Genesis 1:16, 17, 18, 19 commentary
(16) And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. (17) And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, (18) And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good. (19) And the evening and the morning were the fourth day. (Genesis 1:16, 17, 18, 19)
Verses 16-19: The lights mentioned before, are here particularized; the sun, moon and stars.
1. The sun, which, though to the eye of so small a circumference, is more than an hundred and sixty times as big as the earth. He is the great fountain of light, and from him our planetary system replenishes its several orbs with light; and while they all receive immediately from the sun, they reflect it again one to another. How glorious that visible luminary! The unguarded eye cannot bear his beams direct: but how much more glorious He who placed him in his sphere, and before whom the angels veil their faces!
2. The moon. The lesser light, though counted great, because by its nearness to us we receive more light from it, than from all the rest; thus inferior to many other planets in size, yet to us more useful then them all. Not he that knows most, but he that makes best use of his knowledge, is the truly valuable man. –The moon is dark, and borrows all her light from the sun. Do we shine? Let us never forget the fountain from whence our orb is filled; if we are light, it is only in and through the Lord.
3. The stars. Vast in size and numberless as they appear, they are spoken of as a very little thing; just mentioned to point out their Maker, and no more. The scripture indulges no vain curiosity. Though he who made them bringeth them forth in order, and called them all by their names, his intention in the scripture towards us is not to teach us a system of astronomy, but to instruct us in the wisdom that maketh wise unto salvation. It was a noble sentiment of a certain judge, when pressed to study astronomy: “I intend to secure heaven first and I’ll take the stars in my way.”
4. The setting and rising of the sun now first began to measure night and day, and ever since these ordinances endure. My soul let never morning rise, that does not find thee on bended knee; let never evening dawn, without the duteous tribute of prayer and praise to Him, who maketh the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice.
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