Made the Stars & Bore our Scars

"He determines the number of the stars; He calls them each by name."

~ Psalms 147:4

Pause everything for a moment and let that cosmological truth sink in. Astronomers tell us that there are atleast two billion trillion stars in the universe... and God determined their precise number and knows every single one of them by name. He has superintended the birth, life and death of every one of those 200 sextillion stars.

While this verse rightly causes us to be in awe of unfathomable wisdom, I would like for us to consider another reflection on this verse: This is the Lord you and I have sinned against.

I have defied Him who upholds all things in the universe by the word of His power (Heb. 1:3). The merciful and benevolent One who knows every single star, planet, asteroid and galaxy, stands silent as we spit upon Him, beat Him while blindfolded and be riled at and ridiculed while He the King of the universe, is whipped and dies for us. He who robes Himself in light (Psalm 104:2), was covered with shame and insults by us sinners. He who sprinkles the stars in the sky, freely sprinkled His own precious blood upon us. He who stretches the heavens like a tent (Psalm 104:2), was stretched out on a Roman torture device and made a public spectacle of mockery. And there, the Maker who gives life to all, died for our crimes.

Weep, my soul over your transgressions! Tremble at such grace! Be in awe of such mercy! O let me ever cling to my Beloved and never leave His pierced side! Demand what you will from my life O Lord and, I shall gladly give it up for you!

Well might the sun in darkness hide,

and shut its glories in,

when God, the mighty Maker, died

for man: the creature's sin.

But tears of grief can ne'er repay

the debt of love I owe.

Here, Lord, I give myself away;

'tis all that I can do.

~Isaac Watts, 1707