The Upward Look

Psalm 19:10, 11

The god that is worshiped by most men is gold. And if gold is not in the literal sense that for which they live, their god is that which gold can buy. And the sweetest thing that they know is honey. Such people cannot agree with David when in Psalm 19:10-11 he writes concerning God's judgments, "More to be desired are they than gold, yea than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.   Moreover by them is Thy servant warned: and in keeping of them is great reward."  By judgments David means that which God judges to be true and righteous. In other words His law, His statutes are a very precious possession. If we have them in our hearts, we are very rich. If we delight in them, they are sweeter to us than any earthly food or drink of this earth.

Made in God's image, and created to glorify Him, man, when his soul is converted by the Spirit of God's Son, will see gold and all that it can buy, and all the food delicacies of this earth, as God-given means to serve and glorify Him. He will look beyond the gold and honey. He will desire the gold only as an instrument wherewith to serve and glorify God.  Tasting the sweet delicacies God gave him, he will taste the richer love and grace of God in Christ. These earthly creatures, when God's law has made us perfect and converted our souls, will cause us to lift our eyes above these temporary creatures to look through the heavens to the God Who made all things for His own glory.

By that law man will be warned not to make gold his god, and not to live for the pleasures of the flesh. He will be given the upward look, so that his enlightened eyes see the Creator and not simply the creatures which He made for His own transcendent glory. And of these judgments of God he will sing:

They are to be desired
Above the finest gold;
Than honey from the comb
More sweetness far they hold;
With warnings they
Thy servant guard,
In keeping them is great reward.

Read: Joshua 7
Psalter versification: 38:3

Devotions on the Heidelberg Catechism

Song for Meditation: Psalter number 360
Why not sing along??

****

Through the Bible in One Year
Read today:
Exodus 26 ; Exodus 27:1-21
Matthew 25:1-30
Psalm 31:1-8
Proverbs 8:1-11
****

Quote for Reflection:

...How can a Christian know that he is righteous before God? Not when he looks at himself! When he looks at himself, there is nothing but sin, corruption, and unrighteousness. We are corrupt, and we deserve to die.
How, then, can we be conscious that we are righteous before God? By looking away from self! By looking away from the things that are seen! By looking to God who raised up Jesus from the dead! The moment I may look away from self and may look to God as He shows His face in the resurrection of Christ, I can say, "I am righteous."  — Herman Hoeksema, Righteous By Faith Alone, p. 181