As a mother of two who homeschools, I have the opportunity to slow down and take time. Time with my husband and to raise my children, who are growing very fast. Moments to see God’s creation in more detail than I might if my time constraints were different.

I was in awe of and mesmerised by a recent total eclipse. It got me thinking about the sun and how clearly we can see it. It also made me reflect on Psalm 19.

The Scriptures begin by telling us that the “heavens” — not where God dwells, but the sky — tell us of the glory of God. The sun, moon and stars all declare His glory.

We can look up and see His glory and His attributes. None of them utter a word, yet they glorify Him.

We can also see that God has put the sun, moon and stars in a specific place. He has given them a home, a contained area such as the firmament.

No spinning globe or void of our space for those stars mentioned in heliocentrism. Surely God would have shown us heliocentrism in some way in Scripture. I don’t see it.

The Tabernacle

The firmament and what He has placed inside it show God’s handiwork. Psalm 19 then tells us in verse 4 that He has “set a tabernacle for the sun.”

The word used here for tabernacle is “o’-hel.” It is the same word used in Genesis 9:21, when Noah was drunk and became uncovered in his tent.

So, if Noah was inside his tent (o’-hel), this gives us something to think about. The tabernacle for the sun is a tent of sorts, which the Bible says is the firmament.

God has placed the sun inside its dwelling place. It rises and circuits the earth, and nothing can hide from its heat.

Why did God place the sun, moon and stars inside the firmament, this tent-like structure?

My thought process is:

1. For us to glorify and praise Him

We can glorify and praise Him by seeing them in the sky every day.

The heavens overlook our whole day. Our waking and sleeping are determined by what happens in the heavens. Our days, weeks and months rely on them too.

So, the next time you’re outside, take a moment to look up and praise Him, the Creator of it all.

Perhaps you’re on your way to school or work. Maybe you’re playing in the park with the kids or simply enjoying a coffee. Wherever you are, stop for a moment and look up.

Psalm 113:3:

“From the rising of the sun to its setting, praise the name of the Lord.”

2. Because they are beautiful to look at!

Have you ever seen a full, bright moon that took your breath away? What about a cluster of stars in the dark night sky?

Then there is the beauty of a sunset. Those beautiful reds and oranges, and even shades of purple, are absolutely mesmerising!

Looking directly at the sun is not advised. But with your eyes closed and your head lifted up, that warm sun on your face feels amazing!

Ecclesiastes 11:7:

“Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun.”

3. He is a God of order, not chaos

Everything has its place, and it is just as He wants it to be.

Some things are simply God’s business, like who He has predestined for salvation. His ways are not like ours, nor are His thoughts like ours.

We can rest in the knowledge that He has it all in hand.

Isaiah 45:18

This verse reminds us that God created the heavens and formed the earth. He made it to be inhabited. He also declares that He is the LORD, and there is no other.

4. They can’t go through the firmament… the waters are there

The sun, moon and stars cannot go through the firmament because the waters are there.

But if He did want them to be placed outside of the firmament, that would be okay too. He is God, and He is worthy to be praised for what He has done.

But He didn’t place them outside of it. He placed them in the area of the ohel — the dwelling place for the heavenly lights.

Genesis 1:7 tells us that God made the firmament. He divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament.

Yes, it was so!

Look at the sun, the moon, the stars and the vastness of the heavens. Remember the One who created them.

We may not understand every detail of His creation, but we don’t have to. The heavens don’t need to explain God. They simply declare His glory.

Your children don’t fully understand your reasons or the way you do things as a parent. Yet you expect them to trust that you love them.

We too, let us trust that God loves us.

So, the next time you see a beautiful sunset, a bright full moon, a sky full of stars, or even something as extraordinary as an eclipse, take a moment to pause and look up.

Whether you work a full-time job to provide for your home or have more time to invest in your family, remember that we do all things to honour and glorify God.

Most importantly, take the time where you can. Let creation remind you of its Creator, and let that warmth flood your heart.