Psalm 139:9,10
In jet aircraft man can travel faster than the speed of sound. But he can never in any way do anything faster than the speed of light. The sun comes up in the morning, and the rays of light swiftly race westward over the face of the earth. Over the sea, that light races unhindered by hills or mountains to a very distant point at tremendous speed.
Way back in the days of David men knew of this speed of light. David spoke of it in Psalm 139:9, 10in these words, "If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall Thy hand lead me, and Thy right hand shall hold me."
Here David emphasizes the truth that man cannot hide from God or flee from His holy wrath against sin. Wherever we go, we will find that God is already there before we arrive. He does not catch up with us, but He is there waiting for us. We may flee far out into the sea where no people dwell; but God is there dwelling in all His power.
Now, however, David presents another facet of the truth as well. God is not only in all things but He gives life to all living creatures, and existence to the rest. He makes it possible for man to travel from one point to another. Man gets where he arrives because God led him and upheld him. Man depends upon God and continues to live there only as God gives him everything he needs. Our versification has it thus (PRC Psalter):
If I the wings of morning take,
And far away my dwelling make,
The hand that leadeth me is Thine,
And my support Thy power divine.
The truth we ought to take hold of here is that in Him we live, and move, and have all our being. We cannot flee from Him; but we cannot live apart from Him either.
We therefore owe Him everlasting thanks for every heartbeat and breath of life. We also ought to see more clearly how worthy of punishment we are, for we have used very few heartbeats and breaths of life to serve Him. What grace then does He bestow upon us that blots out all these millions upon millions of sins through the blood of His own Son!
Read: Acts 17:16-31
Psalter versification: #382:4
Meditations on the Heidelberg Catechism
Song for Meditation: Psalter #131
Why not sing along??
Through the Bible in One Year
Read today:
Esther 1-3
I Corinthians 11:17-34
Psalm 35:17-28
Proverbs 21:19-20
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Quote for Reflection:
Additional Info
- Date: 18-August
Heys, John A.
Rev. John A. Heys was born on March 16, 1910 in Grand Rapids, MI. He was ordained and installed into the ministry at Hope, Walker, MI in 1941. He later served at Hull, Iowa beginning in 1955. In 1959 he accepted the call to serve the South Holland, IL Protestant Reformed Church. He received and accepted the call to Holland, Michigan Protestant Reformed Church in 1967. He retired from the active ministry in 1980. He entered into glory on February 16, 1998.