by Zach Kincaid
God made the sun to rule the day, and the moon, the night (Gen. 1:3-4). He made the stars too, calling the whole backdrop we see, the sky (Gen. 1:16). From it comes heralded help and hurled down judgment (Ex. 16:13-14; I Kings 18:37-38). Abraham looked up, and God assured him that his covenant would outnumber the stars (Gen. 15:5; Ps. 147:4). He told Job that the stars once sang songs of joy in antiquity (Job 38:1-7). And I believe the Psalmist echoed some of those forgotten lyrics -
“The skies proclaim the work of your hand” (Ps. 19:1).
“The Mighty One, God, the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to where it sets” (Ps. 50:1).
“The day is yours, and yours also the night; you established the sun and moon” (Ps. 74:16).
“From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised” (Ps. 113:3).
“Give thanks to the Lord of lords... who by his understanding made the heavens” (Ps. 136:3,5).
“Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars” (Ps. 148:3).
It is promised that a star will come out of Jacob (Numbers 24:17). He will strike down Satan, the imposter and rebellious star whom Isaiah mentions, whose brightness is dulled by earth’s soot and illuminated only by hell’s fire (Is. 14:12-17; Luke 10:18).
And then, three unlikely men whom we would never imagine to uncover these secrets of the sky,
looked up to see a star in the East. Perhaps they heard it singing like in the old tales, singing with the angels, “Glory to God in the highest, peace to everyone God favors” (Matt. 2:2; Luke 2:14).
The story rewinds with the Incarnation, as heaven’s son descends from the stars (Phil. 2:6-7). He is Messiah, come to pick up the mess so we might shine like stars, (Phil. 2:15). By his grace, the day dawns and the morning star rises in our hearts (2 Pet. 1:19), as we wait in hope for him, the Root and the Offspring of David, the bright Morning Star (Rev. 22:6), who has overcome. In him be all glory and honor forever and ever (Rev. 2:26-28).