What does "from the rising of the sun to its setting" signify? The Phrase in Scripture • Psalm 113:3 – “From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the LORD is praised.” • Psalm 50:1 – “The Mighty One, God the LORD, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting.” • Malachi 1:11 – “For My name will be great among the nations, from the rising of the sun to its setting…” Literal Picture • “Rising of the sun” = the moment dawn breaks in the east. • “Its setting” = the moment the sun sinks in the west. • A full, literal sweep of daylight across the sky—east to west, start to finish. Spanning the Globe: Geographic Scope • The phrase brackets the compass points (east to west). • It embraces every land beneath the sun’s path, proclaiming that God’s glory is meant to be acknowledged in every nation and culture (cf. Isaiah 45:6; Revelation 7:9). Spanning the Day: Temporal Scope • Sunrise to sunset covers every waking hour. • The call to praise or the declaration of God’s rule is not sporadic but continual, filling the entire span of daylight (cf. Psalm 92:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18). Theological Implications • Universal Dominion: God’s authority extends over the whole earth (Psalm 103:19). • Constant Worthiness: There is never a moment or place where God’s name loses its worth. • Mission Mandate: The gospel is to go everywhere the sun shines, fulfilling Matthew 28:19. Personal Application • Let praise begin as the sun rises—set the tone of the day with acknowledgment of God’s sovereignty. • Continue through every activity, seeing each task as ground for worship (Colossians 3:17). • As the sun sets, recount God’s faithfulness, ending the day in thanksgiving (Psalm 141:2). Summary “From the rising of the sun to its setting” signals both the total span of daylight and the full breadth of the earth, underscoring that God deserves ceaseless, worldwide praise and possesses universal rule at every moment and in every place. |
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