The sun, moon, and stars were the principal deities in pagan pantheons of the ancient Near East, but the Bible emphatically taught that they were mere creations of the true God of Israel (Deuteronomy 4:19; 17:3). This antithesis is clearly seen in Genesis 1:16, where the sun and moon are not even named and the stars are only mentioned as an afterthought—effectively demoting them and emphasizing their subservience to the Creator’s will. Making its daily sweep across the heavens and pouring its heat on every creature, the sun is the supreme metaphor for the glory of God (Psalm 84:11; Isaiah 60:19-20).

In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun, which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is hidden from its heat. Psalm 19:4-6, niv

It was clear, cold, and silent when I finished shooting and sat back to enjoy the beauty before me. The ever frantic rush to capture the fleeting light of dawn was over, and now I could relax and soak up the natural splendor of my surroundings. Like Jonathan Edwards I felt “wrapt and swallowed up in God”—on the verge of sensory overload—when the perfect stillness was suddenly shattered by a shrill cry and a sudden rush of wind as a bald eagle swooped close overhead and soared out over the lake. All I could do was laugh. The day had barely begun, but I’d already been shown a lifetime of beauty.

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:6, niv

May the glory of the Lord endure forever; May the Lord rejoice in His works. Psalm 104:31

Photo Locations: 1. Sunrise, Steens Mountain Summit, Oregon; 2. Aerial Sunset, Monument Valley, Utah; 3. Autumn Morning, Sparks Lake, Oregon; 4. Sunset Starburst, Olympic Peninsula, Washington; 5. Purple Dawn, Sparks Lake, Oregon