Cosmological Argument from Psalm 19:1 and the Created Order
Psalm 19:1 states, "The heavens declare the glory of God. The expanse shows his handiwork" [1]. This verse introduces a foundational concept in biblical theology: the created order serves as a testament to God's existence, power, and wisdom [6, 7].
The psalm begins by highlighting creation as a source of wisdom, moving from the general revelation in nature to the specific revelation in God's law, and concluding with the human need for redemption [6]. The "heavens" (Hebrew: shamayim) and the "expanse" or "firmament" (Hebrew: raqia') refer to the visible sky and celestial bodies [1]. These elements—including the sun, moon, and stars—are consistently presented in scripture as created by God and made to glorify Him [2, 3, 4, 5]. For instance, the sun is called the "greater light" and appointed to rule the day, while the moon is the "lesser light" to rule the night, both created by God and made to praise Him [3, 5].
The opening verses of Psalm 19, particularly verse 1, present a cosmological argument for God's existence. Matthew Henry notes that the psalmist uses "things that are seen every day by all the world" to lead observers to "the invisible things of God" [7]. The intricate structure, beauty, and order of the heavens demonstrate God's being and glory, countering the folly of atheism and idolatry [7]. This perspective aligns with the broader biblical teaching that the world was created, ordered, and populated by the one true God, not by other deities [8].
The created order is an arena where God's wisdom is manifest, and the heavens are depicted as God's dwelling place [6]. The Lord reveals His presence in creation and takes pleasure in it [9]. The concept of creation itself, the formation of things that had no prior existence, is attributed to God, through Christ, and by the Holy Spirit [2]. This act of creation is described as occurring "in the beginning" and according to God's purpose and pleasure [2]. The natural order established by God is significant, and its boundaries are not to be crossed [10].
Sources
- Psalms “The heavens declare the glory of God. The expanse shows his handiwork. -- Psalms 19:1”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Creation — The formation of things which had no previous existence -- Ro 4:17; Heb 11:3. Effected By God. -- Ge 1:1; 2:4,5; Pr 26:10. By Christ. -- Joh 1:3,10; Col 1:16. By the Holy Spirit. -- Job 26:13; Ps 104:30. By the command of God. -- Ps 33:9; Heb 11:3. In the beginning. -- Ge 1:1; Mt 24:21. In six normal days. -- Ex 20:11; 31:17. According to God's purpose. -- Ps 135:6. For God's pleasure. -- Pr 16:4; Re 4:11. For Christ. -- Col 1:16. By faith we believe, to be God's work -- Heb 11:3. Order of First day, making light and dividing it from darkness. -- Ge 1:3-5;”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Moon, The — Created by God -- Ge 1:14; Ps 8:3. Made to glorify God -- Ps 148:3. Called the lesser light -- Ge 1:16. Described as Fair. -- Song 6:10. Bright. -- Job 31:26. Has a glory of its own -- 1Co 15:41. Appointed To divide day from night. -- Ge 1:14. For signs and seasons. -- Ge 1:14; Ps 104:19. For a light in the firmament. -- Ge 1:15. To light the earth by night. -- Jer 31:35. To rule the night. -- Ge 1:16; Ps 136:9. By an ordinance for ever. -- Ps 72:5,7; 89:37; Jer 31:36. For the benefit of all. -- De 4:19. Influences vegetation -- De 33:14. First appearance”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Heaven — Created by God -- Ge 1:1; Re 10:6. Everlasting -- Ps 89:29; 2Co 5:1. Immeasurable -- Jer 31:37. High -- Ps 103:11; Isa 57:15. Holy -- De 26:15; Ps 20:6; Isa 57:15. God's dwelling-place -- 1Ki 8:30; Mt 6:9. God's throne -- Isa 66:1; Ac 7:49. God Is the Lord of. -- Da 5:23; Mt 11:25. Reigns in. -- Ps 11:4; 135:6; Da 4:35. Fills. -- 1Ki 8:27; Jer 23:24. Answers his people from. -- 1Ch 21:26; 2Ch 7:14; Ne 9:27; Ps 20:6. Sends his judgments from. -- Ge 19:24; 1Sa 2:10; Da 4:13,14; Ro 1:18. Christ As Mediator, entered into. -- Ac 3:21; Heb 6:20; 9:12,24. Is all-po”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Sun, The — Called the greater light -- Ge 1:16. God Created. -- Ge 1:14,16; Ps 74:16. Placed in the firmament. -- Ge 1:17. Appointed to rule the day. -- Ge 1:16; Ps 136:8; Jer 31:35. Appointed to divide seasons. -- Ge 1:14. Exercises sovereign power over. -- Job 9:7. Causes, to rise both on evil and good. -- Mt 5:45. Causes to know its time of setting. -- Ps 104:19. Made to praise and glorify God -- Ps 148:3. The power and brilliancy of its rising alluded to -- Jdj 5:31; 2Sa 23:4. Clearness of its light alluded to -- Song 6:10. Compared to a bridegroom coming forth f”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 19:1: Ps 19 God’s wisdom is manifest in heaven (19:1-4), in nature (19:4-6), in his instruction (19:7-11), and in the life of the psalmist (19:12-14). Like Ps 8, this hymn uses creation to motivate reflection—it is a peaceful oasis after the drama of the lament and victory psalms. The psalm begins with creation as a source of wisdom, then moves to God’s word as the perfect source of wisdom, and ends with the human need for redemption. 19:1-4 The created order is an arena of God’s wisdom, and the heavens are the place of God’s dwelling (2:4; see 8:1; 57:5; 89:6; 115:3). ”
- Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 19:1: From the things that are seen every day by all the world the psalmist, in these verses, leads us to the consideration of the invisible things of God, whose being appears incontestably evident and whose glory shines transcendently bright in the visible heavens, the structure and beauty of them, and the order and influence of the heavenly bodies. This instance of the divine power serves not only to show the folly of atheists, who see there is a heaven and yet say, "There is no God," who see the effect and yet say, "There is no cause," but to show the folly of idolat”
- Genesis (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Genesis 1:1: 1:1–2:3 These verses introduce the Pentateuch (Genesis—Deuteronomy) and teach Israel that the world was created, ordered, and populated by the one true God and not by the gods of surrounding nations. • God blessed three specific things: animal life (1:22-25), human life (1:27), and the Sabbath day (2:3). This trilogy of blessings highlights the Creator’s plan: Humankind was made in God’s image to enjoy sovereign dominion over the creatures of the earth and to participate in God’s Sabbath rest. 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth: This statem”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 104:31: 104:31-35 The psalmist moves from describing the known creation to anticipating the new creation, when the Lord will renew the created order into a world without sinners. 104:31 The Lord reveals his presence in the created order (see 8:1; 19:1-4; 24:7) and takes pleasure in his new creation (see Isa 65:19).”
- Leviticus (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Leviticus 19:19: 19:19 two different kinds: God created a natural order (Gen 1:31; see Lev 18:22), and it is violated when God’s boundaries are crossed. The prohibitions against intermixing were also object lessons for the Israelites, who were not to intermarry with the Canaanites.”