A Response#317 - When were the stars made?
Response by TreeFinger
When were the stars made?
Genesis 1:16-19
(On the fourth day of creation, after the earth was made.)
Genesis 1:16 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.
Genesis 1:17 And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth,
Genesis 1:18 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.
Genesis 1:19 And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.
The chronological account of Genesis 1 states that all the stars were made on the fourth day, they were created after the earth, as this was made prior to day 1.
Job 38:4-7
(Before the earth was made.)
Job 38:4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.
Job 38:5 Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?
Job 38:6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;
Job 38:7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
In Job 38:4 and Job 38:6, God Himself speaks of the foundations of the earth that He laid. He then speaks of when He laid the foundations of the earth, the morning stars sang together, seemly forming a contradiction.
Explanation
The key word to this seeming contradiction is the word 'morning' before 'stars' in Job 38:7. If God really meant the physical stars we see in our sky at night that were formed on the fourth day, why would He add the word 'morning' before them? The phrase 'morning star' does not always mean a star that is seen in the morning. It was used figuratively for Jesus:
Revelation 22:16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
The phrase used here represents Christs light, as stars seen in the morning must be bright. It is also used figuratively of a glory to be given to the faithful saints:
Revelation 2:26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
Revelation 2:27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
Revelation 2:28 And I will give him the morning star.
Whether this is an actual star seen in the morning or not, it is used to represent an amount of light or glory given to Him who serves God faithfully. Stars themselves are also used figuratively of false teachers:
Judges 1:13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.
There is no reason why these morning stars mentioned in Job 38:7 cannot be use figuratively for angels, as all other mentions of the phrase 'morning star(s)' are used figuratively in some way. Stars also do not sing, but it is said of the angels to sing. The phrase 'sons of God' is mentioned many times meaning angels and is coupled with 'morning stars' here to represent them as light.
It also does not necessarily follow that Job 38:7 is in direct relation to (although may be included of) the laying of the foundations of the earth. As Job 38:5 also deviates from being directly related to the earth and its foundations, Job 38:7 may be also.
In conclusion, 'morning stars' may very well be being used figuratively of angels of light. And that Job 38:7 does not have to be directly related solely to the foundations of the earth being layed, but in general relation to when God created everything. If it is in relation to physical stars that sing, God created the stars and when He did, they sang. Rather than God having the stars sing before they were created, whilst the foundations of the earth were being layed.
When were the stars made?
Genesis 1:16-19
(On the fourth day of creation, after the earth was made.)
Genesis 1:16 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.
Genesis 1:17 And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth,
Genesis 1:18 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.
Genesis 1:19 And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.
The chronological account of Genesis 1 states that all the stars were made on the fourth day, they were created after the earth, as this was made prior to day 1.
Job 38:4-7
(Before the earth was made.)
Job 38:4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.
Job 38:5 Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?
Job 38:6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;
Job 38:7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
In Job 38:4 and Job 38:6, God Himself speaks of the foundations of the earth that He laid. He then speaks of when He laid the foundations of the earth, the morning stars sang together, seemly forming a contradiction.
Explanation
The key word to this seeming contradiction is the word 'morning' before 'stars' in Job 38:7. If God really meant the physical stars we see in our sky at night that were formed on the fourth day, why would He add the word 'morning' before them? The phrase 'morning star' does not always mean a star that is seen in the morning. It was used figuratively for Jesus:
Revelation 22:16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
The phrase used here represents Christs light, as stars seen in the morning must be bright. It is also used figuratively of a glory to be given to the faithful saints:
Revelation 2:26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
Revelation 2:27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
Revelation 2:28 And I will give him the morning star.
Whether this is an actual star seen in the morning or not, it is used to represent an amount of light or glory given to Him who serves God faithfully. Stars themselves are also used figuratively of false teachers:
Judges 1:13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.
There is no reason why these morning stars mentioned in Job 38:7 cannot be use figuratively for angels, as all other mentions of the phrase 'morning star(s)' are used figuratively in some way. Stars also do not sing, but it is said of the angels to sing. The phrase 'sons of God' is mentioned many times meaning angels and is coupled with 'morning stars' here to represent them as light.
It also does not necessarily follow that Job 38:7 is in direct relation to (although may be included of) the laying of the foundations of the earth. As Job 38:5 also deviates from being directly related to the earth and its foundations, Job 38:7 may be also.
In conclusion, 'morning stars' may very well be being used figuratively of angels of light. And that Job 38:7 does not have to be directly related solely to the foundations of the earth being layed, but in general relation to when God created everything. If it is in relation to physical stars that sing, God created the stars and when He did, they sang. Rather than God having the stars sing before they were created, whilst the foundations of the earth were being layed.
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