Glory: Fireball

“In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun, which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is hidden from its heat.” (Psalm 19:4-6)

I’ve heard some guys mock verses like this. They say David’s description of the way the sun works proves that God’s Word is flawed. They say it shows that David thought the sun revolves around the earth. The guys who do that don’t tend to be poets.

glory_350Yes, we all know its the earth that does the rotating and revolving around the sun, not the other way around. God knows it, too. Here, he inspired David the poet to describe in rich metaphor what is happening on the big screen called “the sky.” David doesn’t really believe the sun lives in a tent, either. He uses the language of poetry to capture the beauty of creation.

In fact, in clearly describing the sun as a beautiful, powerful created thing instead of an actual personality, David is standing against those in his day who worshipped the sun as a god. Even in poetry, he is standing for what is rational, the understanding that we must worship the God who created that powerful, relentless ball of fire that dominates our days with its light and heat. Don’t worship the thing, as awesome as it is. Worship the God who made it.

Think: Are you ever tempted to dismiss God’s Word when it talks about nature and other areas of science? Why or why not?

Pray: Ask God to help each new discovery about the natural world to make you more impressed with his supernatural power.

Do: Write your own poem describing how you see the sun or stars or moon.