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how would an ancient israelite have understood the 'speech' of the heavens without hearing a voice?

The passage, plainly, with room to sit with it.

Psalm 19:1-4

The heavens declare the glory of God. The expanse shows his handiwork. Day after day they pour forth speech, and night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech nor language. Their voice is not heard. Their message goes out through all the earth, their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun,

This psalm, often attributed to King David, celebrates creation's testimony to God's presence and character, then shifts to the perfection of God's law. It's a reflection on how God reveals himself both through the natural world and through his written word.

What does it mean for you to 'hear' a message that isn't spoken aloud?

Keep thinking

Read alongside it

  • Romans 1:20

    This New Testament passage picks up the idea that God's invisible qualities are clearly seen through creation.

  • Job 12:7-9

    Job suggests that even animals and the earth can teach us about God's power and handiwork.

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