GOD IS A SUN


A. "THE LORD GOD IS A SUN AND SHIELD" - PSALMS 84:11 1. In reading the words of our text:
  1. We note that the Psalmist uses heavenly bodies to illustrate the glory and majesty of the Lord God
  2. We do not know whether David professed to be an astronomer
  3. But his poems leave no doubt that he was an observer of the movement of the heavenly bodies, and he uses some of them to express his awe and admiration of the Lord God.
  • The sun is, to the best of our information, one of the largest heavenly bodies moving in its own orbit:
    1. It affects and influences, not only this earth and its atmosphere, but other planets too
    2. There is so much about the sun, that the Psalmist uses it as a simile to portray the glory of the Creator of the universe B. LET US ATTEMPT TO CONSIDER A NUMBER OF THINGS ABOUT THE SUN THAT REMIND US OF THE LORD GOD
  • A number of the attributes of the sun:
    1. Observe its universality, as a fit emblem of the power of God; the forthstreaming of light and power from the sun has been going on through incomputable periods of time
    2. This in comparison with man's lamp that has to be replenished daily
    3. The sun needs no trimming--its always the same
    4. Consider also an image of the abundance the sun affords; so is the Lord God pictured in Scripture as a fruitful and most effective source of life
    5. The sun exerts creative energy. All things presuppose the sun. The whole life of the animal kingdom and the vegetable kingdom wait day by day for the ministering care and stimulus of the sun
  • Consider other qualities of the sun:
    1. It is the center of attraction, the holding force of the universe. So God is the center of attraction and the universal center of government
    2. The sun dispenses its global energies without any compensation; so the Creator dispenses His benefits to all creation as an expression of love! C. NOTE THE AMAZING AND COMPREHENSIVE CONCEPT THE PSALMIST HAD OF THE LORD GOD OF ISRAEL
  • He speaks of Him as a sun:
    1. The sun is, however, one of the heavenly bodies which were created by the Lord God - Gen. 1:16
    2. It is one of His handy-works - Ps.19:1
  • The sun has a number of functions that remind us of the glory and power of the Lord God that made heaven and earth, yea all the universe:
    1. God made the sun to rule the day - He calls it "the greater light" (Gen 1:16)
    2. The sun not only gives light but it also gives warmth to the earth and the seas; to keep all living things alive and make them fruitful
    3. Prolific and infinite in benefit as the sun is, it is observable that only a part of its benefit is thrust upon man, and that part is mainly to supply him with the life giving elements it dispenses
    4. In the same manner does the Sun of Righteousness dispense the blessings of heaven for the needs of His creation
    5. Impartiality and absolute benevolence are the other virtues of the sun; all are benefited alike regardless of what their placement may be
    6. Says Jesus, "For He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth just and the unjust." - Matt.5:45
    7. Said Bildad, "Is there any number of his armies? and upon whom doth not his light arise"
    8. Said the Psalmist, "The Lord is good to all; and His tender mercies are over all His works." - Ps. 145:9
  • There is one other benefit coming from the sun:
    1. It's healing power
    2. And it is in this connection that we are reminded of the words of God in Malachi 4:2 "But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in His wings"
    3. A large part of our Lord's ministry upon earth was to "bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that were bound" Is. 61:1. Is this the picture you get from our text? How does God the sun affect your life?


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