HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2016-07-28, Page 14PAGE 14. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2016.
From the Minister's Study
Wonder at the worker, the word says Dow
By Pastor Ernest Dow
Living Water Christian
Fellowship (EMC), Blyth
Ah, summer! Fond memories of
lazy days spent in a sunny spot or the
shade of a leafy tree lying in a
hammock with a good book. As we
seek to relax, be refreshed and enjoy
`re-creation', Psalm 19 suggests we
can be benefitting from God's self -
witness to us both from the grandeur
of nature (His world) and from the
richness of a certain Good Book in
particular, the Bible (His word).
Summer is not yet half over and
already we've had to endure some
prolonged sunny, hot, dry spells that
wither plants and weaken us if we
have to be out in the sun all day.
Think about it: the sun is basically
an enormous nuclear furnace blazing
away at us nonstop, protected only
by earth's relatively thin
atmosphere. Jews did not worship
the sun as did some of the
surrounding nations in ancient
times; Psalm 19 reminded them it
was a created thing which
nevertheless affected the entire
planet. "[The sun] is like a
bridegroom coming forth from his
pavilion, like a champion rejoicing
to run his course. It rises at one end
of the heavens and makes its circuit
to the other; nothing is hidden from
its heat." (Ps.19:5-6)
When we're camping out under
the stars, it's an ideal time to admire
the awesome beauty of the night sky
and ponder how it all got there in the
first place. One of the basic
questions any worldview worth its
salt has to be able to answer is that of
origin: "How did we get here?"
Meditating on the cosmos with its
orderly natural laws and delicately
balanced physical features ought to
direct us to worship its intelligent
Designer. We are much more than
just a random accident resulting
from time plus matter plus chance.
Renowned scientist Stephen
Hawking (not himself a theist)
noted, "The universe and the laws of
physics seem to have been
specifically designed for us. If any of
about 40 physical qualities had more
than slightly different values, life as
we know it could not exist: Either
atoms would not be stable, or they
wouldn't combine into molecules, or
the stars wouldn't form the heavier
elements, or the universe would
collapse before life could develop,
and so on"
The Biblical writers saw the sky as
articulating a nonverbal polemic
arguing for the existence of a
magnificent Creator. "The heavens
declare the glory of God; the skies
proclaim the work of his hands. Day
after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display
knowledge. There is no speech or
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Cfirithaa relleatip
July 31: 2 Kings 5:20-27
August - closed: Visitation Sundays
Evangelical Missionary Church
10:30 a.m. - Worship & Sunday School
at 308 Blyth Rd. (former Church of God)
Pastor: Ernest Dow - 519-523-4848
getlivingwater.or)
language where their voice is not
heard. Their voice goes out into all
the earth, their words to the ends of
the world." (Ps.19:1-4)
The apostle Paul contended that
certain basic features about God
(including His power, greatness,
wisdom) ought to be able to be
inferred from looking around us at
nature. "For since the creation of the
world God's invisible qualities — his
eternal power and divine nature —
have been clearly seen, being
understood from what has been
made, so that men are without
excuse." (Rom.1:20)
A Christian was invited to admire
a great skyscraper. After looking at
its majestic height, he called his
host's attention to a little flower that
he had on his lapel, saying, "True,
this building speaks of human
achievement, but this flower with its
life speaks of God's creation. I can
see God more clearly in the flower
than in the skyscraper."
From "general revelation", the
author of Psalm 19 moves on to
consider God's making Himself
known more specifically through
what's been referred to as His
"special revelation". The Lord
communicates to us both through
His world and His word. Verses 7-9
refer to various aspects of Scriptural
instruction: "law" or teaching /
instruction; "statutes" or decrees;
"precepts"; "commands" or orders;
and "ordinances" or judicial
decisions. The psalmist contends
that these have remarkable effect on
a believer's life. They revive one's
soul, make the simple wise (v.7),
give joy to the heart and light to the
eyes (v.8); in fact, they're more
valuable than much pure gold and
sweeter than honey from the comb
(v.10). That's saying a lot!
God's witness to Himself in
nature, while making everyone
accountable (Rom.1:20), could be
seen by some as nebulous and
equivocal. Since Adam and Eve, this
fallen creation has suffered from
disease, death and natural disasters.
So God has supplemented the
witness of the natural order with His
more specific revelation through His
commands and instruction by the
apostles and prophets, and most
particularly through the teaching,
miracles, and life/death/resurrection
of God's Son in human form, Jesus.
This "special revelation" of God in
communicable form appeals to our
inner intelligibility. People are born
hard -wired morally with a
conscience, an innate sense that
certain things are right or wrong.
Paul notes that even people who
weren't Jewish "show that the
requirements of the law are written
on their hearts, their consciences
also bearing witness, and their
thoughts now accusing, now even
defending them." (Rom.2:15)
It is this more specific divine
teaching made known to us that
addresses the other questions a
worldview must answer: meaning -
why am I here? Morality - what's
right and wrong? And destiny -
where are we going? These latter
matters could not be guessed
unequivocally just on the basis of the
natural order (afflicted as it is as the
result of sin and evil).
Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote,
"Psalm 19 cannot speak of the
splendour of the movement of the
heavenly bodies without at the same
time mentioning in abrupt and
unexpected insertions the much
greater splendour of the revelation of
God's law and the call to
repentance." And, "It is always the
God who has already revealed
himself to his people in his word
who is said to be known as the
Creator of the world. Because God
I lou re 9nvited ajoin `is 9n Worship
SUNDAYS
Morning Service
Evening Service
10:00 am
7:30 pm
BLYTH CHRISTIAN
REFORMED CHURCH
Minister: Pastor Gary van Leeuwen
Hwy. 4, Blyth www.blythcrc.ca 519-523-4743
FOR FAMILY
FOR FAITH
FOREVE
■
HURON CHAPEL
in Auburn every Sunday @ 10:30am hu i chapel.com
Ofteeddeed elotorltactv 'Eel& eitetizet
You're 'nvitecd
to come worshtly
with us
Sunday, July 31
Brussels Business & Cultural Centre
at 10:30 a.m. and at various homes at 6:30 p.m.
from July 3 to Sept. 4
Sunday School for children
4 to 12 years of age at 9:30 a.m.
Childcare provided for infants and preschoolers during
the sermon.
Coffee & cookies after the morning service.
For additional details please contact Pastor Andrew Versteeg 519.887.8621
Steve Klumpenhower 519.292.0965 Rick Packer 519.527.0173
has spoken to us, because God's
name has been revealed to us, we
can believe in him as the Creator.
Otherwise we could not know him.
The creation is a picture of the
power and the faithfulness of God,
which he has demonstrated to us in
his revelation in Jesus Christ"
What is the inspired psalmist's
response to these two great
revelations of God, through His
world and His word? Awareness of
one's need for help and forgiveness
in light of our falling short of such
greatness and excellence. "Who can
discern his errors? Forgive my
hidden faults." (v.12) That's where
God's unique solution to our sin -
problem comes in: the perfection
and mercy of Jesus, crucified as our
substitute. "For the wages of sin is
death, but the gift of God is eternal
life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
(Rom.6:23)
David Kitz comments, "Here in
this psalm, by God -breathed
revelation, this witness speaks of the
reviving work of God's Word. When
God's Word is brought into contact
with the human soul, spirit life
springs forth. Our souls are
reconnected with our Creator. The
harmony between God and man
which was lost in the Garden, is
suddenly restored."
So, enjoy your summer! Relish
your hammock and nature's beauty —
but also dig into The Good Book!
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Let everyone know about
your new bundle of joy!
Call for prices and details
519-523-4792
or 519-887-9114
The flax
Citizen
BRUSSELS
United Church
Please note:
There will be no church services
until August 7th at 10:00 am
Minister: Rev. Gary Clark, BA, M.Div.
Bulletin notices: 519-523-4224
blythunited@tcc.on.ca
Church bookings: 519-887-6377
Other concerns: 226-963-1175
ANGLICAN PARISH OF NEW BEGINNINGS
BLYTH
Trinity
(, 9:15 am
Church Office
519-357-4883
BRUSSELS
St. John's
11:15 am
Church Office
519-887-6862
Everyone Welcome!
COME WORSHIP WITH US!
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
Rev. Elwin Garland
SUNDAY, JULY 31
We invite you to join our church family in:
Worship & Sunday School - 10 am
Coffee & Snacks - 11 am
Fridays 11:30 am - 1:00 pm - Soup & More 2
- a free community meal held in Melville's basement, and
made possible by the Brussels churches working together.
Nursery care available
519-887-9017
k
Blyth United Church
Est. 1875
Worship Service & Sunday School at 11:00 a.m.
Sunday!
Sunday, July 31st
Please come and worship
with us this Sunday
Sunday, August 7th
Our Home Grown Soul Food:
... based on the play
"If Truth Be Told"
All Welcome
MINISTER: Rev. Gary Clark, BA, M. Div. 4U OFFICE: 519-523-4224