Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

STAR

Though the ancient Hebrews believed that God made all the heavenly bodies, including the stars (Heb. kôḵāḇ; Gen. 1:16; Amos 5:8), it was widely believed by many ancient people that the stars were cosmic deities (Isa. 47:13). Belief in the animation of the stars was never a major tenet among the Hebrew people, though such beliefs were sometimes echoed in periods of monotheistic apostasy (Amos 5:26). The Torah prohibited the worship of the stars (Deut. 4:19; 17:2-5). Nevertheless, the people of Israel were familiar with astronomical observations and constellations (Job 38:31-32; Isa. 13:10; Amos 5:8).

Stars are sometimes used as symbols for angels. Job 38:7 alludes to the sons of God (angels) as morning stars. Similarly, in Rev. 1:20 the seven stars of the vision are identified as angels of the seven churches. This is probably also the sense of Dan. 8:10, where the little horn caused some of the “host of heaven” and the stars to fall to the earth (cf. Isa. 14:12-13; Rev. 12:4). Jude 13 calls certain apostates in the Church “wandering stars” (cf. the unfaithful angels in 1 Enoch).

The ancients frequently looked to the stars and celestial bodies for signs of the end (e.g., Luke 21:25; Mark 13:25 par.), as reflected in apocalyptic literature (Rev. 6:12-13; 8:10, 12; 12:1, 4). The belief that stars offered signs also brought the Magi from the east to witness the birth of Christ (Matt. 2:1-10).

Mark R. Fairchild

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

STAR

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)