Bible Reading: Genesis 19 | Matthew 19 | Psalm 19
Devotional for January 27, 2025
Reading: Genesis 19 | Matthew 19 | Psalm 19
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Genesis 19
After Abram pleads with the LORD for the well-being of Sodom (and his nephew), we arrive at the answer to the prayer. You recall that God promised to spare the city if he found ten righteous people. The chapter opens with the arrival of the angels at the city who promptly meet Lot, are welcomed into his home, and protect his family. Though they are protected and brought to safety, Lot’s wife fails to heed the instruction of the angels and is destroyed.
Two lessons can be learned from this chapter. First, God punishes sin. That may seem obvious, but the destruction of Sodom is a paradigm for how God will deal with wickedness and evil in the days to come (See Is. 1:9, 10; Ezek. 14:14, 16, 18, 20). Unlike Noah’s day, when the LORD destroyed the inhabitants of the whole earth, God here acts in a specific manner against those who would rebel against him. Second, God is gracious. Lot was not innocent, but due to the nature of the covenant, God determined to rescue him and his family. Yet, like Noah, his family line is mingled with good and evil (See 19:30-38. Cp. with 9:18-29).
Matthew 19
One of the more critical teachings for our day and culture resides in this chapter, as Jesus determines to teach on the subject of divorce. Though God will reveal more on this subject through the pen of the apostle Paul, Jesus highlights a singular truth: God loves marriage. Divorce occurs only due to the hardness of a man’s heart. In this discourse, Jesus permits divorce on the grounds of sexual immorality. Though that phrase has brought many to examine the nature of sexual immorality, it is pretty clear that God does not permit divorce for any reason whatsoever. Marriage is sacred – a fact Jesus highlights when he refers to it by quoting from Gen. 2:24. Sadly, we live in a world that has devalued marriage by making divorce easy. The ending of a marriage is not something to celebrate but to mourn. Therefore, treasure your marriage (if you are married). Cultivate it! The efforts of the evil one in this area never tire. Marriage is important because it is God’s object lesson regarding Christ and his church.
Psalm 19
The author of this well-known Psalm is unknown. It is a Psalm that praises the God of heaven for his creation and Word, prompting a response from those who know and love him. The Psalm can be divided into three parts. The first (19:1-6) tells us how God revealed himself in creation. The second (19:7-11) tells us how God has revealed himself in his Word, specifically the Law. The final section (19:12-14) calls for a response from those who read the Psalm.
19:1-6
God’s work of creation is summarized in this section with vivid language. The opening line of the Psalm describes what we call “general revelation.” General Revelation is that category in which we take note of God’s revelation in all that he has made. Though this section does not say everything that could be said on this subject, it does tell us plenty. Let’s consider a few observations. First, there is a general statement of God’s glory displayed for all to see (19:1). In all that God made, we behold him and his glory, at least in part. No one is immune to this influence. All of us, made in the image of God, know there is a God, and he shows himself to his creatures daily. Second, there is a series of word pictures that tell us that God communicates with his creatures. Each day, words are offered to the creature, but they are not words that can be heard but words that can be seen in what God does with the world he made. Each day, as we witness the sun rising and setting, the moon, the stars, the beauty of the changing seasons, and many other things, we hear from God and behold his glory and majesty. It should lead us to praise him. We should stop long enough to offer thankfulness and adoration for our God, who reveals himself with tremendous beauty.
19:7-11
God’s Word is another means by which he reveals himself. In fact, without his Word, we would struggle to interpret his creative acts rightly. Theologians call this “special revelation.” Here, in the printed pages of the Scriptures, we come to understand and know God in ways general revelation can’t. This section is highlighted by several summary statements about God’s Word:
· It is perfect – God’s word is without error because it comes from him.
· It is right – All that it communicates is right because it comes from a holy God who cannot err.
· It is clean, enduring forever – God’s Word will never come to an end.
· It is to be desired – We should cherish and love God’s Word more than all the riches of this life.
· It is instructive – It warns us of the consequences that come to those who refuse to follow God’s Word. It is corrective in that it helps us adjust our course of living. It reproves us, convicting us of sin and error. See 2 Tim. 3:16-17.
19:12-14
This section highlights the response of those who behold God and hear from him in his Word. It is a plea to avoid sin; as we learn to treasure God’s Word in our hearts, we will not sin against a holy God (Psa. 119:9-11).
Applications:
When you witness God’s display of beauty in his creation, pause and praise him.
Pray for a more profound love for God’s Word. It is not a natural act for fallen creatures to love what he says in his Word. Plead for more grace and the help of the Spirit to know, understand, and love his Word.