The Lesson of the Stars
By Augusta W. Heald
“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth His handiwork.” Ps. 19:1. GOD’S Word and His handiwork are so closely related, that it seems well nigh impossible to be deeply interested in the one, without a corresponding interest in the other. Very many of the Creator’s works are hidden from the eyes of the average seeker; but the “spacious firmament,” and the unnumbered starry worlds, are set on high, above concealment, open to the gaze of the whole world. Our earth, in its daily revolution, presents every part of its surface, in turn, to the sun’s rays, to the moon in its various phases, and to the myriads of starry orbs. The learned astronomer, with his powerful lenses, is able to make wonderful researches in the depths of stellar space. But not to him alone is the blessing; the humble child of God, also, may rejoice in contemplating “the stars in their courses.” By a moderate amount of persevering effort, one may learn to trace the principal constellations, and the planets, and to find all the first magnitude stars, and many others. When two or more join in the study, it becomes very fascinating, and a source of keenest enjoyment. A good field-glass can be purchased at comparatively small cost, and it reveals beauties unseen by the naked eye. When once we have learned to recognize the bright stars and constellations, and have followed them in their nightly advance through the season, until they finally disappear from sight below the western horizon, we have learned to love them. When, in the next year, we find a familiar star rising in the eastern sky, it is to us as the face of an old friend. We welcome it, and watch for it night after night. As we in our humble way seek to learn something of the heavenly hosts, we are lost in wonder at the infinite power of the great Creator, who “telleth the number of the stars” . . . and “calleth them all by their names.” Ps. 147:4. We remember God’s talk with Abraham His friend,—how “He brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them, . . . SO shall thy seed be.” Gen. 15:5. We remember the word of the “great apostle to the Gentiles,”—“If ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Gal. 3:29. From John’s vision in lonely Patmos, we learn that the hosts of the redeemed will be as the stars of heaven, and as the sand of the seashore,—a great multitude of every nation, and kindred, and people, and tongue, “which no man could number” (Rev. 7:9),—yet our God knoweth them that are His, and calleth them all by name, even as He numbers the stars of heaven. This is one beautiful lesson of the stars, as revealed to us in the light of the Word. How truly has the poet said, “Stars teach, as well as shine”!