The Sun did…what?

     The Sun—what do we know about it? In ancient times it was considered to be a fiery disk, just “up there” in the sky, possibly even attached to a track on a vault or dome over the earth. In Greek mythology, Icarus flew too close to the sun, melted his waxen wings and crashed into the sea. If someone could fly on wings and get to the sun, they obviously thought it was very close. 

     In many cases, Scripture adopts “accommodation” as an approach to ancient science, geography, astronomy, medicine, and the like. The Bible uses some of the attitudes of the ancients (in lieu of twenty-first century science)—to them, the sky was a dome mounted on pillars at the outer edges; the sun, moon and stars were attached to tracks on the inside of this dome. This is why the people of Babel thought they could build a tower high enough to reach that “dome”, then they could break through it directly into heaven. (Gen.11:4). 

     The sun features many times in Scripture (at least 173 times according to my concordance). Often it is an astronomical body in the sky but very frequently it has literary or symbolic connotations. 

     Genesis 1:16 tells us that God made “the greater light to govern the day”. Deuteronomy 33:14 credits the sun with “bringing forth the best”. And an event unique in the history of the world occurs when Joshua gives orders to the sun and it stands still. (Josh.10:12-14) The sun is personified again in Psalm 104:19—it “knows when to go down.” This continues in Eccl.1:5—“The sun rises and the sun sets, and hurries back to where it rises.” Isaiah (24:23) talks about wicked things done on the earth, even making “the sun ashamed”! 

     In Hezekiah’s day, the Lord gives another astronomical sign through the sun: “I will make the shadow cast by the sun go back the ten steps it has gone down on the stairway of Ahaz.” (Isa.38:8) Amos tells us that in a time of trouble and famine, the Lord “will make the sun go down at noon.” (Amos 8:9) This essentially happened at the cross, when “the sun stopped shining.” (Luke 23:45) What a relief to look forward to that future day when, “Your sun will never set again.” (Isa.60:20) 

     Figurative examples are not infrequent. In Genesis 37:9, the sun bows down to Joseph in a dream. David, in Psalm 19, pictures the sun coming out of its “tent” in the heavens, running his course like a champion, from one end of heaven to the other. Psalm 84 tells us that “the LORD God is a sun and shield”, providing both physical and spiritual light and warmth, then moderating it with some shade and shelter. On this same note, Malachi tells us that one day “the sun of righteousness” will rise. (Mal.4:2) Finally, John tells us that, after a great deal of sun-scorching and pain, those who reach the celestial city “will not need the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light.” (Rev.22:5) In fact, “the city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it.” The sun has at last served its purpose. From now on “there will be no night there.” (Rev.21:23-25)