Psalms 33:6 - Homiletics

Creation.

"By the word of the Lord," etc. The Apostle Peter, warning us against applying our hasty reckonings to God's dealings, reminds us that "one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." This he puts in conjunction with the fact that "by the word of the Lord the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water," and with the declaration that "the heavens and earth which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment" ( 2 Peter 3:5-8 ). In like manner St. Paul speaks of the Son of God, "by whom also he made the worlds," as " upholding all things by the word of his power" ( Hebrews 1:2 , Hebrews 1:3 ). God's creative word is no momentary fiat , but a fixed and lasting power and purpose, of which it may be said, as of his written truth, "The Word of God liveth and abideth for ever" ( 1 Peter 1:23 , 1 Peter 1:24 ).

I. THE WORD OF COMMAND ; i.e. the putting forth of Divine will and power. The fact of creation stands in the forefront of Bible teaching. The existence of God is never treated in Scripture as needing argument or proof; it is assumed, as self-evident to every sane and intelligent mind. The starting-point, therefore, of Bible teaching is that all things owe their origin to his will and power. "In the hennaing," etc. ( Genesis 1:1 ). All other being has its being in him ( Acts 17:24 , Acts 17:28 ). Scientific men tell us there is a perpetual dissipation of energy in the universal frame of things; q.d . that all the forces of nature are constantly tending to change into heat , and heat is constantly passing away and wasting itself in infinite space. If so, it cannot fly beyond God's presence and control. The unfathomable fountain of all force, physical and spiritual, is with him. He who made all things "in the beginning" can, when he pleases, "make all things new" ( Psalms 119:89-91 ).

II. THE WORD OF WISDOM . All man's most laborious discoveries—what he calls his science —consist in slowly finding out the truths embodied in God's works. The great astronomer Kepler, enraptured with the wonderful results his calculations revealed, exclaimed, "O God, I think thy thoughts after thee!" Mathematics, astronomy, chemistry—all the sciences—teach us portions of that Divine wisdom on which nature rests. Much of man's wisdom and progress consists in finding out his mistakes. New inventions are superseded by newer. Theories which one generation regards as the most advanced truths, the next generation treats as obsolete and exploded. But the lapse of time brings to light no mistakes, no miscalculations or oversights, in God's work. The history of the past, as far as we can decipher it, shows perpetual progress, but progress for which preparation was made at the very beginning.

III. Therefore it is the WORD OF DIVINE FAITHFULNESS . ( 1 Peter 4:19 .) These three—commanding power , foreseeing wisdom , unchanging faithfulness —make up together the great idea of law. The laws of nature are the laws of God—" the word of the Lord." The constancy of nature is the image (because the result) of Divine unchangeableness ( Jeremiah 31:35 , Jeremiah 31:36 ; Jeremiah 33:20 ).

INFERENCES .

1 . There can be no real opposition between faith and science. Men may misunderstand Scripture or misinterpret nature; but one part of God's truth cannot contradict another.

2 . The study of God's works is a religious and Christian duty (measured, of course, by opportunity and ability). The New Testament teaches that the glory of creation is the glory of Christ ( John 1:3 ; Colossians 1:16 ; Hebrews 1:2 ). If many students of science are atheists or sceptics, that is their fault or their calamity. Nature is full of God.

3 . The more we study the revelation of God in nature, the more we are struck with its silence as to what we most need to know—what only the gospel reveals. "The heavens declare the glory of God," but not his grace. Is there a God who created all things? Is he almighty, all-wise, good, bountiful, patient, just, unchangeable? Nature, with innumerable voices, cries aloud, "Yes!" But is he merciful to sinners? Will he pardon the breakers of his laws? Is there atonement for sin; forgiveness; restoration; eternal life? Nature is silent. The Bible alone answers these questions ( Exodus 34:6 , Exodus 34:7 ; 2 Corinthians 5:19 , 2 Corinthians 5:21 ).