Psalm 136:7-9 cont

Psalm 136:7-9 cont

The sun, the moon and the stars

Have you noticed how pagan religions often use the sun and moon as representatives of the gods which they associate with these heavenly bodies? The Egyptians had Rah, God of the sun, whose authority was given to Pharaoh who raised his arms at sunrise every morning and was credited with the power to control the dawn. The Greeks and Romans had sun gods and, of course, modern Hinduism, Buddhism and just about every religion that has ever existed or can be named has exalted the sun as a god. In the same way, the moon and stars are regarded as objects of worship, even in modern western cultures where millions of people follow horoscopes and attribute qualities to the signs of the Zodiac. This stuff is all around us and always has been, but the sun, moon and stars are not powers to be feared or to be revered, for the one, true God made them all. Listen to these words by the prophet Isaiah, “Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls each of them by name. Because of His great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.” Isaiah 40:26.

Notice from the verses here in Psalm 136 that the sun, moon and stars are appointed by God to govern. In other words, as one commentator puts it, “The great Creator-King assigns subordinate regulating roles to certain of his creatures.” The sun, moon and stars are not random objects that just happen to appear at the right time, in the right place with the qualities needed to regulate life on earth. They were appointed; authority was delegated to them. They are timekeepers, heat providers, light producers and much more - par excellence. God put them there and their roles are according to His design and purpose. They are yet more evidence of His amazing creative powers and His attention to detail over everything that exists. Wow!

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