancy what does Paul write with regards to his mission with regards to the apostolic Mission with regards to what the church's Mission should be he writes things like God forbid that I should boast save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ I I was determined to know nothing among you save Jes Jesus Christ and him crucified there was a an AC of zeal and persistence in the things of gospel Proclamation another verse you can turn uh to that touches upon this is 1 Thessalonians 2 first Thessalonians chapter 2 notice verse 9 when you get to first Thessalonians 2 for you remember Brethren our labor and toil for laboring night and day that we might not be a burden to any of you we preach to you the gospel of God you see the the apostolic persistence here symbolized by the Turning of the day day leading into night leading into day leading into night the apostolic proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ had a constancy and a persistence and this is something that we ought to pray for in our day is the constancy and the Persistence of the Proclamation of Jesus Christ who is it that is the savior of Sinners who is it that is the savior of the sons of men it's Jesus Christ the lord as we pray for for things in our prayer lives we ought to pray for missionaries who go out like the apostles went out in the early church they go out to countries AF far off to Proclaim The Riches of the same Christ that the apostles proclaimed the riches and the excellencies of the same gospel that the apostles proclaimed day after day utters speech night after night reveals knowledge the message with respect to this is that the S is the sustained Zeal by which the gospel of Christ was proclaimed that's the message here David as a prophet seeing looking forward to his greater son and the proclaimer of good things the proclaimer of his redeeming power he sees the proclamation of his greater son and writes concerning its constant and it sustains Zeal isn't that we what we need as the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ in a in a perverse and Dark Age is a persistent Zeal a sustained Zeal for our savior because he's the answer for sin and Madness and depravity in our world Christ is the answer it is the Lord Jesus Christ who ought to be constantly and persistently proclaimed by the church of the Lord Jesus Christ we we don't need we don't need uh humanist sermons coming from the pulpit we need Christian sermons we need pulpits that flame with righteousness proclaiming the riches and the excellencies of so great a savior the sustained Zeal by which the gospel was proclaimed day unto day utters speech and night unto night reveals knowledge the importance and constancy the persistence and I think we can take this for granted first off with the simp we can take it for granted we just you know rest kind of uh we acques we abandon ourselves in you know in sometimes a lack of recognition to the fact that the sun's going to rise then it's going to set you know that I'm not going to say the moon's going to rise because it's a little bit different with the moon but that we'll see the moon and that will'll we'll see these things in the sky we kind of take them for granted and really if you perhaps examine yourself unless you're the the most amazing you know example of of an observant Christian um we don't always look up at the sun look up at the sun and the the moon and look up at the stars and and just you know joyfully spend time in glorifying our God and in glor glorying in the Creator we you know it's easiest for for us to just get outside and look at the sun oh man and get in our in our van and drive away or you you know get get outside and look at the Moon ah cool and you know we are not not to take these things for granted we are to look up to the heavens and look up to the firmament and know and glory in the fact that there is a creator that he has made us that he has set those in place that he might be glorified and even as special Revelation Testaments to the Gospel of Jesus Christ so the message with regards to verse two is the sustained Zeal by which the gospel of of Christ was proclaimed thirdly then the extent of the apostolic preaching of Christ notice in verse three and then 4B Psalm 19:3 there is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard their line has gone out through all the Earth and their words to the end of the world this pertains to the extent of the apostolic preaching of Christ the symbol here as we read is the voice of the sun moon and stars there is no place absent from the witness of the heavens the the creature who rejects God the creature who rejects that there is a Creator cannot escape from the revelation of the light of nature everywhere he goes creation declares that there is a God the unbeliever The Atheist whoever the the rejectors of God remember suppress that truth in unrighteousness it's not that it isn't there declaring and proclaiming the glory of the cre Creator it's just that they work so very hard to suppress the fact that creation speaks to the glory of God Christians as Christians saved by grace through faith we can look at the heavens and we can see their constant voice we can recognize that wherever we go we can cast Our Eyes Upon creation and then Mount ourselves and lift ourselves up by the spirit to recognize that there is a God in high heaven who has made these things there is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard their line has gone out through all the Earth so what is then the referent here it is the Church of Christ and specifically the apostles proclaiming John gil on this but certain it is that the Apostle is speaking neither of the light of nature nor the law of Moses this is the reference of this passage in Romans chapter 10 so the Apostle Paul is interpreting it not with respect to the light of nature nor the law of Moses but of the preaching of the gospel and what the psalmist literally understood says of the heavens that the Apostle in an allegorical and mystical sense or by an argument from the Lesser to the greater or by way of Illusion applies to the apostles and Ministers of the Gospel The Luminaries of the world and stars of Heaven whose Ministry by this time Romans 10 had reached the then known parts of the habitable world it was an amazing thing following the death and resurrection and Ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ how the apostles went out with that Zeal and brought that message to every nation under Heaven according to the scriptures it's not a glorious thing you know they were scattered at his crucifixion many were in hiding of course one we know Peter denied him Thrice before the servant girl they they were scattered but in the lordes Jesus Christ's Resurrection Glory he came to them he gathered them to himself he opened the eyes of their understanding to let them know that the scriptures speak concerning him and then he sent them out he commissioned them to go out to every nation under heaven and proclaim the goodness of Christ and his Redemption of men the the extent of the apostolic preaching of Christ the expansion of the Gospel the message is from Psalm 19 3- 4B the expansion of the gospel of Christ throughout the world turn with me to Acts 2 for a moment Acts chapter 2 because do we see this do we see this language of the entire world and the ends of the Earth we do in many places and one of those first is Acts chapter 2 when you get there to Acts chapter 2 notice verse 5 and then verse 11 acts 2:5 and there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews devout men from every nation under heaven and then verse 11 cretans and Arabs we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God what an amazing providential thing that on the day of Pentecost these from every nation under Heaven and the nations are listed between those two passages all of these nations under Heaven Come to Jerusalem and they hear the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ isn't God glorious in his providential deal ings he brings all of these sinners from all these nations under heaven and they hear uh in their own tongues the wonderful works of God the heavens declare the glory of God the firmament shows his handwork The Works of God the gospel of Glory the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ the expansion of the gospel of Christ throughout the world notice also in Colossians chapter 1 Colossians chapter 1 and specifically there first at verse 6 notice what we read in Colossians 1 at verse 6 uh backing up to back just backing up a well yeah we'll start at verse six which has come to you as it has also in all the world and is bringing forth fruit as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth it's line their line has gone out throughout the world their voice has gone out to the ends of the Earth and uh just a just a note on this uh Steve reminded me of a particular quote the other day in in last Sunday's prayer meeting we are Psalm 19 is speaking to the expansion of the Gospel in the apostolic age the proclamation of Jesus Christ but if we think about our own particular situation 2,000 years removed from that we've noted before isn't it a blessed thing that we here thousands of miles thousands of kilometers away 2,000 years removed are the blessed and undeserved undeserved beneficiaries of the Proclamation of this same Christ and this same gospel we have been the recipients of the Gospel that has gone out through the ends of the Earth what a blessed thing that God in his Providence sustain the proclamation of Truth throughout Millennia and that we Gentiles heard of Christ and we came by Grace uh to Faith and to believing in him this quote is speaking with regards to the spread of the Gospel there was a time in uh there was a time here this particular fellow he's a poet and I believe an ambassador to France or something like that and there were people at a table speaking in a denigrating manner of about Christian Missionary work uh they were they were mocking Christian missionaries and this man James Russell L replies and he says I challenge any skeptic to find a 10 square mile spot on this planet where they can live their lives in peace and safety and decency where Womanhood is honored where infancy and old age are revered where they can educate their children where the Gospel of Jesus Christ has not gone first to prepare the way if they find such a place then I would encourage them to immigrate thither and there Proclaim their unbelief isn't that wonderful the gospel has gone out to the ends of the world in Psalm 19 it's captured by the prophet David in the language that we read there there is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard their line has gone out through all the earth and the words to the end of the world a number of Sundays ago we read that language with regards to Jesus Christ I believe it was in Matthew 12 and citing the Old Testament where it says and specifically I believe Isaiah 46 but uh it says in his name Gentiles will trust and we ought not to skip past that and just sort of read it read The Narrative and okay yeah you know after after the apostles you know speak to uh Jerusalem Jews and they go out and they speak to Jews and synagogues then they went you know to the Gentiles two 2,000 years ago that blessed promise of the Prophet also applies to us Gentiles in his name Gentiles will trust there was a blessed time in history where for Christians here this morning we we received the gospel at some point we we received we heard of this Christ we heard of Salvation by him and by Grace the Lord God Almighty brought us forth from the deadness of sin to life in Christ brought us forth from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of the son of his love and that was by the proclamation of the Gospel in his name Gentiles will trust should be blessed words upon the lips or in the minds of Christians because the gospel has gone out through all the Earth it has gone to the end of the world notice fourthly well actually just one more one more quote on this this is Sutcliffe and this is this applies to uh our understanding or Paul's interpretation of this applying to the apostolic age and specifically how the gospel has gone out to the end ends of the Earth the elegant tertullian in his apology for the Christian religion applies the same idea to the spread of the Gospel with respect to Psalm 19 after starting after stating to the EMP emperor that their cities their camps and castles were full of Christians he asks in whom have all the nations of the earth believed except in Christ not only the parthians the mes the elamites not only friia and pamilia not only Egypt Libya and sirene not only the boundaries of Spain but Gaul and those parts of Britain this is the thirr century inaccessible to the Roman arms are become subject to Christ origin also asks when before the time of Christ did the land of Britain agree in the worship of one God when did morania the country uh when did morania when did the whole globe at once agree in this whereas now on amount on account of the church's spread to the utmost boundaries of the world the whole earth rejoices to invoke the gospel of is Israel as three bishops from England attended a council at Aries in the south of France in the year 215 it is almost certain that the gospel was preached in Britain in the apostolic age so this language speaks to the Blessed extent of the Gospel preaching of Christ and we ought to pray that that same gospel would be continued to be preached in churches throughout the world fourthly the power in the apostolic preaching of Christ notice the Lang here as we move on to 4C just above verse 5 there if you see that in your Bibles so the power in the apostolic preaching of Christ from 4C to verse 6 in them he has set a tabernacle for the sun which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber and rejoices like a strong man to run its race its Rising is from one end of heaven and it circuit to the other end and there is nothing hidden from its heat so this with respect to the symbol we have the heavens which contain the sun the sun itself and then the bridegroom so we have this symbology being used with respect remember still to the heavens and the firmament in them the heavens and the firmament he has set God has set a tabernacle for the Sun and that sun is like a bridegroom so it's a it's a figure here wrapped in a larger figure if you read if you read the particular symbology so we have here the that which the heavens uh contain the sun uh the sun itself and a bridegroom so what then is the reference the the CH well actually before we move On th this continual language with regards to the revelation of God in creation you know we we should keep coming back to this because it is with Madness and the highest colossal Folly that the atheist the unbeliever rejects the Declaration of creation as you've heard Pastor Butler uh you know often say you know that as in a in a mock conversation The Atheist might say well where's the proof of a God we have we have it all around us we look up to the heavens we look to the mountains we look to the animals we look to ourselves uh we look to the fact that we are rational creatures that that you know uh that Gibbons can't engage in Aristotelian syllogisms that the that animals can't engage in logic they don't engage in narrative we have so many so many proofs with respect to Creation that it is madness to run against the fact that the sun is set in the heavens like a bridegroom coming out of its chamber rejoicing to run a race its Rising the Declaration of God its Rising is from one end of Heaven to the other it's circuit to the other end there is nothing hidden from its heat no one can aside from the Declaration of the glory of God what then is the reference it is the Church of Christ the apostolic witness of the gospel of Christ and Christ himself Christ is the son who is coming out like a bridegroom from his chamber this is an ancient Latin hymn that was used uh in the early church and it was used usually sung around Christmas time and they rightly apply song 19: 3 or Verses 4 C to to verse 6 with regards to Christ this is the hymn from Chastity his Palace bright forth came the bridegroom decked with light giant God and man in one glad his glorious race to run from the Eternal Father sent back to him his circuit bent down to Hell his path descends at the Throne of God it ends so they see rightly here this symbolic this uh prophetic and Apostolic understanding of Psalm 19 and particularly this declaration of Christ as the son and as then the sun pointing to with symbology the bridegroom coming out of his chamber remember Christ uses that language of himself in his Earthly Ministry his church is the bride and he Christ is the bridegroom and he is referred to Christ here as the son also we sang this morning in our um in our confession study Hark the Herald Angels Sing and there's a there's a clause in the lyrics that says hail the son of righteousness and it's not s o n of righteousness It's s n hail the son of righteousness the Bible uses that language with regards to Christ and so we have here God setting in the heavens a tabernacle for the son this is Christ set amongst the gospel Proclamation and the Church of Christ um in uh in history so we have the Church of Christ and the apostolic witness of the gospel of Christ and Christ himself declared here what does that mean then it means that no one is hidden from the exalted and ascended Christ in his kingship over all things remember Christ before his Ascension uh spoke to his disciples and he said all authority in heaven and on Earth has been given to me which would have instilled confidence as they go about proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ and as they set forth the Blessed bridegroom who runs like a strong man who rejoices like a strong man to run his race one of the things that we read with regards to the Lord Jesus Christ is that he endured the cross for the shame but he rejoiced in the victory of it he looked forward to the the the Blessed of the benefits that acre with respect to his completion of the of the uh of his mediatorial work with the cross he rejoiced like a strong man to run his race yes he had suffering yes he endured much opposition and hatred yes he suffered the shame of the Cross but Hebrews 12:2 says he rejoiced as well he rejoiced like the strong man to run its race and our exalted Christ is such that nothing is hidden from the heat of the mediatorial and exalted King one of the one of the verses that we have is as Christians confident in the Judgment of the wicked in Revelation is that those Sinners those rejectors of God those haters of Christ will not be able to hide themselves from the Wrath of the Lamb they'll seek to hide themselves under the rocks and the trees but there is nothing hidden from the heat of the son of right righteousness even Jesus Christ the bridegroom so the message of course then is Christ and His glory set forth by the church's Proclamation this is John gil on this the grace of God appeared to all men sha out in a very illustrious Manner and Christ became what the sun is to the Earth the light of the world isn't that what the language that Christ uses of himself as we've been going through as Pastor Butler's been going through the Gospel of John he is the light of the world Jesus Christ repeatedly uses this language of light he is the Sun as Gil says here what the sun is to the Earth Christ is the light of the world blessed language and Augustine and he coming forth out of the virgin's womb where God was United to man's nature as a bridegroom to a bride this is his comments on Psalm 19 rejoiced as a giant to run his way that's an ancient way of interpreting that particular verse rejoiced as one exceedingly strong and surpassing all other men in power incomparable not to inhabit but to run his way for he stood not in the way of Sinners so we have Christ in his glory set forth by the church's Proclamation and I'll say it again this is to be the same Proclamation today we we spoke only briefly this morning but we'll talk about it uh more as we work through the the study on the doctrine of Christ in uh in the morning hour every second Sunday we talked a little bit about the landscape of of the study of Christ or or the landscape of the doctrine of Christ today maybe maybe some of you know but maybe a lot of you don't know there are a lot of problems with the church professing Christ today wrong doctrines bringing Christ down to a low and diminished Christ not asserting his essential deity and equality with the father not asserting rightly his true Humanity mixing those two things up and saying that Christ somehow changed changed in the Incarnation that he set aside Divine attributes and all these sorts of madnesses there is a problem with the proclamation of the true and saving Christ today and there always has been and so we are to appreciate Christ and His glory set forth by the church's Proclamation and as a church we ought to pray for our church yes but for other churches as well that the right Christ the right gospel would be would be proclaimed that the full and saving Christ would be proclaimed that he is not diminished that he is not somehow eternally subordinate to the father that he is not less than the father inferior but that he is essential deity and that he has unbridled equality with the father and with the spirit that he took on true Humanity not not simply a body but also a reasonable or rational soul that he might substitution arily engage in the work the father sent him to do for his people we need to Proclaim Christ and His glory fifthly as we move along to an end the Perfection of the doctrine of Christ so we're coming sort of to the end of of a lot of symbology referring to something that prophetically anticipates Christ and now it's a little bit more literal language that we have in the next three points so notice the Perfection of the doctrine of Christ in verses 7-9 the Perfection of the doctrine of Christ the law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul the testim 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 now as we noted from the quotes that we uh from Gil uh from Augustine and from others this isn't speaking with respect to the law of Moses this isn't speaking with regards to the Ten Commandments or the ceremonial law that sort of thing um how do we know that what is meant by law and when we see here in verse 7 the law and then subsequently testimony statutes commandment fear and judgments we are to understand that all as the word of God these are not different things there might be nuanes if that's a word there might be nuances with respect to how they're employed what they're showing with regards to the utility of the word of God but law testimony statutes commandment fear judgments all of these pertain to the word of God and specifically pertaining to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and again not the law of Moses this is Augustine on this point the law of the Lord therefore is himself who came to fulfill the law not to destroy it an undefiled law who did no sin neither was guile found in his mouth not oppressing Souls with the Yoke of bondage but converting them to imitate him in Liberty so this language here given from 7 to9 again isn't the law of Moses it's not a yoke of bondage and how do we know this how do we know that it isn't the law of Moses but it is the gospel even Christ himself because of what this word of God does notice the language it converts it makes wise it rejoices Etc the law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul it makes wise the simple it rejoices the heart nothing but the Gospel of Jesus Christ can do these things how were we saved not by the law of Moses how were our souls converted remember the law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul how were we converted not by obedience to the law of Moses not by OB obedience to a set of Commandments or statutes we we were saved by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ we are not saved by Deeds of righteousness which we have done the Apostle writes but according to his Mercy he saved us by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit and so what converts the soul it is the preaching of the word it is the word of God itself attended by the spirit in power and much Assurance the law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul so these words these synonymous words law testimony statutes commandment fear judgments all pertain of to the word of the god specifically the gospel and we know this because of what the word of God does in the context it converts it rejoices the heart notice the Glorious qualities of the word of God notice the language that we have here we have perfect sure right Pure Clean true and righteous when we come to the word of God we're not simply coming to a Dusty Tome of of letters and books slapped together into some religious document you know by men with big hats in the 4th Century that's not what our Bible is our Bible is the word of the living and true God it is inspired it is inherent it is infallible it is the Revelation the supernatural revelation of God disclosing the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ and it bears these glorious qualities perfect sure right Pure Clean true and righteous and we see this language the law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul we can rely on we can have confidence in the word of God whatever the word of God testifies to it is perfect there is no error uh there is no fallibility because it comes from divine inspiration that grand Divine and superintending author of the word of of God the single author has given us his spe special Revelation and by virtue of that fact it is perfect so when we read our Bibles and we read believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved that is true that is sure there a perfect revelation of the law of God if you're here this morning and you're outside of Christ and you don't believe in him if you if you feel the weight of a holy God if you feel the weight of the doctrine that you have sinned against that holy God and there is no glory outside of that God to be given to sinful creatures and you realize that you are under the just condemnation of this God know with perfection that Jesus Christ is the savior for Sinners and he has promised to save all who believe in him the law of the Lord is perfect similar the testimony of the Lord is sure the statutes of the Lord are right s this this is something that we ought to appreciate as we read our Bibles and that we ought to glory in and have confidence in the the test uh the the statutes of the Lord are right our God is a God who is most holy most loving most pure and whatever the judge of all the Earth does is right and whatever he says is right we have this language of Purity the Commandment of the Lord is pure enlightening the eyes we have this interesting language the fear fear there being synonymous with the other with the other words that are speaking with regards to the word of the Lord but the fear of the Lord is clean enduring forever just touching upon this language I I think we ought to appreciate this language of clean and clean as it applies to the cleansing of the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ we are clean we are cleansed in the blood of Jesus Christ we are made clean by the Perfection of his sacrifice the word declares a savior the word declares the reality of guilty dirty wretched Sinners and the Savior comes and by amazing and Victorious Grace by virtue of the Perfection of his work he cleanses Us in fact the language used in Hebrews 1 with regards to this cleansing or experation of guilt uh is is the same language used by John the Baptist when he says that he will thoroughly cleanse the threshing floor he will sure uh uh you know surely clean out in Divine judgment the the threshing floor there will be a cleansing well this the Apostle Paul in Hebrews 1 applies to forgiveness of sin applies to the work of the Lord Jesus Christ we are sinners saved by grace are clean and that promise of Salvation endures forever we also have this blessed language of the Glorious effects of the word of God so qualities perfect sure right pure clean true and righteous we have also glorious effects of the word of God conversion wisdom rejoicing Enlightenment and permanence the utility the effects what the word of God does for Christians we have conversion wisdom rejoicing Enlightenment and permanence you know we ought to pray for these things and and maybe I'll just just Verge in on wisdom rejoicing and Enlightenment we ought merging with wisdom and Enlightenment together we ought to pray for wisdom as we seek to grow in the grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ don't we want to know our God more don't we want to know our Christ more don't we want to know the doctrine of salvation more we ought to be such who who eat up who who listen to the Declaration of the heavens and the firmament who listen to the Declaration of the apostolic witness who day after day night after night proclaimed knowledge who gave us who who gave us the The Inspired documents concerning the savior of men and rejoicing it's a it's a commandment in a sense the Apostle Paul in the book of Philippians rejoice in the lord always again I say rejoice I it's a commandment but obviously not one that is a yoke of bondage not one that is burdensome why because Christians ought to be our posture our our posture should always be one ready to rejoice in the Lord Jesus Christ ready to rejoice in the Forgiveness of sins ready to rejoice in the glory of God who is even the son of righteousness himself Jesus Christ wisdom rejoicing Enlightenment and we have the Blessed promise of permanence well as we close here notice that we have The Treasure of the doctrine of Christ it is greater than Earthly treasure more to be desired are they than gold yay than much fine gold sweeter also than honey to uh honey and the honeycomb is this true of your appreciation you're rejoicing in and your glorying in the word of God that you treat it as treasure that you treat it as better than gold more to even be desired than gold sweeter you know the language is that it's greater than Earthly treasure the gospel it's sweeter to the soul than the richest food is to The Taste and we all have maybe a favorite food maybe it's not honey there might be some people here who don't like honey very much the the symbology can still apply though pick something that is is really blessed upon your lips whatever that might be it might be a stake with HP sauce on it or uh something like that you know some some red vines licorice or something like that as much as you rejoice in that there is much greater in the reference here to rejoice in Jesus Christ the lord and the glory of the Gospel the word of God is sweeter than honey and the honeycomb it is replete with Benefits it is replete with truth instruction in it the prevention of error and it is a lamp to our feet we are to glory in the word of God and it closes with the desire of the Saints of Christ notice this language uh the desire of the Saints of Christ who can understand his errors cleanse me from Secret faults keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins let them not have dominion over me then I shall be blameless and I shall be innocent of great transgression this isn't a desire for the saint of Christ for the Christian to be obedient to the law such that then he will be blameless in the sight of God but this is a plea this is a desire for forgiveness from God by virtue of the perfect work of Jesus Christ how are we blameless before God how do we stand righteous before God not by virtue of ourselves uh a 1 second examination of ourselves will certainly declare that but the Bible also declares it by the Deeds of the law no one shall be justified in the sight of God so how are we blameless how are we righteous before God it's by virtue of Jesus Christ the son of righteousness it's by virtue of the one who lived in our stead who died in our stead and who rose again punctu uh punctuating the victory of himself over death hell and the grave what a wonderful thing we have in this verse leaning upon forgiveness leaning upon on the righteousness of Christ and then lastly we have this blessed statement by David let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight and notice oh Lord my strength and my redeemer you know this is this is something that we can pray as well our uh our meditations of heart our words of the mouth come acceptable to the Lord God through our mediator the Lord Jesus Christ and they are as such a sweet smelling aroma to God let the words of our mouths and the meditations of our heart be acceptable to God and this is an interesting use of a word you've probably heard this before but you know as Christians we rightly so kind of shudder against meditation conceived largely because often it it it sort of carries the weight of Eastern mysticism that we're supposed to you know clear everything from our minds and and you know be one with the universe or whatever sort of garbage is set forth uh in mystical religious meditation the Christian meditation is such that we fill our minds with the knowledge of the truth that is the best meditation on Earth is to fill our minds with the word of God to fill our minds with the Christ To Whom It points to fill our minds with the doing the dying and the rising again of the Son of God Saints rejoice in your Christ rejoice in the bridegroom rejoice in the son of righteousness Rejoice that you were the Blessed recipients of gospel Pro Proclamation and sinners here believe in this one who died and who rose again for guilty Sinners believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will sing with the prophet rejoicing in your God and rejoicing in our blessed savior well let's pray Heavenly Father we thank you for the word of God we thank you for the disclosure of Truth we thank you for the proclamation it gives us concerning the Lord Jesus Christ and the glory of his gospel we pray that you would help us Lord God to glory in our Christ to rejoice in you are Creator to rejoice in the truth and we pray Lord God that you would save a multitude of Sinners we pray that you would save a multitude of those who would reject the Declaration of nature the Declaration of creation Who currently would reject the Declaration of Jesus Christ the Savior we pray that by your grace and For Your Glory and by your word and spirit you would bring them forth from Darkness to light do go with us now and help us to honor your day we pray in the name of Jesus Christ Our Savior amen well we can stand and sing our closing hymn which is 224 stanza 1 that's 224 and stanza 1 GL please be seated we'll have a time of prayer and meditation and after the piano's finished you'll be dismissed