Psalm 19 – Skeptic's Annotated Bible answered

A response and reply to the notes on Psalm 19 in the Skeptic's Annotated Bible (SAB).

King James Version

SAB comment

My comment


1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork."
According to the author of the SAB it is unscientific to say we see God's handiwork in the heavens. We must put our blinkers on to do science. How can science, which excludes God beforehand, be called science, if God existed? If God existed, such science would come to severely twisted answers. It reminds me of the novel “Permutation City” by Greg Egan. In this novel we find a description of the Autoverse universe. The beings in this universe are artificial, created by humans. But when their scientific endeavors led them to a theory that accounts for their existence but excludes being created by an outside force, the humans attempt to make contact with them.
That story has some similarities to scientists in our day trying to account for creation without a creator. But thanks to creation research, we can take this verse even more literal than had been thought. Some people believe that the light of the stars that are millions of light years away and reaches us, has been created in transit so to speak. If light of a supernova that happened millions of years ago reaches us, that event did never happen. But with our latest understanding of the universe and that time can run at different speeds from here on earth, the best creation researchers believe that God is not showing us events that did not happen. When we see a supernova, we see light from an event that did happen. When we look back in time with our telescopes, we can actually look back, perhaps even to the fourth day of creation. We see God creating the stars. When God created the stars, he also stretched out the universe, causing time to be greatly accelerated. So we literally see the handywork of God.

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,

(19:4-6) The sun moves around the earth.
Yes sure, David is giving here a physics class. If every poet that uses language that describes the sun in anything less than Einstein equations is accused of believing that the sun rotates around the earth, we're in for a great purge.

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.

7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.

8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.

9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.

"The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever."
Should we fear God?

10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.

12 Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.

13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.

14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.