God in revelation the same as God in nature.
"Thy testimonies are very sure." The use of this word "testimonies" in other psalms suggests that God's witness to man in his revealed Word is meant by it. The unity of the psalm would, however, be preserved if we regarded the "testimonies" here as those which God makes to man through nature. The point of the verse is usually set forth in such a way as this: "The permanence of the covenant, and of the outward signs that attest it, is to the Israelite proof of the superiority of the Divine power over the forces of nature." "The moral Law is a truer evidence of the existence of God than the uniformity of natural law."
I. REVELATION NEVER CONTRADICTS NATURE. When there are seeming contradictions, it is necessary to inquire whether we have the testimony of nature clear or confused. For man, interfering with Nature's order, has confused her witness. And so it is necessary to inquire whether we have the revelation pure and simple, since there is often a material difference between what God has revealed, and what man makes of that which is revealed. The contradictions belong to the man mark put on revelation and nature. Both are from one hand and mind, and are in absolute harmony.
II. REVELATION CONFIRMS NATURE. Set out an orderly scheme of nature religion; carefully fix its principles; and you will surely find they are the first principles of revelation. Indeed, revelation only comes to support primary principles of nature religion, because men overlay them with manufactured religious systems. Nature worship is quite a different thing from natural religion.
III. REVELATION ENLARGES UPON NATURE. Nature sets forth mainly what may be called the physical attributes of God—power, wisdom, etc. In a general way it shows God's goodness, and, declaring that qualities attach to actions, prepares for the realization of God as Judge, Rewarder, and Punisher. Revelation deals fully with God's moral qualities and relations; and has for its climax the disclosure of the Divine redemptive purpose, which, as wrought out, upholds every primary attribute of God that nature exhibits.—R.T.