Article December 13, 1947 Issue

THE FIRMAMENT OF HIS POWER

DOROTHY EILEEN HEYWOOD-DOVE

"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork" (Ps. 19:1), sang the sweet singer of Israel in joyous praise and wonder as the vision of the omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence of God dawned on his thought. Inspired by a glimpse of God's allness, he reached out beyond and above earth and its environment to the universe of God's creating and sought in psalm to depict the real heaven and the real earth.

As the spiritual significance of this verse dawns upon the student's thought, he, like the Psalmist, gains a glimpse of the Divine Being and His manifestation, or "handywork." He sees a new heaven and a new earth, wherein dwell righteousness, spiritual understanding, stability, peace, and perfection.

Once again does the Psalmist use the word "firmament," and that is in the final psalm: "Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power." Moffatt renders this, "Praise him in his heaven of power." The poet has undoubtedly reached the height of gratitude and praise in this final psalm, for his exhortation indicates that only as the individual enters into the sanctuary or "secret place" can his tribute and recognition of spiritual power be worthy of its divine creator.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Article

"CHRISTMAS FOR THE CHILDREN"