Revelation
Scripture Reading: 2 Chronicles 28-29; Acts 17; Psalm 19
Psalm 19 kind of breaks into two distinct sections when you read it. The first part — verses 1 through 6 — is all about how creation declares God’s glory. The second part — verses 7 through 14 — focuses on God’s word, and how it shapes us to live according to His ways.
If you want to put fancy theological terms on it: the first part is about general revelation — the way God shows Himself in creation. The second part is about special revelation — the way God speaks to us through His word.
It’s like when you see a beautiful painting. You may not know who the artist is, but you know there’s an artist behind it. Same with creation. You look up at the night sky, you watch a sunrise, you see the mountains — and deep down, you know Someone did that.
That’s how it was for me as a kid. Before I ever read a Bible or sat through a church service, I remember looking up at a clear night sky, full of stars, and just having that sense… God is. I couldn’t have explained it, but it was real.
But as good as that is — it only goes so far. Creation can show us there’s a God, but it can’t change our hearts. It can’t show us Jesus. It can’t make us holy.
That’s where God’s word comes in. In John 17, when Jesus was praying for His disciples, He said, “Sanctify them by the truth. Your word is truth.” Jesus knew that as awe-inspiring as the night sky is, it takes more than that to change a life. It takes the word of God.
That’s exactly what the psalmist is getting at in the second half of Psalm 19. It’s the word that revives the soul, makes wise the simple, fills the heart with joy, and gives light to the eyes.
So if you’re reading the Bible this year — and let’s be honest, some days it feels like just checking a box — remember, this isn’t just about reaching some goal. It’s about God using His word to change you, little by little. To make you holy. To shape your life more and more into the image of Jesus.
That’s why we keep reading.
