When a planet moves into close proximity with another planet or a prominent star, it’s a beautiful sight. Ancient star gazers attached significance to such conjunctions. Perhaps modern ones do as well.
A conjunction between Venus and Jupiter is particularly lovely since they are the two brightest objects after the sun and moon. I remember getting up early one November morning in 2004 and the sight inspired me to get out my paints and capture it. Dawn had already come. The trees stood in black silhouette against the pink horizon. Through their tops Venus and Jupiter shone in a pale blue sky. My painting isn’t a great work of art, but I keep it to remind me of that moment.
Jupiter’s ancient Hebrew name was Sedeq, which means righteousness—a term the prophets sometimes used for the coming Messiah. Whenever I read Psalm 85:10 and 11, I imagine a conjunction of planets:
Love and truth meet together;
righteousness and peace kiss each other.
Faithfulness springs forth from the earth,
and righteousness looks down from heaven.
God’s love and truth met on the cross of Calvary—His righteousness and our resulting peace.
Truth said, I can’t accept your sin.
Righteousness said: Sin demands death.
Love said: I’ll pay the price.
Peace between Him and us comes only through the blood of His cross (Colossians 1:20).
Cool concept for your blog. I'm attracted to Astronomy but mostly ignorant of it. Your book looks interesting. I've often wondered about the reference to the stars being for "signs and seasons."
ReplyDeleteThank you Seth. I think you would enjoy my book because of your writing project on traditional Christian beliefs which have little scriptural support. The premise of my book is controversial, Christians coming in strong on both sides.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful description. I felt like I could see what you were describing...
ReplyDeleteIf Jupiter is "righteousness", what then is Venus? I am curious.
This is a beautiful post. Thank you for this example of seeing truth in nature.
ReplyDeleteThe meanings of Venus' ancient names refer to its brightness and beauty. It was usually associated with female deities. Since God's word 1. uses marriage to describe His relationship to His chosen people, 2. calls the church the Bride of Christ, and 3. in both cases promises they will shine like the stars, my guess is that Venus represents the Redeemed. Just a guess.
ReplyDeleteYou wrote: "God’s love and truth met on the cross of Calvary—His righteousness and our resulting peace. "
ReplyDeleteI want to comment about forgiveness.
(le-havdil) How to live in order to enable the Creator in His loving kindness to provide His forgiveness is outlined in the Bible ; and was also taught by the first century Ribi Yehoshua from Nazareth (the Messiah).
Read it here: http://www.netzarim.co.il
Have a nice day!
Anders Branderud