In the heavens [H]e has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy, and like a strong man runs its course with joy. Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them; and nothing is hid from its heat. Psalm 19: 4b-6, NRSV.
Dear Lord, the heavens indeed testify of Your sovereignty! Teach us how to listen and be blessed for Christ’s sake. Amen.
Today we will continue to be blessed by what the heavens have to say. They bear testimony to the love of God for His creatures. The metaphor used by the psalmist is rich. The sun is housed in a tent. Trying to imagine a tent big enough, with all the conditions necessary to provide a home for the sun, brings to my mind the words of Solomon, as he dedicated the temple that He had built for the worship of God, “But will God indeed reside with mortals on earth? Even heaven, and the highest heaven cannot contain [Y]ou, how much less this house that I have built” (2 Chronicles 6: 18)?
When I stop to consider everything that could be affected if the sun did not come out and shed its rays; it causes me to tremble! All the seasons in the year would be affected. There would be no moon, since the moon reflects the sunlight. The oceans would freeze. Everything would go black, and the earth would begin to cool. There would be no vegetation. There would be no natural vitamin D; just to mention a few of the losses. How immediate, or how gradual, these changes would take place, is hard for me to say; what I do believe, is that the earth would eventually deteriorate, to the point of extinction.
Thanks be to God, the Bible says that the sun runs its course with joy! We have observed the joy of a bridegroom at one time or another. He is full of expectation and pride! How appropriate is the comparison! The God we serve is not capricious; but merciful, and compassionate, loving, and kind! He is faithful in taking care of His own! The Bible tells us, that, “…[H]e maketh [H]is sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5: 45). So faithfully, everyday, the sun occupies its place in the heavens, and performs its duties. Do we always have sunshiny days? No; but even when we cannot see the sun, it does not cease to do its work, for the benefit of humanity!
If we should apply this in the spiritual realm, we would see the striking similarites between the sun that shines in the midst of our sky; and the “Son” of righteousness [who arises] with healing in [His] wings” (Malachi 4: 2)!
It is “in Him [that] we live and move, and have our being!” It is our privilege, like the moon, to reflect the rays of the Son of righteousness, that “men may see [our] good works and glorify our Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5: 16)! Just as vegetation would cease to be if the sun did not shine; without Him we can bear no fruit (John 15: 5)! When we separate ourselves from Him; like the atmosphere, without the sun; we would also begin to become cool in spiritual things (Revelation 3: 16).
And just as the lake would freeze without the sun; as evil increases, and there is less of the Son of righteousness in the lives of human beings; the love of many will wax cold (Matthew 24: 12)!
May we allow the Son of Righteousness, to arise in our hearts, and bring renewed life to us!