THE CREATOR, NOT THE CREATION--PSALM 104:27-30

THE CREATOR, NOT THE CREATION

Genesis 1 isn’t the only source of our conviction that God is Creator. Both Old and New Testaments teach the essential integrity of all we read in Genesis. Both help us explore the meaning of Genesis’ towering affirmations about God and the world, which we meet first in this initial chapter of our Bible.

One of the most striking additions is in Isaiah: “For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.” Isaiah 45:18.

See Psalm 104

Psalm 104:27-30, “These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season. 28-That thou givest them they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good. 29-Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust. 30-Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth.”

See Psalm 148

Vs. 5-6, “Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created. 6He hath also stablished them for ever and ever: he hath made a decree which shall not pass.”

The Personal Touch

When we teach the familiar Creation story, it’s important for us to adopt the attitude of the psalmist.

The psalmist acknowledges God as Creator.

 He knows the story of the seven days.

 But as the psalmist meditates, his thoughts are not drawn off to speculations about, “How?” Instead, the psalmist moves quickly beyond the “scientific” questions that so attract us to focus on the central message:

 All that exists is the work of a Person. Everything around us has been carefully and thoughtfully designed.

 Creation is a mirror, placed to reflect our thoughts and our worship back to the Person whose image Creation enables us to see.

 This is the central message of Genesis 1. Our attention is directed not to the world, but to its Maker.

 Psalm 19 points out that the universe itself is a wordless message about God which anyone, whatever his language, can hear.

1. “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. 2. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.

2. 3-There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. 4-Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, 5-Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. 6-His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.

3. 7-The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.

4. 8-The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.

5. 9-The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. 10-More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. 11-Moreover by them is thy servant warned:

 and in keeping of them there is great reward. 12-Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. 13-Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.

 14-Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.”

Paul made this same point in Romans 1.

 But there Paul saw Creation as evidence to be used against those who do not believe.

 Paul argued that man’s wickedness is revealed in the human struggle to suppress the knowledge of God available to all in creation. Vs. 19-20, “Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20-For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:”