The Heavens are Telling!

Photo Courtesy of Cindy Mercer

"The spiritual restoration of the world is compared to the renewing of the face of the earth in the spring." Jonathan Edwards

I drove through Belhaven this morning and couldn't miss the sights, sounds, and smells of spring. When I arrived in the office my Ministry Assistant, Ashley Hall, declared, "This is the weather of heaven!" Psalm 19 came to mind.

Psalm 19:1-6

The Heavens are telling the glory of God;
And their expanse in declaring the work of His hands
Day to day pours forth speech,
And night to night reveals knowledge.
There is no speech, nor are there words;
Their voice is not heard.
Their line has gone out through all the earth,
And their utterances to the end of the world.
In them He has placed a tent for the sun,
Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber;
It rejoices as a strong man to run his course.
Its rising is from one end of the heavens,
And its circuit to the other end of them;
And there is nothing hidden from its heat (NASV).

Jonathan Edwards is a notable exception to the theologians who give the wonder and beauty of nature short shrift. Edwards held beauty together with truth and goodness. Edwards was a student of nature who took delight in the habits of spiders and the beauty of wildflowers. He certainly denied that general revelation is sufficient for salvation, but he affirmed with unique insight how the heavens do indeed tell of the glory of God, and the firmament proclaims His handiwork.

(More on Edwards' views of beauty and nature on Wednesday.)