Topical Bible: The Moon: Appointed for Signs and Seasons

◄ The Moon: Appointed for Signs and Seasons ►

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The moon holds a significant place in biblical literature, serving as a celestial body appointed by God for specific purposes. Its creation and function are described in the context of the divine order established by God in the heavens.

Creation and Purpose

The moon was created by God on the fourth day of creation, as recorded in Genesis 1:14-18 : "And God said, 'Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years, and let them serve as lights in the expanse of the sky to shine upon the earth.' And it was so. God made two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night. He also made the stars. God set them in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth, to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good."

The moon, referred to as the "lesser light," was appointed to govern the night and to serve as a sign for marking time, including seasons, days, and years. This celestial body plays a crucial role in the biblical calendar, influencing the timing of religious festivals and observances.

Signs and Seasons

The moon's role as a sign is further emphasized in Psalm 104:19 : "He made the moon to mark the seasons; the sun knows when to set." This verse highlights the moon's function in demarcating the seasons, which are integral to the agricultural and liturgical cycles of ancient Israel. The lunar calendar, based on the phases of the moon, was used to determine the timing of significant events and festivals, such as Passover and the Feast of Tabernacles.

In addition to marking time, the moon is also associated with signs in the heavens. Joel 2:31 prophesies, "The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD." This imagery is echoed in the New Testament, in passages such as Acts 2:20 and Revelation 6:12, where celestial phenomena involving the moon are seen as harbingers of divine intervention and eschatological events.

Symbolism and Imagery

The moon is often used symbolically in Scripture to convey various themes. In the Song of Solomon 6:10 , the beloved is described with celestial imagery: "Who is this who shines like the dawn, as fair as the moon, as bright as the sun, as majestic as the stars in procession?" Here, the moon's beauty and radiance are used to describe the beloved's splendor.

Moreover, the moon's cyclical nature and phases can symbolize change and renewal. In Isaiah 60:19-20 , the prophet speaks of a future time when the need for the moon's light will be surpassed by the glory of the Lord: "No longer will the sun be your light by day, nor the brightness of the moon shine on your night; for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your splendor. Your sun will no longer set, and your moon will not wane; for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and the days of your sorrow will cease."

Eschatological Significance

The moon's role in eschatological events is a recurring theme in biblical prophecy. As mentioned earlier, the moon turning to blood is a sign of the approaching "day of the LORD." This apocalyptic imagery serves as a reminder of God's sovereignty over creation and His ultimate plan for redemption and judgment.

In summary, the moon is a divinely appointed celestial body with multifaceted roles in Scripture. It serves as a marker of time, a symbol of beauty and change, and a sign of prophetic significance. Through its presence in the biblical narrative, the moon reflects the order and purpose inherent in God's creation.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Genesis 1:14
And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 104:19
He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knows his going down.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Concerning Light, Fire, the Luminaries, Sun, Moon and Stars.
... For the divine David says, The moon and the stars which Thou establishedst [1722] ,
and by the ... For He appointed them for seasons, and signs, and days ...
/.../john/exposition of the orthodox faith/chapter vii concerning light fire the.htm

The Friend Whose Years do not Fail. Rev. W. Arthur, MA
... But not so the career that God has appointed to us. ... as you know your own bedroom;
but there is neither sun nor moon nor star ... "For seasons" as well as for signs. ...
/.../king/the wesleyan methodist pulpit in malvern/the friend whose years do.htm

Whether the Movement of the Heavenly Bodies Will Cease?
... to divide the day and the night"; and to be "for signs, and for ... labor to fulfill
their offices: thus the sun and moon fill the places appointed to them not ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the movement of the 2.htm

Of the World, and Its Parts, the Elements and Seasons.
... it with the sun, and the shining orb of the moon, and with the glittering signs
of the ... And on this account it was appointed by the ancients that marriage ...
/.../lactantius/the divine institutes/chap x of the world and.htm

The Sermon of the Seasons
... for as yet we see not our signs, neither does the ... ourselves to receive the Lord's
blessing in the time appointed? ... of peace so long as the moon endureth." His ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 32 1886/the sermon of the seasons.htm

Chapter i
... the secondary purpose of serving for "signs, seasons," etc.; the ... He gave" in the
sense of "appointed." Yet the ... indicated and regulated by the sun and the moon. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter i.htm

On the Words, Maker of Heaven and Earth, and of all Things visible ...
... not only at the arrangement of sun and moon, but also ... Scripture says well, And let
them be for signs, and for ... it, that it has not passed its appointed bounds. ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/lecture ix on the words.htm

Mosaic Cosmogony.
... of light and heat to the renovated earth, while the moon and stars gave light by
night, and God appointed them henceforth for signs, and for seasons, and for ...
/.../temple/essays and reviews the education of the world/mosaic cosmogony.htm

The Destruction of Jerusalem and the Coming of Christ. Ch. 21:5-38
... return after the long years of faithful service and of eager waiting which were
appointed for his ... 25 And there shall be signs in the sun and moon and stars ...
/.../erdman/the gospel of luke an exposition/i the destruction of jerusalem.htm

On the Formation of the Character of Believers, and on Giving of ...
... O Thou who hast appointed this present world as a place of ... days and the production
of fruit, and the moon for the ... there do they rise and set for signs of the ...
/.../various/constitutions of the holy apostles/sec ii on the formation of.htm