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The order of Genesis is departed from, the moon being named first; nor does the psalm tell of the purpose for which the sun, moon, and stars were formed, as does Genesis; nor does it speak at all of the stars. Now, the relation which the "two great lights" - the sun and moon - bear to this earth sets forth the relation which Christ and his Church bear to the human soul. For -

I. THE SUN IS A TRUE TYPE OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.

1. He is called "the Sun of Righteousness," "the Light of the world," and by other titles which are drawn from the sun and its relationship to the world. And when we think what that is, how all creature life and knowledge and joy seem to depend upon it, we cannot wonder that amongst the noblest of the heathen the sun was worshipped as a living deity. If it were not God, then it was "the brightness of his glory and the express image of his Person." The heathen mind, ignorant of the revelation of Christ, could find no nearer embodiment of its thought of God.

2. See the avowed purpose wherefore the sun was made. It was to rule the day. How emphatically it does this we all know.

3. And in that condition of the enlightened soul, when it has passed out of the darkness and the day is come, the Divine idea is that Christ is to rule - that every thought and faculty are to be subject to him. As the psalm declares that there is nothing hid from the heat thereof, so there is nothing in our whole life and being that is not to come under Christ's control.

4. The day is also the season of activity. We are to work while it is called today. Men do this in common life; and where Christ, the true Sun of the soul, has risen, that soul will arise and toil in him and for him. He prompts, he enables the activities of the spiritual life.

5. The day, with its light, stands also for joy and brightness. How the natural world rejoices in the light! And the gladness of the soul is in him who is the true Light. There can be no real gladness till he comes. "Thou hast put joy and gladness into my heart, more than," etc. (Psalm 4:7).

II. THE MOON.

1. The world is yet in darkness. That tells more truly of its spiritual condition than the day. We speak of this enlightened age, but the words are mockery when we remember man's present alienation from God.

2. But as the moon was to give light by night, so in this darkness of man's spiritual condition the Church of Christ is to give light. She is commissioned for this very end.

3. But as the moon gives light only when reflecting the light of the sun, so the Church can be the world's light only as she reflects the light of Christ. She has none of her own. But when she does, how fair and beautiful she is! and how great the service she renders (Song of Solomon 6:10)!

4. And the purpose of these great lights is to divide the light from the darkness. How almost instantaneously Christ and those who are truly his act in the world as such dividers! It was said of Christ that through him "the thoughts of many hearts should be revealed" (Luke 2:35). Then -

III. THE STARS. These represent the individual Christians, giving their light, as does the moon, by reflection. And all these are for signs to men. - S.C.

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KJV: He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his going down.

WEB: He appointed the moon for seasons. The sun knows when to set.