Stargazing

 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
The moon and the stars, which You have ordained,
What is man that You are mindful of him,
And the son of man that You visit him? (Psalm 8:3-4)

I read recently that some of the planets around us like Mars go into “retrograde” every few years. I’m not a stargazer or astronomer so I had no idea what that meant, so I did a little research. It was hard to find articles that didn’t want to talk about astrology and how all this will affect our lives, and what we should do and not do during this time period. All I know is when I look up into the sky at night I marvel at the universe created for us.

The Bible has much to say about the stars. Most basic to our understanding of the stars is that God created them. They show His power and majesty. The heavens are God’s “handiwork” (Psalm 8:3; 19:1). He has all the stars numbered and named (Psalm 147:4). The fascination with astrology and horoscopes undoubtedly reflects people’s desire for wisdom beyond their own and direction for the future. Astrology is the ancient belief that a person’s destiny can be found in the pattern of the stars and planets at the time of one’s birth. The “horoscope” is the chart that attempts to describe that destiny. The Bible mentions the astrologers in the royal court at Babylon and their inability to tell or interpret royal dreams (Daniel 2:10-11 and 4:7). Isaiah the prophet spoke of astrologers with derision: “Let your astrologers come forward, those stargazers who make predictions month by month, let them save you from what is coming upon you” (Isaiah 47:13).

In Romans 12:2, Paul directs us to have our minds renewed to discern the will of God. Many people turn to the stars and planets to try to discern what the plan is for their life. Is that the true source we need to be consulting?

Billy Graham wrote the following about Christians seeking to find answers through astrology: “Astrology is offensive to God because it attributes to planets and stars the power that belongs to God alone and because it tries to find the will of God by other means than God has appointed. Throughout the Bible God tells us that He will guide us; read Psalm 23:1-2, 25:9, 12, 32:8; Luke 1:79; and John 7:17. A Christian has no need of astrology with its futile hints because believers can turn instead to the guidance of God’s Word.”

When renewing our minds, the best source available to us to discern God’s will is His Word – that will direct our steps much better than any star chart.

---

(DISCLAIMER: I read several sources, commentaries, devotionals, etc., when I study the bible. Some of what I write is heavily inspired by what I read, and some sections may not be all my own words. I try to distill and paraphrase but there are way too many great writers who know the depths of God’s Word more than I ever will. I try to give credit where possible, and I don’t want anyone to think that everything I write comes straight from my brain – it’s all inspired by God and others He has chosen to write through. I encourage you to look to those who have also studied and written about Scripture, while at the same time remembering they are only men, and the ONLY true standard is the Word of God – everything written by me or any other human MUST be measured against that standard.)