…And the Stars

“And God said, ‘Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years,  and let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth.’ And it was so. And God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars.  And God set them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth,  to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good.  And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day.” Genesis 1:14-19

“Give thanks to the God of gods,..
 to him who alone does great wonders,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;
to him who made the great lights,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;
the sun to rule over the day,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;
the moon and stars to rule over the night,
    for his steadfast love endures forever.” Psalm 136:2,6-9

“He determines the number of the stars;
    he gives to all of them their names.” Psalm 147:4

“Lift up your eyes on high and see:
    who created these?
He who brings out their host by number,
    calling them all by name;
by the greatness of his might
    and because he is strong in power,
    not one is missing.” Isaiah 40:26

“The Lord,
who gives the sun for light by day
    and the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night,
who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar—
    the Lord of hosts is his name.” Jeremiah 31:35

Orderly in design and chronology, the Maker of all knew what was next in His six days of plan, execution, and goodness. Shekinah glory that illuminated His now-shaped earth would step back for heavenly lights. Fiery sun and rocky moon He attached to the limitless sky by His word and held in perfect place and spin by gravity and rhythm. And the stars. Myriads of known and named sparkling heavenly bodies He fixed to the sky and even now upholds. Described in just three words. Truly, there is none like this God! (Job 38:1-7,31-33; Colossians 1:15-17)

In all our important busyness, do we pause to contemplate the pin dots of stars, the countless constellations that were fashioned and are suspended and supported in measureless space by a Creator who owns the universe? Would we wonder at and the stars, as if they took little effort, and see ourselves against the great and vast God? Would we offer Him our smallness in His world, knowing we have a large place in His heart and purpose? Would we praise Him? (Deuteronomy 4:19; Psalm 8:3-4)

This same God is intimitely and intricately involved in all our ways. He knows us by name and as His servants. What languishing, what self-pity, what complaint can we surrender to this infinite Almighty? When will we substitute our flesh wondering why and what and how long to humbly wondering at His splendor and power? (Isaiah 49:1-3)

Heavenly Father, may I never cease to marvel at your every word and act, to the praise of Your fathomless greatness and glory.