The LORD wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent. – Psalm 104:2

Today’s Scripture Reading (July 17, 2019): Psalm 104

I am pretty sure that Genesis Chapter one is a poet’s attempt to describe what is essentially the unexplainable – the creation of the world. Part of what convinces me of that fact is the poetic dualism that exists within the six days of creation. Day One sees the creation of light and darkness, while Day Four gives us the sun and the moon. On Day Two, we see the separation between the sky and the water, while on Day Five, we have the creation of birds for the sky and fish for the sea. On Day Three, we have the emergence of land, while on Day Six, we have the creation of animals and, lastly, man. It is a perfect poetic dualism that we sometimes miss. But it has also always bothered me that God created light on Day One, but that the Sun, the primary source of light in our Solar System, waits until Day Four. As part of a logical progression, it would seem to me that Sun must have been created on Day One, providing the light that God created on that day. But as a poetical rendering of creation, the Days of creation work perfectly.

But those who argue for a literal or semi-literal six days of creation often point to the idea that God is himself, light. That for light to be created on Day One, all that is really needed is the presence of God. There is no problem with the Sun waiting to find its creation until Day Four. It wasn’t needed until then, and maybe the Sun was never required. All we need is God for physical light to exist. And in heaven, God may well be the only light available and the only light that is needed or wanted.

Psalm 104 is another poetic description of the first five days of the creation. And in this poem, the Psalmist jumps off of the latter idea of the First Day of creation. God wraps himself in light, and that wrapping is the only light that is needed at the beginning of the creation of everything. God is our light. But it should be stressed that this is a poetic expression of the idea that God is the creator of and Lord over everything.

A contemporary Psalmist rephrases these words about the first day of creation this way.

He wraps himself in light
And darkness tries to hide
And trembles at His voice
Trembles at His voice

How great is our God … (Chris Tomlin)

What we need to remember is that the poem, both in Psalm 104 and in Tomlin’s rephrasing of the idea, is in support of one truth – How great is our God.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Psalm 107