The Bible In Paintings, #181: PSALM 19 – THE HEAVENS DECLARE THE GLORY OF GOD

Bing Images | c.2200 BC - c.95 AD | by the Father, Son & Holy Spirit

[Hebrews 11:6]

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THE HEAVENS

DECLARE

THE GLORY

OF GOD

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P S A L M
1 9
New International Version, emphases added
Abrdgd: the complete text is in your Bible


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C L I C K :

To read PSALM 19 in full
To hear MAX McLEAN reading it
To hear a DRAMATIZATION of it
HIGHLY recommended by Maudeen!
To see an ANIMATION of the Psalms

9 7 9
B. C.

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SPECIAL NOTICE:

The fundamental purpose of this series is TO ILLUSTRATE THE BIBLE. Because cameras did not exist in biblical times, we're forced to rely on artists' conceptions.

But there are some Scripture passages where the reverse is true: artists have not painted them, but photographs can illustrate them. I intend to do just that, beginning yesterday with the 8th Psalm and continuing with Psalms 19, 22, 23, etc. I had not anticipated this, but the Holy Spirit is encouraging me to cover these texts.

We'll get back to paintings and engravings and stained glass and tapestries and sculptures very soon—I like them, too! Meanwhile, my hope is that these photographic illustrations help more of the Scriptures to be vivid and compelling for you.

If you'd care to reply about this, or to comment on any aspect of the series, please do so.

Dan

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PSALM 19

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they reveal knowledge.
3 They have no speech, they use no words;
no sound is heard from them.
4 Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.
5 It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,
like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
6 It rises at one end of the heavens
and makes its circuit to the other;
nothing is deprived of its warmth.

7 The law of the Lord is perfect,
refreshing the soul.
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the Lord are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
9 The fear of the Lord is pure,
enduring forever.
The decrees of the Lord are firm,
and all of them are righteous.

10 They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the honeycomb.
11 By them your servant is warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
12 But who can discern their own errors?
Forgive my hidden faults.
13 Keep your servant also from willful sins;
may they not rule over me.
Then I will be blameless,
innocent of great transgression.

14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

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֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎
֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎

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PSALM 19

1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

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1 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source

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2 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source

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2 Day after day they pour forth speech;

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night after night they reveal knowledge.

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3 They have no speech, they use no words;
no sound is heard from them.
4 Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.

. .

In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.
5 It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,
like a champion rejoicing to run his course.

. .

6 It rises at one end of the heavens
and makes its circuit to the other;
nothing is deprived of its warmth.

. .

7 The law of the Lord is perfect,
refreshing the soul.

. .

5 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source

. .

The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.

. .

6 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source

. .

8 The precepts of the Lord are right,
giving joy to the heart.

. .

7 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source

. .

The commands of the Lord are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.

. .

8 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source

. .

9 The fear of the Lord is pure,
enduring forever.

. .

9 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source

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The decrees of the Lord are firm,
and all of them are righteous.

. .

10 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source

. .

10 They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;

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11 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source

. .

they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the honeycomb.

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12 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source

. .

11 By them your servant is warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.

. .

12 But who can discern their own errors?
Forgive my hidden faults.

. .

13 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source

. .

13 Keep your servant also from willful sins;
may they not rule over me.
Then I will be blameless,
innocent of great transgression.

. .

14 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source

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14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

. .

15 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source

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֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎
֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎

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Preview of
COMING
ATTRACTIONS

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SNEAK PEEK: Next time,
WHY HAVE YOU
FORSAKEN ME?

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֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎
֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎

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R E S O U R C E S

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Links to three masters who painted Biblical scenes prolifically:

REMBRANDT HARMENSZOON van RIJN

GUSTAV DORÉ
241 wood engravings for
La Grande Bible de Tours

JAMES TISSOT
180 watercolors depicting Bible scenes

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Links to two Bibles with comprehensive illustrations:

The Art Bible (1896)

The Maciejowski-Morgan Bible (c.1245)

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This series keeps moving from one Bible passage to another,
so here is a fascinating and enjoyable link to assist in following along:
BIBLE TIMELINE

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Finally, what God did to initiate The Bible In Paintings:
HOW GOD STARTED THIS SERIES
BY SHOWING ME JUST ONE PICTURE

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SPECIAL THANKS
to FReeper left that other site,
who allowed God to make her His conduit
for incomparable enthusiasm, encouragement,
education, advice and technical assistance!

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NOTES ON MY SELECTION CRITERIA

A r t Q u a l i t y

The Bible and its Author are my focus, not the art: this is The Bible in Paintings, not "Great Paintings" nor even "Good Paintings." So, works need not be masterpieces to qualify for inclusion here—they don't need to be housed at the Louvre nor auctioned by Sotheby's. They only need to illustrate successfully some aspect of the Biblical text or, frankly, just tickle my fancy, which I'm always asking the Holy Spirit to guide.

Often, artists misrepresent the Scripture, but unless the error is material, licentious or heretical I usually include the artwork, trusting that the Spirit is perfectly capable of defending Himself. So, with such forgiving filters, it means that you're seeing practically everything I'm finding.

T e x t S e q u e n c i n g

The Protestant Canon does not (for several reasons) follow a strictly chronological sequence. There are many examples where, for God's good purposes, stories are told out-of-order. Nevertheless, for the sake of simplicity, clarity, and my sanity, I have chosen to proceed linearly and methodically from Genesis onward, illustrating each Bible passage as we come to it. Where two passages cover the same incident I omit the second telling, excepting the four Gospels which I will treat synoptically. Now, onward!

P a c i n g

The pace here may seem appallingly snail-like to those eager to see their favorite events illustrated. My commission is to search for art on each Bible passage in sequence: if I find enough, then it becomes the next installment, even if undramatic (but where there is little or no art, that Bible passage goes untold here).

Then, there is the human element: this is not actually a daily series, because I can only research, compose, edit and post five or six of these installments weekly. And because I only get to do this series once, I'm taking my time, chiefly by posting everything; if I find lots of art, I don't cherry-pick some and discard the rest. Rather, I line up all of them and then sort them into manageable bunches, often resulting in multiple days' episodes of the same story. Obviously, I like being thorough. Were you in a big hurry?

The Bible is a thick book, as you know; but we'll get there eventually, Lord willing—this is His project, after all. And always remember:
love, joy, peace, patience kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness & self-control is a fruit of the Spirit!

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Art is merely the Toy Department of Bible study,
so I'm just having fun here—I hope you are, too!
Thank you for your understanding.

Hebrews 11:6
Dan Lewis
DodgerDan
'55 '59 '63 '65 '81 '88 '20

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[Hebrews 11:6]

I’m sure that made some kind of sense—I’ve seen many examples of importing biblical scenes into contemporary norms—but I just can’t get with it. A current example might be illustrating the Last Supper in a skyscraper restaurant with the diners in coats and ties. Hope Richard McBee and Eggbert Modderman don’t see this....

[etabeta]

It was the era of romanticism in art and literature. I admire Rossetti very much, it doesn’t bother me if he painted an idealized King David, I see wonderful details that carry me into the mind and vision of the artist.

[Hebrews 11:6]

Thanks for explaining that. I wonder if appreciation for romanticism is an acquired taste.

[etabeta]

Maybe, I don’t know. The movement was of intense personal expression, a glorification of imagination. Look at the Romantic era in music, great composers who reflected the ideals of the movement in their compositions. It lasted until the end of the 19th c. with composers like Mahler (my favorite) who helped bridge the Romantic era and Modernism.

Now I am really sorry I have hijacked your page with that picture of King David.

[Hebrews 11:6]

It's lovely that you explain things in such clear terms--I thank you. And you did not hijack anything. First, you, Alba, couldn't possibly. And second, hardly anyone looks at the thread after it's been up an hour; indeed, you are the only poster today whose first post didn't appear within this thread's first twenty minutes. Yours came after 2-1/2 hours. Did you sleep in? (I've come to enjoy seeing your always-interesting posts after that first rush; indeed, I look forward to them with anticipation.)

So, please keep on "hijacking"! Anyway, I told you I knew I was creating a monster, so it's my own fault.

[etabeta]

Too kind, Dan. I was late because I had a telephone call from Italy...you know how talkative Italians are...

[Hebrews 11:6]

How can Italians even talk on the phone? The other party can’t see your hands flying around! Oh, I get it—on a smart phone with picture capability. I have an old flip-phone that my daughter calls my “potato phone.”

[Forgiven_Sinner]

Two of my favorite psalms! I love your picture selection.

[Hebrews 11:6]

Very glad that you do. I'm not a doom-and-gloom Bible-thumper, I'm an ain't-we-got-love?! Jesus enthusiast. So I just have fun with this--it's a total blast. Try it sometime: pick an action verse and imagine how to illustrate it with photos. That's the fun, the imagining. Right now I'm illustrating Ps. 147 and had to figure how to show this:

Great is our Lord and mighty in power;
his understanding has no limit.

That was fun. Fortunately, my Co-Writer gives me input. Hardly anyone will see this, being so late in the day, so I'll show you what I did, out of context:

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[Forgiven_Sinner]

” Try it sometime: pick an action verse and imagine how to illustrate it with photos”

I thought of Psalm 150, another favorite.

[Hebrews 11:6]

Maybe the Holy Spirit gave you that thought. Go for it! I did not find it readily illustratable, but perhaps He was saving it for you.

If you follow through, I'm willing to consider adding it as a guest posting, with full blame attribution, of course.