Seeing God in Creation: Overcoming the Blindness of Sin

 

Summary

Psalm 8 invites us to reflect on the grandeur of creation and our place within it. As we gaze upon the heavens, the moon, and the stars, we are prompted to ask, "What is man that thou art mindful of him?" This question underscores the profound humility and awe that should characterize our response to the universe. The psalmist sees the handiwork of God in the cosmos, leading him to worship and adore the Creator. This reaction is emblematic of the godly throughout Scripture, who see beyond the physical to the divine glory behind it.

However, the modern man often stops at the phenomena themselves, marveling at the sun, moon, and stars without acknowledging the God who created them. This is a result of sin, which blinds us to the reality of God and distorts our understanding of ourselves. Sin affects the whole person—mind, body, and spirit—leading to a materialistic outlook that fails to see the invisible in the visible. In contrast, salvation transforms our perception, allowing us to see all things anew through the lens of faith.

The tragedy of sin is that it blinds us to the two most important realities: God and ourselves. In our pride and enmity against God, we fail to recognize His glory and our dependence on Him. This is evident in the way many today marvel at human achievements in science and technology, yet stop short of acknowledging the divine wisdom and power behind the universe. The psalmist, however, sees God's providence and redemption in creation, recognizing that the Almighty Creator is mindful of us and has visited us in the person of Jesus Christ.

This visitation is the ultimate expression of God's love and grace, as He sent His Son to redeem us from our sins. The psalmist's vision of God leads him to worship and humility, acknowledging the wonder of a God who is both transcendent and immanent. As we consider the heavens, may we too see beyond the visible to the glory of God and respond with worship and adoration.

Key Takeaways:

- The psalmist's response to the heavens is one of worship and humility, recognizing the glory of God in creation. This is the typical reaction of the godly, who see beyond the physical to the divine. [04:47]

- Sin blinds us to the reality of God and distorts our understanding of ourselves. It affects the whole person, leading to a materialistic outlook that fails to see the invisible in the visible. [07:48]

- Salvation transforms our perception, allowing us to see all things anew through the lens of faith. In Christ, we become new creations, seeing the world and ourselves in the light of God's truth. [08:57]

- The tragedy of sin is that it blinds us to the two most important realities: God and ourselves. In our pride and enmity against God, we fail to recognize His glory and our dependence on Him. [10:03]

- God's visitation in the person of Jesus Christ is the ultimate expression of His love and grace. The psalmist sees God's providence and redemption in creation, recognizing that the Almighty Creator is mindful of us. [37:50]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:12] - Introduction to Psalm 8
- [00:29] - The Question of Man's Significance
- [00:52] - Beauty in the Eye of the Beholder
- [01:13] - Reports Reflecting Ourselves
- [02:44] - Looking at the Heavens
- [03:17] - The Psalmist's Vision
- [04:08] - Seeing God in Creation
- [05:12] - The Common Reaction Today
- [06:13] - The Problem of Sin
- [07:48] - Sin's Effect on Perception
- [08:25] - Salvation's Transformative Power
- [10:35] - The Theme of Psalm 8
- [11:24] - Modern Man's Limited Vision
- [13:26] - The Tragedy of Stopping at Phenomena
- [15:23] - The Materialist's Outlook
- [18:28] - Failing to Ask Deeper Questions
- [22:33] - Pride and Enmity Against God
- [27:05] - God Ridiculing Human Wisdom
- [29:02] - The Blindness of Sin
- [33:43] - The Conclusion: Seeing God in Creation

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Psalm 8

Bible Reading:
- Psalm 8:3-4
- 2 Corinthians 5:17
- Romans 1:22-23

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Observation Questions:

1. What does the psalmist see when he looks at the heavens, and how does this vision lead him to respond? ([04:08])

2. According to the sermon, how does sin affect our perception of the world and God? ([07:48])

3. What is the typical reaction of modern man when observing the universe, as described in the sermon? ([13:26])

4. How does the psalmist's view of God differ from that of the modern materialist? ([14:31])

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the psalmist's question, "What is man that thou art mindful of him?" reflect a deeper understanding of humanity's place in creation? ([00:29])

2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that salvation transforms our perception of the world? ([08:57])

3. How does the sermon describe the relationship between pride and the inability to see God's glory in creation? ([22:33])

4. What does the sermon imply about the significance of God's visitation in the person of Jesus Christ? ([37:50])

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you marveled at creation. Did it lead you to worship God, or did you stop at the beauty of the phenomena? How can you cultivate a habit of seeing God's glory in creation? ([04:47])

2. The sermon mentions that sin blinds us to the reality of God and ourselves. Are there areas in your life where you feel this blindness? How can you seek God's help to see more clearly? ([10:03])

3. Consider the ways in which modern achievements in science and technology can either draw us closer to God or distract us from Him. How can you ensure that your appreciation for these achievements leads to worship rather than pride? ([13:26])

4. The sermon highlights the transformative power of salvation. In what ways have you experienced a change in perception since coming to faith? How can you continue to grow in this new perspective? ([08:57])

5. How does the understanding of God's mindfulness and visitation in Jesus Christ impact your daily life and relationship with Him? What steps can you take to deepen this relationship? ([37:50])

6. Reflect on the concept of humility as presented in the sermon. How can you practice humility in your daily interactions and in your relationship with God? ([04:47])

7. The sermon challenges us to see beyond the visible to the divine. What practical steps can you take this week to focus on the invisible realities of God's presence and work in your life? ([17:52])

Devotional

Day 1: Worship and Humility in Creation
The psalmist's response to the grandeur of the heavens is one of worship and humility, recognizing the glory of God in creation. This reaction is emblematic of the godly, who see beyond the physical to the divine. As we look at the stars, the moon, and the vastness of the universe, we are reminded of our smallness and God's greatness. This perspective invites us to worship, acknowledging that the beauty and order of creation point to a Creator who is both powerful and personal. The psalmist's vision encourages us to adopt a posture of humility, recognizing our dependence on God and His mindfulness of us. [04:47]

Psalm 19:1-2 (ESV): "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge."

Reflection: As you observe the natural world today, what specific aspect of creation leads you to worship God? How can you express that worship in a tangible way?


Day 2: The Blinding Effect of Sin
Sin blinds us to the reality of God and distorts our understanding of ourselves. It affects the whole person, leading to a materialistic outlook that fails to see the invisible in the visible. This blindness is a tragedy, as it prevents us from recognizing the divine glory behind the phenomena we observe. In our pride and enmity against God, we often stop at marveling at human achievements without acknowledging the divine wisdom and power behind the universe. This limited vision is a result of sin, which distorts our perception and understanding. [07:48]

2 Corinthians 4:4 (ESV): "In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God."

Reflection: Identify one area in your life where you might be focusing more on the material than the spiritual. How can you begin to shift your perspective to see God's hand in that area?


Day 3: Salvation's Transformative Vision
Salvation transforms our perception, allowing us to see all things anew through the lens of faith. In Christ, we become new creations, seeing the world and ourselves in the light of God's truth. This transformation enables us to recognize the divine in the mundane and to appreciate the spiritual significance of our everyday experiences. Through salvation, our eyes are opened to the reality of God's presence and His work in our lives, leading us to live with a renewed sense of purpose and hope. [08:57]

Ephesians 1:18 (ESV): "Having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints."

Reflection: Reflect on a recent experience where you saw God's hand at work in your life. How did this change your perspective, and how can you continue to cultivate this vision?


Day 4: Recognizing Our Dependence on God
The tragedy of sin is that it blinds us to the two most important realities: God and ourselves. In our pride and enmity against God, we fail to recognize His glory and our dependence on Him. This blindness leads us to rely on our own understanding and achievements, rather than acknowledging our need for God's guidance and provision. The psalmist reminds us of our place in creation and our dependence on the Creator, encouraging us to humble ourselves and seek His wisdom and strength. [10:03]

Jeremiah 9:23-24 (ESV): "Thus says the Lord: 'Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.'"

Reflection: In what ways have you been relying on your own strength rather than God's? What steps can you take today to acknowledge your dependence on Him?


Day 5: God's Ultimate Expression of Love
God's visitation in the person of Jesus Christ is the ultimate expression of His love and grace. The psalmist sees God's providence and redemption in creation, recognizing that the Almighty Creator is mindful of us. This divine visitation is a profound demonstration of God's love, as He sent His Son to redeem us from our sins and restore our relationship with Him. As we consider the heavens and the beauty of creation, we are reminded of the greater beauty of God's redemptive work through Christ, calling us to respond with worship and adoration. [37:50]

Colossians 1:19-20 (ESV): "For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross."

Reflection: How does the knowledge of God's love and grace through Jesus Christ impact your daily life? What is one way you can share this love with someone else today?

Quotes


This man looks at the heavens and the stars and the moon and he sees God and the glory of God and the end is that he bows down in humility in worship and in adoration and ascribes the glory and the praise to God and to God Alone. [00:04:36]

Sin is something that has so Afflicted men that it has blinded him, prevented his seeing, and that sin is something which is so deep in our nature and so devastating in its effects that it affects the whole men and his entire Outlook. [00:06:37]

Salvation and redemption in EXA the same way affect the whole men. The Apostle Paul in a characteristic statement puts it like this: he says if any men be in Christ Jesus he is a new creature a new creation old things are passed away behold all things have become new. [00:08:25]

This terrible thing called sin blinds men and what makes it so tragic is this: that it blinds him especially with the two most important things of all and the two most important things of all are God and ourselves. [00:09:36]

Man in sin has been blind to such an extent that he doesn't see the glory of God. Now let me put it in this form: here is men Modern Men Who long since has given up believing in God and who ridicules it and who pours perhaps his Blasphemous scorn upon it. [00:11:24]

The real tragedy is that men apart from God, the man who isn't related to God, the man who isn't a Christian, the man who doesn't believe the Bible, he just stops at that. He stops at the sun and the moon and the stars and all the marvels of the Milky Way. [00:13:26]

Man stops only at that which is visible and he fails to see the glory and The Wonder of that which in a sense is invisible. I say he looks up and he sees nothing but sun moon and stars no more he's materialist in his Outlook he stops with phenomena and doesn't go beyond. [00:15:23]

The Bible doesn't hesitate to tell us that it's all the result of two things in men and the first is his pride. The Apostle Paul in the first chapter of the epistle to the Romans puts it in these words in verse 25: professing themselves to be wise they became fools. [00:22:33]

The Pharisees and scribes and chief priests and ERS they look at the Son of God and what do they see a man only they don't see the god they see a man a carpenter an artisan and nothing more and you see it's exactly the same as we have in that eth Psalm. [00:29:02]

Sin is it blinds us to the god to the glory to the Eternal and the Everlasting and makes USS and phenomena and nothing else. Don't you see my friend that this terrible thing called sin robs you of the special Glory it stands between you and the real truth. [00:33:43]

This Almighty Creator is interested in me he knows me he gives me health and strength and food and clothing he knows my circumstances he knows us one by one he's individually interested in us look at his Providence he began to think about that but he didn't stop even there. [00:37:50]

This same Eternal God has come down on Earth to dwell in his son he's visited Us in his mercy and in his love and in his compassion in spite of our pride and our arrogance and our sin in spite of our blindness and our self-exaltation. [00:38:59]

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Transcript
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