The Second Day—The Firmament.
By W. A. Sweany
NOWHERE in all creation is the wisdom and power of the Creator more fully revealed than in the work of the second day of creation week. Beautiful, instructive, comforting, and encouraging are the lessons therein portrayed. Let us consider some of them. “And God said, Let there be a firmament [or “expansion,” margin] in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament; and it was so. And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.” Gen. 1:6-8. The heaven here mentioned is not the far-away region occupied by the sun, moon, and stars, nor the place where God’s throne is located; but it is the expanse of atmosphere or air which surrounds this earth. It is everywhere present; we are constantly surrounded by it, and without it we could not live. Let this remind us of the blessed truth that “God has surrounded us with an atmosphere of grace which is as real as the air we breathe.” And this atmosphere of grace, when breathed into our souls, imparts and sustains spiritual life, as verily as the natural air we breathe imparts and sustains physical life. Eph. 2:5-8. And then as we contemplate the inexhaustible supply, and the boundless extent of the free air of heaven, let us thank God for the precious assurance that “as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that3fear Him.” Ps. 103:11. “For Thy mercy is great unto the heavens and Thy truth unto the clouds.” Ps. 57:10. “The waters above the firmament” are the clouds (Job 26:8), and in them we may read some of the most precious truths of the Gospel. Every passing cloud should remind us of His promise to blot out as a cloud all our sins. Isa. 44:22. “And when dark, threatening clouds driven by storm and tempest, o’erspread the skies, or where the brightness of our experience becomes dimmed by the dark clouds of adversity and trouble, it is comforting and reassuring to know and remember that He who “hath gathered the wind in His fists” (Prov. 30:4) and is able to “still the tempest” is near, for He makes “darkness His secret place; and His pavilion round about Him is dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.” Ps. 18:11. Then, “Ye fearful souls, fresh courage take,
The clouds you so much dread
Are filled with mercy, and will break
In blessings on your head.”
From the clouds comes the rain to water and refresh the earth. And so when we break up the fallow ground of our hearts, and sow righteousness therein and ask “of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain,” He will make bright clouds and showers of rain; yea, He will “come and rain righteousness” upon those who thus seek Him.” Hosea 10:12; Zech. 10:1. The sun’s rays shining through falling raindrops upon a background of clouds produce the beautiful rainbow, on which God looks and remembers His promise to no more destroy the earth with a flood. Gen. 9:8-17. But this covenant includes more than immunity from danger of another flood of waters. “For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath I hid My face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee,” saith the Lord thy Redeemer. For this is as the waters of Noah unto Me; for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee. For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but My kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of My peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee. . . . In righteousness shalt thou be established; thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear; and from terror; for it shall not come near thee.” Isa. 54:7-14. Think of this, whenever you look upon the beautiful bow of promise, remembering that it is not only the sign of God’s covenant to no more destroy the earth with a flood of waters, but also the pledge of His mercy, and an illustration of the transcendent beauty of your eternal home. (Compare the above scripture with Rev. 21:10-27.) Surely we need never experience doubt, fear, nor discouragement when these precious truths and assurances are written on the most familiar objects that we behold, in language that all can read. But there is yet another precious, instructive, and important lesson for us in the clouds. Every true lover of the Saviour longs to “look on the form that redeemed us, and His glory and majesty see.” But this can not be until He comes back again to this earth. We do not go to Him at death (Ps. 17:15; Job 14:11-15; 19:23-27; Acts 2:29-34) but at the resurrection from the dead, or by translation, if we be among those who are alive and ready to meet Him when He comes (1 Cor. 15:12-23; 50-58; 1 Thess. 4:15-18). And so those who love Him and long to see Him are waiting, hoping, expecting, and looking for His promised return. John 14:3; Heb. 9:28; 2 Tim. 4:6-8; Titus 2:11-14. Now what lover of the Master who longs for His return, can look upon the clouds without being reminded of that scene on the mountain-side near Bethany, where He was “taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.” And, ringing down through the ages like strains of sweetest music, the comforting, re-assuring words of the angel salute our ears,—“This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven.” Acts 1:9-11. And again the Lord declared to John in holy vision: “Behold, He cometh with clouds.” Rev. 1:7. And later when the veil of futurity was drawn aside and the beloved disciple was permitted to look forward to the end and see those things that the faithful shall behold some glad day, he declared: “And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud One sat like unto the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. . . And He that sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.” Rev. 14:14-16. And so may every passing cloud remind us of the great day when we “shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” Matt. 24:30. From the summit of Sinai (Ex. 19:9-16; 24:15-18), and through the wilderness journey (Num. 9:15-23), and upon the mount of transfiguration (Matt. 17:1-5), the voice of God was heard from the midst of a cloud giving precept and promise, counsel and reproof, warning and encouragement to His chosen people. And God has written upon “the clouds of the skies” precious lessons of comfort and hope, for the encouragement and instruction of His people, until the opening heavens shall reveal the coming King.