Paul Kretzmann Commentary - Genesis 1:14 - 1:19

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Paul Kretzmann Commentary - Genesis 1:14 - 1:19


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The Creation of Sun, Moon, and Stars

v. 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.
The Creator brought into being light bodies of the sky, assigning to them a threefold function: to show the distinction between day and night, to serve as indicators or means for men, enabling them to distinguish between the two divisions of the full day; to serve for signs, not only as in the case of ordinary eclipses, but also as omens extraordinary; and to fix the calendar of the world in general. And not only that:

v. 15. And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth. And it was so.
That is the third function of the heavenly light-bodies, to send forth the light, either their own or that reflected by them, to be light-bearers for the earth. No sooner had God spoken than it was done; for it was not an ordinary work done by Him, but an act of creation.

v. 16. And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also.
Although the names are not expressly mentioned, it is obvious that the greater light is the sun, which, by its light and power, governs the day, has the most profound influence upon organic and inorganic life, and the smaller light the moon, which governs the night and the life of the night in much the same way as the sun does by day. Likewise, God on this day filled the immense reaches of the universe with the countless number of stars.

v. 17. And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth,


v. 18. and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good.
God's almighty, creative act is again emphasized; for He gave, He put the light-bodies in their proper place, the functions of which are given in the order in which they usually impress men: they give forth light upon the earth; their influence controls day and night, respectively; their rising and setting governs the division of light and darkness. And again, the work of the perfect God was perfect.

v. 19. And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.