The Morning Star

Venus is normally the third brightest object in the sky. From earth’s vantage point she sets in the west for several months as our Evening Star. Then Venus appears to approach the sun, ultimately disappearing in its dazzling glare. A few weeks later she re-emerges before sunrise as Morning Star. Through binoculars our sister planet displays phases—crescent, half, gibbous. Currently Venus is emerging out of superior conjunction in the evening sky. Her brilliant dot of light will continue to migrate farther from the sun, appearing higher and higher each dusk, setting later and later, until June 4, 2023. Then the thinning crescent will commence creeping closer to the sun, blotted out in its blaze before reaching inferior conjunction on August 13. Soon after, Venus will begin rising in the morning before the sun, reaching its greatest brilliance on September 18, and greatest elongation October 23.

Because Venus never moves far from Old Sol, when she shines in the morning sky you know that dawn cannot be far away. The sky may appear black, but the sun will soon rise. It may be cold now, but heat is coming.

Job describes angels who witnessed creation as morning stars—“Who laid the earth’s cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?” The oppressive King of Babylon, despite his splendor, would not shine forever—“How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth.”

Left to ourselves we would be benighted, not knowing God. Fortunately our Father has provided his prophetic word.  Peter advises that we “do well to pay attention to that word, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arise in our hearts.” That is, until our darkness and dullness are swallowed up in the sunlight of God’s person and plan.

The Lord Jesus is the ultimate antitype of Venus— “‘I am the root and the seed of David, the bright morning star.’ The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come.’”