He appointed the moon for seasons; the sun knows its going down. (Psalm 104:19)

As was stated in the previous devotion, except for mankind, all creatures serve the Master of Creation without question. Whether on earth or in the heavens, all things created function according to the Almighty’s design. Underscoring that point, David speaks of the two main luminaries in the heavens — first the moon and then the sun. Each serve God’s purpose in regard to light and serve to divide the day from the night. But as David points out, and as it is revealed in the beginning, they are also for “signs and seasons” (Genesis 1:14).

This is particularly true of the moon because the lunar cycle is a critical component of the Hebrew calendar and how it is calculated. When the moon begins to wane and then finally disappears, it is an indication that a new month will soon begin. Then, when the first sliver of moonlight appears, we acknowledge the new month in a celebration called Rosh Chodesh (Festival of the New Moon). Why is this so important? If we are to honor and celebrate God’s appointed times — the Sabbaths and Biblical feasts — at the appropriate time, we must first correctly establish the beginning and end of each month. Why is it important that we honor these appointed times? Because the Creator has said that, during these holy days, He will meet with us.

As David said, “He appointed the moon for seasons” which is why this psalm is recited on Rosh Chodesh. Thinking on this, it occurs to me that God ordained that the indicators for these appointed times would be heavenly bodies, and therefore, out of man’s reach. I say that because, if the signs were here on earth and under our control, we would find a way to corrupt them like we have with most everything else in His creation. Knowing this is what we would do given the opportunity, God appointed the moon and sun for signs and seasons.

All of this is to say that the Almighty has gone to great lengths to sustain and preserve order in the Universe. Why? It isn’t really for His benefit as much as it for ours. Actually, as we have acknowledged, He often has to protect us from ourselves so that we, fallen creatures that we are, might still have opportunity to commune with Him. Apparently, He is so desperate to have a relationship with us that He literally hung the moon in the heavens as a signal — better yet, an invitation — to us to come into fellowship with Him. That, my friends, in an incredibly awesome notion to consider. So remember that the next time you look up into the night sky and observe the moon’s light shining down upon the earth — it is His way of saying, “Commune with Me.”

Blessings and Shalom,  

Bill