The sun holds a significant place in the biblical narrative, symbolizing God's creation, power, and faithfulness. It is mentioned numerous times throughout the Scriptures, often as a representation of God's provision and the natural order He established.

Creation and Order

The sun is first introduced in the creation account in Genesis. On the fourth day, God created the "greater light" to govern the day (Genesis 1:16). This act underscores the sun's role in marking time and seasons, providing light and warmth essential for life on earth. The sun's regularity and reliability reflect God's orderly nature and His sovereignty over creation.

Symbol of God's Glory and Righteousness

The sun is frequently used as a metaphor for God's glory and righteousness. In Psalm 19:4-6 , the psalmist describes the sun as a bridegroom emerging from his chamber, rejoicing like a champion to run his course. This imagery highlights the sun's strength and splendor, paralleling the majesty of God. Similarly, Malachi 4:2 refers to the "sun of righteousness" rising with healing in its wings, symbolizing the coming of God's salvation and justice.

Judgment and Discipline

The sun also serves as an instrument of God's judgment and discipline. In prophetic literature, the darkening of the sun is a common motif indicating divine wrath and the upheaval of the natural order. For instance, in Joel 2:31 , the prophet warns of the "sun turning to darkness" before the great and dreadful day of the LORD. This imagery conveys the seriousness of God's judgment and the need for repentance.

Dependence and Worship

While the sun is a vital part of creation, the Bible warns against the worship of the sun as a deity. In Deuteronomy 4:19 , the Israelites are cautioned not to be enticed into bowing down to the sun, moon, or stars, acknowledging that these celestial bodies are created by God and not to be revered as gods themselves. This instruction emphasizes the importance of worshiping the Creator rather than the creation.

Eschatological Significance

In eschatological contexts, the sun is often associated with the end times and the return of Christ. In Matthew 24:29-30 , Jesus describes cosmic disturbances, including the darkening of the sun, as precursors to His second coming. These signs serve as reminders of the transient nature of the current world and the ultimate fulfillment of God's redemptive plan.

Daily Life and Dependence on God

The sun's daily rising and setting are reminders of God's faithfulness and the constancy of His provision. Lamentations 3:22-23 speaks of God's mercies being new every morning, akin to the sun's reliable appearance each day. This regularity encourages believers to trust in God's unchanging nature and His care for His creation.

In summary, the sun in the Bible is a multifaceted symbol representing God's creative power, glory, judgment, and faithfulness. It serves as a reminder of the natural order established by God and the importance of worshiping Him alone.1506. eilikrines -- judged by sunlight, unalloyed, pure
... Word Origin of uncertain origin, perhaps from heile (the sun's ray) and krino
Definition judged by sunlight, unalloyed, pure NASB Word Usage sincere (2). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1506.htm - 7k8121. shemesh -- sun
... 8120, 8121. shemesh. 8122 . sun. Transliteration: shemesh Phonetic Spelling:
(sheh'-mesh) Short Definition: sun. Word Origin from ...
/hebrew/8121.htm - 6k

Who to the Golden Sun's Long Restless Race
... The Treasury of Sacred Song. Book First XIV Who to the golden Sun's long restless
race. Can limits set? What vessel can comprise The swelling winds? ...
/.../palgrave/the treasury of sacred song/xiv who to the golden.htm

As Now the Sun's Declining Rays
... I. DAILY PRAYER: Morning Daily Prayer: Evening 30. As now the sun's declining rays.
CM ... John Chandler, 1837. As now the sun's declining rays. At eventide descend, ...
/.../daily prayer evening 30 as.htm

Whether in the Blessed, after the Resurrection, all the Senses ...
... The minor is proved thus: That which is actually lightsome is not receptive of a
visible species; and consequently a mirror placed under the sun's rays does ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether in the blessed after.htm

Out of the Deep of Suffering and Sorrow.
... and take heart. Is the sun's warmth perished out of the sky because the
storm is cold with hail and bitter winds? Is God's love ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/out of the deep/i out of the deep.htm

Mortality.
... and delicate. It will succumb to the winds if they be slightly too cool,
or to the sun's rays if they be too warm. The smallest ...
/.../orr/food for the lambs or helps for young christians/mortality.htm

That the Sole Cause of the Decay and Cooling of Charity is in the ...
... about noontide, lay down to repose under the shade of a tree, but while their weariness
and the coolness of the shadow kept them asleep, the sun advancing on ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter v that the sole.htm

From Such Causes as These this Also Has Followed...
... of too luxuriant branches; the son of Maia with a broad-brimmed travelling cap,
as if he were preparing to take the road, and avoiding the sun's rays and the ...
/.../the seven books of arnobius against the heathen/12 from such causes as.htm

Index of First Lines.
... form draws nigh, 329 Ages, ages have departed, 439 A holy air is breathing round,
157 All around us, fair with flowers, 306 All from the sun's uprise, 495 All ...
/.../various/book of hymns for public and private devotion/index of first lines.htm

What Manner of Life and Death the Roman Kings Had.
... For an eclipse of the sun had also happened; and this was attributed to the divine
power of Romulus by the ignorant multitude, who did not know that it was ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/augustine/city of god/chapter 15 what manner of life.htm

Whether it was Fitting that Christ Should Work Miracles in the ...
... On the contrary, It is written (Lk.23:44,45): "There was darkness over all
the earth until the ninth hour; and the sun was darkened.". ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether it was fitting that 9.htm

Sun's (3 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Sun's (3 Occurrences). Luke 23:45 the sun's light failing:
and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. (ASV RSV). ...
/s/sun's.htm - 7k

Sun (1708 Occurrences)
... The worship of the sun was one of the oldest forms of false religion (Job 31:26,
27), and was common among the Egyptians and Chaldeans and other pagan nations. ...
/s/sun.htm - 14k

Battle (282 Occurrences)
... 1. The Political Situation 2. Joshua's Strategy 3. Joshua's Command to the Sun and
Moon 4. The Astronomical Relations of the Sun and Moon 5. The "Silence" of ...
/b/battle.htm - 55k

Bethhoron (12 Occurrences)
... 1. The Political Situation 2. Joshua's Strategy 3. Joshua's Command to the Sun and
Moon 4. The Astronomical Relations of the Sun and Moon 5. The "Silence" of ...
/b/bethhoron.htm - 30k

Beth-horon (12 Occurrences)
... 1. The Political Situation 2. Joshua's Strategy 3. Joshua's Command to the Sun and
Moon 4. The Astronomical Relations of the Sun and Moon 5. The "Silence" of ...
/b/beth-horon.htm - 30k

Heat (104 Occurrences)
... which is recognized in various effects, but especially in the phenomena of fusion
and evaporation, and which, as manifested in fire, the sun's rays, mechanical ...
/h/heat.htm - 45k

Observation (4 Occurrences)
... some magnitude, as the time of an occultation, with a clock; the right ascension
of a star, with a transit instrument and clock; the sun's altitude, or the ...
/o/observation.htm - 8k

Juniper (7 Occurrences)
... the day, when they often went on in advance of the camels, we found them not
unfrequently sitting or sleeping under a bush of retem to shelter them from the ...
/j/juniper.htm - 11k

Litter (1 Occurrence)
... frame with light mattress and pillows, also a covering above, supported by upright
pieces, sometimes having also side awnings for protection from the sun's rays ...
/l/litter.htm - 9k

Willows (5 Occurrences)
... In many of the streams of Moab it forms a complete screen, which the sun's
rays can never penetrate to evaporate the precious moisture. ...
/w/willows.htm - 11k

Will the sun really be turned to darkness and the moon to blood (Joel 2:31)? | GotQuestions.org

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