Sun
“Sun, sunlight”
Summary
The greater light created to rule the day, marking seasons and years, often used symbolically for God's glory, Christ's radiance, and divine blessing.
☩Creation Purpose
God created the sun as 'the greater light to rule the day,' distinguishing it from the moon's governance of night. Together they serve for 'signs and seasons, days and years'—the sun determining the solar year while working with the moon to establish religious festivals. Signs here likely include extraordinary phenomena like eclipses, which ancients viewed as portents. The sun's regularity demonstrates God's faithfulness in maintaining creation's order.
☩Miraculous Events
Scripture records extraordinary events involving the sun, demonstrating God's sovereignty over nature. Joshua's long day saw the sun stand still over Gibeon, extending daylight for Israel's victory. As a sign to Hezekiah, the sun's shadow moved backward ten degrees on Ahaz's dial. At Christ's crucifixion, darkness covered the land from noon to three o'clock, creation itself responding to the Creator's death.
☩Symbolic Usage
The sun frequently symbolizes God's presence, blessing, and glory. The Lord God is 'a sun and shield,' and the righteous will shine like the sun in His kingdom. Christ's face shone like the sun at His transfiguration and in John's Revelation vision. The 'Sun of Righteousness' rising with healing in its wings portrays messianic blessing. Yet the sun also represents the harshness of judgment when it scorches or fails to shine.
☩Forbidden Worship
Sun worship was prevalent among Israel's neighbors, and the Israelites were strictly forbidden from worshiping the sun or any heavenly body. Josiah's reforms destroyed horses and chariots dedicated to the sun that previous kings had installed. Ezekiel saw men in the Temple with their backs to God's sanctuary, worshiping the sun toward the east—a profound apostasy. Such worship attributed deity to creation rather than Creator.
Related Verses158 mentions
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Sun," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. X (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Sun," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).
- 3.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Sun," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).