Genesis 1:14 - Meaning and Application

This is the story of the fourth day’s work, when God made the sun, moon, and stars. Moses does not tell us about them just to satisfy curiosity about what they are in themselves. He tells us what they are for, especially as lights for this earth, and that is enough to lead us to praise and thanksgiving. Job speaks of this as one of God’s glorious works, saying that by his Spirit he has adorned the heavens (Job 26:13).

Here we see that adornment, which is not only the beauty of the upper world, but also a great blessing to the world below. Heaven is high above us, yet it still serves this earth, and so it deserves our respect. The creation of the heavenly lights is described first in general, then in particular.

In general, God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of heaven” (Gen 1:14, Gen 1:15). God had already said, “Let there be light” (Gen 1:3), and light came. But that first light was like something scattered and unformed. Now it was gathered together, shaped, and arranged into distinct lights, which made it both more beautiful and more useful. God is a God of order, not confusion, and as he is light, he is also the Maker and Father of lights.

These lights were placed in the firmament of heaven, that wide expanse that surrounds the earth and is visible to everyone. No one lights a candle and puts it under a basket, but on a lampstand (Luk 8:16). In the same way, the great golden lampstand of the heavens stands above us, and its candles give light to everyone in the house. The firmament itself has a kind of brightness, as Daniel says of the wise, that they will shine like the brightness of the firmament (Dan 12:3), but that was not enough to light the earth. For that reason, the second day’s work is not expressly called good, because it had not yet been fitted with these lights to serve human life.

Their use for this earth was twofold. First, they were made to mark times, day and night, summer and winter, which come and go by the movement of the sun. Its rising makes day, its setting makes night, its moving toward our side brings summer, and its moving away brings winter. So there is a season for every purpose under heaven (Ecc 3:1). Second, they were made to guide our actions. They give signs of changes in the weather, so the farmer can plan wisely and know, by the face of the sky, when natural causes are at work, whether it will be fair weather or stormy weather (Mat 16:2, Mat 16:3). They also give light on the earth, so we may walk (Joh 11:9) and work (Joh 9:4) according to the duty of each day.

The lights of heaven do not shine for themselves, and they do not shine for the world of spirits above, who do not need them. They shine for us, for our benefit and delight. “What is man,” then, “that you are mindful of him?” (Psa 8:3, Psa 8:4). How ungrateful and shameful it is if God has set up these lights for us to work by, and we spend our time sleeping, playing, or wasting the hours of duty. The lights of heaven serve us faithfully and never fail to shine in their season. But we are set as lights in this world to serve God. Do we answer that purpose in the same way? No, we do not. Our light does not shine before God as his lights shine before us (Mat 5:14). We use our Master’s candles, but we do not mind our Master’s work.

In particular, the lights of heaven are the sun, moon, and stars, and all of them are the work of God’s hands. The sun is the greatest light of all, more than a million times larger than the earth. It is the most glorious and useful lamp in the heavens, a noble proof of the Creator’s wisdom, power, and goodness, and an unmatched blessing to the creatures of this lower world. Psalm 19:1-6 shows us how to give God the glory due to his name as the Maker of the sun.

The moon is a smaller light, yet it is counted here among the greater lights. In size and borrowed light, it is less than many of the stars. Still, because it rules the night and serves the earth so well, it is more excellent than they are. The most valuable things are often the most useful. The greater lights are not those with the best gifts, but those who use what they have humbly and faithfully to do the most good. “Whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant” (Mat 20:26).

God also made the stars, which are mentioned here as they appear to ordinary people, without dividing them into planets and fixed stars, or explaining their number, nature, place, size, motions, or influence. Scripture was written not to satisfy curiosity or make us astronomers, but to lead us to God and make us holy people. These lights are said to rule (Gen 1:16, Gen 1:18), not because they have supreme power like God, but because they are rulers under him. The moon is said to rule the night, and in Psalm 136:9 the stars are included in that rule: “The moon and stars to rule by night.” This means no more than that they give light (Jer 31:35). The best and most honorable kind of rule is giving light and doing good. Those deserve respect who live useful lives and shine as lights.

From all this we learn the sin and foolishness of ancient idolatry, the worship of the sun, moon, and stars. Some think that this may have started, or at least gained support, from broken traditions left over from the patriarchal age about the rule of the heavenly lights. But this account plainly shows that they are God’s creatures and man’s servants. So it is a great insult to God and a shame to ourselves to make them into gods and give them divine honor (Deu 4:19).

We also learn the duty and wisdom of worshiping every day the God who made all these things and made them serve us as they do. The regular rising and setting of day and night call us to offer the holy sacrifice of prayer and praise every morning and every evening.