At 10:30PM on October 29th, 1969 Charlie Kline sent the first internet message ever:
“LO”
That message sounds practically Biblical, like the start of some angelic announcement. The reality was much less grandiose. Kline was typing in the word “LOGIN” when the experimental system crashed right after the second letter.
For ages, communication over great distances and separation has been a challenge. Messages and messengers have fallen victim to a variety of dangers and difficulties and interference.
How does God communicate with us? How does he get information about his nature, about our nature, and about his plans for us from HIS mind into our minds?
God is holy. We are sinful.
God is all powerful. We are weak.
God is eternal. We have finite life spans.
God is everywhere. We exist in only one place at a time.
God is all wise. We frequently make bad decisions.
God is all knowing. We have to work very hard to learn even limited knowledge and then later struggle to remember.
This giant chasm between God and people isn’t a physical distance or gap but a separation caused by both our sinful nature and our finiteness. Psalm 19 touches upon three different ways that communication takes place between God and people. We’ll focus upon a few key verses.
In verses 1-4a, David first describes how the works of the heavens send a continuous message declaring the greatness and power of God to people of all languages throughout the entire world:
“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 language where their voice is not heard.
Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.”
In verses 7-11, David highlights the value of the written word of God. The scriptures, inspired and protected and preserved throughout the generations offer amazing benefits for those who value it:
“The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.
The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.
The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the Lord are sure and altogether righteous.
They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.
By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.”
Finally, David models the type of prayerful responses that one should direct back to God (verses 12-14):
Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults.
Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression.
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
God has gone to great lengths to reach out and establish intimate communication with you—through creation, through his Word, and through the perfect sacrifice of our Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ. Make sure that you are praying attention!
