Revealing Our Rock and Redeemer

Psalm 19 can be divided into three primary sections, centered around verses 1 (“The heavens declare the glory of God…”), 7 (“The law of the Lord is perfect…”), and 12 (“Who can discern his errors…”). The worship service this morning follows much the same pattern: a focus on both natural and special revelation, followed by a prayer that our speech and attitudes would be in line with what is revealed. The first three hymns we sing, All Creatures Of Our God And King, From Heav’n O Praise The Lord—Psalm 148, and My God, My Portion, And My Love, call the entire natural world to “lift up their voices,” “praise Him on high,” and “conspire to lift [His] glories high and speak [His] endless praise.” The two sung responses in the center of the service, How Shall The Young Direct Their Way—Psalm 119 and If Thou But Suffer God To Guide Thee, draw our attention to the Scriptures, urging us to meditate on His law and trust in His Word. The communion hymns, I Waited Patient For The Lord—Psalm 40 and May The Mind Of Christ, My Savior, ask the Lord to teach our “cheerful tongues to praise the wonders of His hand,” and for His Word to “dwell richly in [our hearts] from hour to hour.”  To use the language of Psalm 19, these hymns help us to pray that the words of our mouths and the meditations of our heart might be acceptable to our Lord. —Henry C. Haffner