Thanks to Tim Bryant for being a sounding board and instigator for my thoughts.
For ease of reading, most of the referenced verses are listed at the end.
We are incapable of being righteous or even desiring God, but morality provided an insight into God’s character, which could be pursued apart from God or could be the behavioral by-product, the fruit of seeking God. Before Christ, such a pursuit apart from God looked not unlike the rich, young ruler - I’ve obeyed all these since my youth (but something’s missing, I’m still empty), or like the Pharisee Saul – circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel (God’s chosen people), of the tribe of Benjamin (Israel’s first royal tribe, and Saul’s namesake), a Hebrew of Hebrews, in regard to the Law, a Pharisee (most correct in literally adhering to the Law, revering it and following it), zealously persecuting the church, ...
But Jesus changes everything, especially the focus - no longer religious activity, but a loving relationship with God through Jesus Christ, by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, no longer putting confidence in the flesh.
Psalm 19:1-6, Romans 1:19-20
The first six verses represent what Paul expresses in Romans 1 (and the writer of Hebrews): God has revealed his invisible attributes, eternal power and divine nature since creation, in creation. Thus the heavens declare the glory of God, the skies proclaim His handiwork. Their voice and words go out into all the world – God’s manifest witness.
Mark 8:22-26
John Calvin the progressive healing of the blind man to God’s progressive revelation. God’s witness in creation allows us to begin to see God’s nature and character, but our sight is incomplete and dim. Our perspective of God is like the man’s perspective, “I see people, but they look like trees walking around.” Creation does not give us the whole story, just enough to make create in us a desire for more of the story, to find the book and get to know the author. Then Jesus completely healed the man and he could see - the revelation was completed.
Psalm 19:7-11
Then David transitions to the Law – the Pentateuch, a more full revelation of God’s activity. More than just commands, God brought order to chaos, created man in His own image, redeemed and covered Adam’s sin and rebellion, and promised the Seed of the woman would come who would crush the serpent’s head. God revealed His grace to Noah during judgment in the flood, called out Abram and Sarai and changed their names, promising the Blessing that would come through Abraham’s line. God built a people for Himself, developed Jacob’s character and changed his name to Israel, the name for God’s own people. In Joseph’s life, God demonstrated His ability to work out all things for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. God heard His people’s requests, and rescued them from Egypt through Moses, and revealed more of Himself to His people and Moses than to anyone who came before, yet promised a Prophet who would be even more, greater than Moses.
The Law was given to protect a sinful people when they encountered a holy and righteous God. David recognized the righteous requirements of the Law, by their very nature, were too much for man to accomplish. The Law, from its inception, intended to bring conviction and point us to our sinfulness (not righteousness) and need for grace, love, and mercy. Thus, the Law in Psalm 19 is the totality of God’s progressive revelation of His nature and character to His people, a more tangible expression of the witness of creation, and more full revelation than existed apart from the Law.
So, David begins by acknowledging God’s witness and revelation of Himself through creation, and then makes the natural extension to God’s more full revelation of Himself through recorded history in calling and growing a people for Himself and giving them the Testimony, the Covenant we call the Law. It is this full revelation of the Pentateuch that is perfect, trustworthy, radiant, sure, right, pure, clean, true, righteous, and desirable, reviving the soul, bringing wisdom, joy, and enlightenment as it endures.
David shows the conviction brought by the Law to the heart that seeks God, as well as the human inability to know their own heart). David needs personal, Divine intervention. He declares his need for a Redeemer, one to cover his sins.
Yet the promises in the Pentateuch were not yet fulfilled in David’s time, they remained incomplete, still awaiting their fulfillment in Christ, who fulfilled the righteous requirements of the Law in the Word made flesh, the exact representation of His being, in Whom all the fulness of the Deity lives in bodily form, the Firstborn of all creation, and Firstborn from among the dead, the Truth that frees us from bondage, ...
The revelation of God’s purpose and plan from the beginning was completed in Christ.
Genesis 3; 12:3; 15 (specifically referenced)
Leviticus19:18
Deuteronomy 6:4 ff; 18
Psalm 2, 14, 15:2-5; 19; 21:2; 53, 73:16-17; 139:23-24; 141:3
Jeremiah 17:9-10
Philippians 1:17-18; 2:5-11; 3:2-11
Colossians 1:15-22; 2:20-23; 3:3-5
Matthew 5:17; 19:16 ff (esp. v.21); 22:34 ff; 23:5
Mark 8:22-26
John 1:1-18; 8:31-38; 14:6; 15:18-25; 16:1-11
Romans 1:19-20; 3:9-20; 7:7-20; 10:4
Galatians 3:13-29, esp. 23
Hebrews 1:1-4; 3; 7:19; 8:13; 9:12, et al.
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