Series: Psalms
Title: The Sun of Righteousness
Text: Psalm 19: 1-6
Date: October 12, 2014
Place: SGBC, New Jersey
Psalm 19: 1:
«To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.» 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. 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.
The glory
of God and the work of his hands are declared in God’s creation. Therefore, every sinner who does not worship God
is without excuse because “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.” (Rom 1: 20) But in
these first six verses of this Psalm, we see much more than that typified by
God’s creation. We see in God’s creation
the glory, and the work of his hands, in that spiritual creation made by Christ
Jesus his Son. All things that God made in creation by
Christ were created to glorify God in Christ.
Colossians 1: 16: For by him were all things created,
that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they
be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created
by him, and for him: 17: And he is before all things, and by him all things
consist. 18: And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning,
the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
THE RISING SUN
First,
the rising sun shows us a picture of the rising of Christ from the grave, “which
is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber.” The sun is a type of Christ
Jesus. We read in Malachi 4: 2, “But
unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in
his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.” The
glory of the morning sun rising on the horizon pictures the resurrection glory
of Christ. In the Mount when Christ was transfigured before the apostle Peter, scripture
says, “his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.”
(Mt 17: 2)
Our
text says, “the sun is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber.” Christ is the Bridegroom and all his elect
are his bride. “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church,
and gave himself for it.” (Eph 5: 25) The “chamber” is the room where preparations
are made just before the marriage. But we usually think of the bride as being
the one in her chamber, preparing herself, getting ready to emerge for all to
see her beauty. So why is the bridegroom in his chamber? In grace, the bride is a harlot in
herself! We are dirty, polluted, and disgraceful
in ourselves. Our beauty is Christ!
So
instead of the bride being in her chamber preparing herself, Christ was in his
chamber in this earth, representing his bride, giving himself for his bride, washing
his bride from her sins in his own blood, perfuming his bride in his ointments,
robing his bride in the snow white dress of his righteousness, “that he might
present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any
such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” (Eph 5: 27)
Therefore,
while Christ was in his chamber, in this earth, this whole earth was darkness except
for him. He is the DayStar who visited
us, the Light-shining in a dark place. (Lu 1: 78; 2 Pet 1: 19) When the sun
goes down all is dark. The sun is in its chamber. On Calvary’s tree, when Christ laid down is
life for his bride, the sun refused to shine; darkness covered the earth. When he
gave up the Ghost, he retired to that chamber in the dark tomb.
But
when the new day comes, the morning sun arises from beneath the earth in great
glory “as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber.” Having accomplished the work
for his bride, on the third day—the new day began. Christ Jesus, the Sun of
Righteousness, arose with healing in his wings. Our Bridegroom emerged from his
chamber with more glory than the morning sun.
His
glory is our glory—the glory for his bride.
Be sure to get this. Christ coming out of his chamber in his
resurrection glory was his bride coming out of her chamber in her resurrection
glory. Christ presenting himself to the Father was Christ presenting his bride to
the Father and to himself in all her chaste glory! “Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become
dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another,
even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto
God.” (Rom 7: 4)
I want
every believer here to get this down in your heart. You wake early in the morning, head to your
job, with a thousand cares weighing heavy on your heart. They are legitimate
cares: cares for those under your influence who you love. But each morning as you see the sun arise
from his chamber in all his morning glory, remember, Christ has perfected us
forever by his one offering. Proof is he arose! He is not in the tomb, not in
his chamber anymore, he is alive forevermore. We are risen in him and seated at
God’s right hand in all his glory. And he is ever living to make intercession
for us. (Col 3: 1-4; Heb 7: 25) That’ll put a stride in your step!
A TABERNACLE FOR THE SUN
Secondly,
we see what God the Father has given his Son.
Speaking of the heavens and the firmament, our text says, “In them hath
he set a tabernacle for the sun.” (Ps 19: 4)
God the
Father promised his Son glory as the GodMan when he finished the work of
redemption. Therefore, because Christ
declared the righteousness of God, God raised his Son. After Christ declared God just and the Justifier
of his people, God raised him to great glory giving him a tabernacle to dwell
in, a house, a dwelling place.
Hebrews 8: 1: Now of the things which we have spoken this
is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the
throne of the Majesty in the heavens; 2: A minister of the sanctuary, and of the
true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.
“The
sanctuary” is the holiest of holies in the heavens at the right hand of God, where
Christ now ministers, from his throne, as the Advocate with the Father for his
people. (1 Jn 2: 1) “And the true tabernacle which the Lord pitched and not man”
is his church. In particular, the “true tabernacle” is each redeemed,
regenerated saint in whom Christ dwells in Spirit. (Eph 2: 21-22; 2 Cor 6: 16) “In
them”—in his church and people—“God hath set a tabernacle for the Sun” of
Righteousness. Remember when the ark
went to its place? It went to “Bethshemesh.” It means “the tabernacle or house
for the sun.” (1 Sam 6: 12)
Brethren,
we are the house of the risen Sun of righteousness. That is how real the
scriptures declare our unity with Christ. We are seated with him in glory yet
he abides in us on this earth. Brethren,
don’t miss God’s reminder unto us each new day! He makes the sun rise each
morning in all its glory just to remind us of this glorious good news! Every day when you see that sun rise,
rejoice, the Sun of Righteousness has arisen and there I sit in him at God’s
right hand in all his glory. And when you feel the heat of the sun in this
earth, rejoice, now Christ dwells in us, his tabernacle.
A STRONG MAN TO RUN A RACE
Next,
we see what Christ is doing now, “and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.”
(Ps 19: 5) In the morning, when the sun rises, it comes forth strong, unstoppable. And it has a race to run, “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.” (Ps 19: 6) So it is with our risen King and
Savior. He arose to shine forth in
ineffable glory as the King of heaven and earth, that he might be a glorious
bridegroom, in whom his church might be unspeakably happy. He arose to call out each of his blood-bought
sheep, that he might “fill all in all.” (Eph 1: 22-23) Therefore, we see here a
picture of our risen Lord Jesus Christ, who is the true Strongman rejoicing to
run his race.
He
“rejoiceth” and we rejoice in him because Christ is the “strong Man.” Man would sooner stop the sun on its course,
than stop the Sun of Righteousness on his! As
he did not fail to set judgment in the earth on the cross, he shall not fail
nor be discouraged, till he has set judgment in the heart of each of his
people. (Is 42: 4)
Be sure
to understand: the tabernacle Christ dwells in on this earth is you and me, who
are born of him. As unstoppable as the morning sun, Christ goes forth dwelling
in his people. In his people, from the
east to the west he runs his race, in his circuit from one end of heaven to the
other end. Christ scatters his beams among men through the word which he speaks
through his people. By his Light, through the gospel, he draws his people o
himself:
Isaiah 60: 1: Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the
glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. 2: For, behold, the darkness shall cover
the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee,
and his glory shall be seen upon thee.
Remember
when all was dark in Egypt; the children of Israel had light. (Ex 10: 22-23) So
it is with us who he has given light in the midst of this dark world. Here is what Christ works through his people
by his Light as he draws his people to himself.
Isaiah 60: 3: And the Gentiles shall come to thy light,
and kings to the brightness of thy rising. 4: Lift up thine eyes round about,
and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall
come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side.
Believers
are Christ’s new creation, the new firmament, the new tabernacle, in which
Christ the Sun of Righteousness dwells. He gives us light to give light upon
the earth like he did in the first creation.
Genesis 1: 16: And
God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser
light to rule the night: he made the stars also. 17: And God set them in the
firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, 18: And to rule over the
day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw
that it was good.
Believers
get our light from Christ like the moon and stars get light from the sun. Christ
rules the day, every day and every night, from on high. His people rule the
night of this earth for we are the light of the world getting our light from
Christ. By his light he separates the light from the darkness.
THE LIGHT AND THE HEAT
Christ’s
Light and Heat is the Truth of the gospel which we preach, by which Christ
draws his people.
Psalm 43:3: O send out thy light and thy truth: let them
lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles.
Notice how
the text goes from speaking of “the heat of the sun’s light” to speaking of
“the word of the LORD.” The heat is his
word, his gospel, “there is nothing hid from the heat thereof. The law of the
LORD is perfect, converting the soul.” (Ps 19: 6-7) So as Christ dwells in his
church—his gospel which is his light and his heat—goes forth through the gospel
which Christ gives us to preach. Therefore, all shall hear his gospel.
The
heavens and firmament are a type of his people, and the gospel we preach, because
all God’s true people do exactly what our text says the heavens and the
firmament do, “the heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth
his handywork. (Ps 19: 1) We declare
only “the glory of God.” Our gospel is concerning the Excellency of God: his
righteousness and justice; his mercy and faithfulness, the praise and honor due
unto God alone is the glory of God we preach.
We have nothing to glory in! “For all have sinned, and come short of the
glory of God.” (Rom 3: 23) Also, we
declare “the work of his hands.” His
true people declare the great work of Christ in redeeming all his elect people
from our sins on the cross, along with his work of sanctifying us from the
power of darkness into his glorious kingdom by the work of his Son, Christ
Jesus, within his people. The only time our message concerns the works of men
is to declare that outside of faith in Christ, all our works are filthy rags,
vanity, corrupt and sin. Or to teach believers to adorn his doctrine in our
walk so that as we preach Christ, all eyes will be on Christ alone, rather than
looking to charge us with sin.
2 Corinthians 4: 5: For we preach not ourselves, but
Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6: For God,
who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to
give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7: But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the
power may be of God, and not of us.
Everyone,
everywhere, hear the word of the heavens and the firmament and are left without
excuse. So it is with our gospel. Be
sure to mark these words in our text, “There is no speech nor language, where
their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their
words to the end of the world.” (Ps 19: 3-4) This is a picture of the preaching
of the gospel going throughout all the earth. In Romans 10, the Apostle Paul quotes
our text, applying it to Christ’s gospel going into all the world by his
preachers, “But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into
all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.” (Rom 10: 18)
Brethren,
Christ, his preachers and all his witnesses—like the sun, stars and
moon—declare in all the earth God’s glory in the work of redemption. So when
you admire the stars and moon reflecting the light of the sun before all the
earth, think of Christ and his church declaring the Light of Christ in all the
earth through preaching. Both God’s creation and Christ’s gospel leave sinners
without excuse for not seeking Christ while he may be found. “There is nothing
hid from the heat thereof.” (Ps 19: 6) Just as men cannot hide from the heat of
the sun in the sky, none can hide from the word of the Lord. Do we have examples?
Shortly,
after the Sun of Righteousness arose, when the day of Pentecost was fully,
truly come, as Peter preached, declaring, “that God hath made that same Jesus,
whom ye crucified, both Lord and Christ” it was the Sun of Righteousness
shining forth through Peter, through the word he preached. Christ’s heat and
healing beams healed three thousand chosen, redeemed sinners that day by regenerating
them and bringing them to faith in Christ through that word! (Acts 2: 36-41) Then
a little while later, the Sun of righteousness went on his circuit a little
further and shined forth in the gospel, adding another large host to the
church. Christ continued on his circuit as he scattered his disciples into all
the earth, “Therefore they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching
the word.” (Acts 8: 4) That word they preached were like the rays of the sun
shining forth everywhere they preached. Christ continued on his circuit,
arresting Paul on the road to Damascus by shining a light “above the brightness
of the sun.” (Acts 26: 13) The Sun of
Righteousness continued on his circuit like a strong man rejoicing to run a
race as he sent forth the apostle Paul to the Gentile nations because God said
of Christ, “It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up
the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give
thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end
of the earth.” (Is 49: 6) So it is until this day. The Sun of righteousness
continues on his circuit shining his light through the gospel we preach. There
are some of his redeemed yet in the darkness of sin and death. But each shall feel the heat of Christ and
shall be healed.
Not
only that, the heat of his wrath shall be felt by all who oppose him. The same
Sun that heals some, burns others. But all feel the heat for better or worse. Whether
a savor of death unto death or a savor of life unto life, there is nothing hid
from the heat thereof. (2 Cor 2: 16) He rules in providence over all people,
whether they believe him or not
Oh, how that ought to encourage us! Be not afraid to face
the vilest or the most self-righteous. Speak the gospel, calmly, plainly to
all. All will be made to feel the heat
in power, either by being made willing in the day of his power or they will
feel the heat of condemnation. (Ps 110: 3) Our part is to merely speak the
truth and leave the results to him.
THINGS TO REMEMBER
Lastly,
here are a few things to help us day-to-day.
First, Christ
instructed all who believe, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may
see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Mt 5: 16) The
Holy Spirit used Paul to tell us exactly what that means, “Do all things
without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the
sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among
whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding
forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have
not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.” (Php 2: 14-16) The moon and stars
dwell where it is dark but they are full of light which they get from the sun.
So it is with us. We dwell in a dark place. We have no light of ourselves. But by
Christ shining in our hearts, he says, “Ye are the light of the world.” (Mt 5:
14) “A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.” (Mt 5: 14) That means the world
sees you. They are supposed to. Christ
lit us for that purpose. A man does not light a candle and put it under a
bushel, he lights it to light up the room. (Mt 5: 15) So remember the world is
watching. Do nothing except what adorns
Christ and our gospel.
Secondly,
think how consistent the light of the sun is.
It has never changed. It is the same today as it was when it first
shined. Likewise, because we get our light from the Sun of Righteousness our
doctrine never changes. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and to day, and
for ever.” (Heb 13: 8)
Thirdly,
remember all things in God’s creation revolve around the sun in the sky. Likewise,
all things in God’s spiritual creation revolve around Christ. Christ is the
center of all things. “Christ is all and in all.” (Col 3: 11) What would happen
if the sun stopped shining? We would all die. Everything that is alive would
die. Believer, in every decision—from least to greatest—in thought, word and
deed—remember Christ is All. You could sooner do without the light of the sun
than you can do without the healing heat of the gospel of Christ. Just as the sun is the only light, the source
of all life and fruitfulness; Christ is our only Light, Life and Strength. (Jn
14: 6; 2 Cor 12: 9; Jn 15: 5; Php 4: 13)
He grows the least to the greatest, like the sun grows the tender herb
even the mighty redwood. All fruit is brought forth in holiness by the Lord
Jesus Christ just as the sun brings forth all fruit in nature. (Php 1: 11) We
never grow beyond the source of life.
Fourthly,
remember, the sun is the magnet. The sun is the point from which our compasses
give us direction and bearings. Likewise, Christ is the magnet that guides and
controls us. When in the forest, the
wise man is always looking at his compass or always looking at the sun in the
sky so he knows which direction he is headed. The wise man in grace does the
same. The man who does not have Christ is like a man without a compass
wandering aimlessly, lost in the forest. Believer, always be looking to Christ
the Sun of Righteousness so you know you are headed in the right direction.
Lastly,
remember, when the sun rises, at the end of the day, it always returns to the
earth. Christ has now arisen, but when the day of grace is over, he shall
return. This is what shall take place, “As
therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the
end of this world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall
gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And
shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of
teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their
Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.” (Mt 13: 40-43) The self-righteous religious folks walking
around boasting of themselves, bragging on how “I let my little light shine”
will be in for a rude awakening in the day of judgment. But those broken and contrite, those who make
themselves invisible in this earth that all eyes and ears might be on Christ
and his glory in the gospel shall be held up as the trophies of God’s grace and
“then shall the righteous shine forth as the Sun in the kingdom of their
Father.” Moses came down from the mount from being with Christ and his face
shined so brightly he had to put on a vail so the people could behold him. So shall we when we see the Sun of
Righteousness as he is, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not
yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we
shall see him as he is.” (1 Jn 3: 2) In the new heavens and new earth, where
all shall be the creation of Christ, and righteous by Christ, there will only
be one Light, “And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to
shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light
thereof.” (Rev 21: 23)
So we
see that everything in this creation was made to glorify Christ in his work of
making the new creation in his righteousness. He is the Light and Life we must have. Seek him today and live with him forevermore!
Amen!