Job 38:4-7
Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; When the morning stars (from HEB bo'-ker: morning/dawn, and HEB ko-kawb': star) sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
This passage of scripture can be easily misunderstood. Perhaps this is one of the passages where plain and precious truths were lost from the manuscripts of the Bible throughout the many many copies that we made throughout millennia. A casual read tends to show an angry Lord telling Job that he is nothing. However a more careful reading reveals a discrepancy. The Lord asks Job where he was when the Earth was created, suggesting in the casual read that the Lord is essentially saying, "Don't try to tell me what to do, because you weren't around when I created this and worlds without number!" In my experience the Lord humbles us, but He never tears us down. The non-casual reader will notice the Lord asks Job where he was... and then tells him where he was. Job as a son of God was there! When the foundations of the Earth were fastened... he was there!
In Hebrew, there is parallel form of poetry. Often in this poetry an idea is expressed, and then the very same idea is expressed in a different way. If you look for this, you will find it all over the Old Testament. In this passage, the idea being expressed is, "morning stars sang together." The alternate, poetic form of this idea is, "and all the sons of God shouted for joy." What we can learn from this is that the sons and daughters of God are also referred to as morning stars. We, like Job were there. We were there when the plan was presented, and we were there when it took form in the creation. We saw the Great Elohim and Jehovah conduct the morning stars in the creation of the Earth. The Lord was not reminding Job of his nothingness, and non-existence; he was reminding him of his subordinance and pre-existence which he had with all the sons of God. He was reminded of the divine royalty which he had, and the dignity he should have as a potential heir.
Isaiah 14:12-14
How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer (from HEB hay-lale: the morning star), son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
Satan, or Lucifer, was indeed a morning star. He was a royal son of our Heavenly Father. Even a noble and great one. By divine nature, he had unlimited potential. However, his greed was too much. He did not want to be a joint-heir (Romans 8), he wanted to take over and be more powerful than God himself. Alas, he fell, and lost his potential for exaltation. How ironic that he rebelled against the only plan that could have brought about his lofty aspirations. Morning stars can fall. Let us not forget our part in the premortal existence as morning stars, and remember that we too can fall if we rebel against the only plan that can bring us happiness... the plan which made us shout for joy!
Revelation 22:16-17
I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star (from GR or-thrin-os':morning and GR as-tare': star).
Even though we have a divine nature. Even though we can rightly be morning stars ourselves... do not ever forget who THE Morning Star is. Christ will forever be our leader, and our exemplar. It is He from whom we must borrow light, as He got it from His Father.
The morning star (ie the planet Venus) is a heavenly body that we can see because it reflects light from the Sun. In John 17, the Savior prays that He may be glorified by the Father Himself, so that He may in turn glorify those who follow Him.
The real beauty of this symbol is that even before the Sun sets and goes from our presence, the morning star is shining brightly. It reflects to us the light of the Sun, when we cannot be with the Sun, and is there even before the darkness comes. Before the fall of man... the Plan of Salvation was there. Christ would reflect to us the light from the Throne of God Himself, so that we may have not only a lighted path to return, but a constant reminder that God will never abandon us.
O Remember, that even though you are royal. Even though you are a morning star yourself. You are not THE Morning Star. You must get your light from Him who is in every way the reflection of God.
2 Peter 1:16-19
For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star (from GR foce-for'-os: the morning star) arise in your hearts.
This section of scripture comes from the Apostle Peter. He feels he is toward the end of his life and wants to pass on information to the saints so that they may know these things even after he is gone from them. He starts out the chapter by outlining important virtues that we must have if we are to take part in the precious promises and covenants which the Lord makes with us so that we might be partakers of divine nature (essentially grasp that royalty we were part of as morning stars). He also tells us to give diligence in making our calling and election sure so that we may never fall.
The sure way we have to not fall is by letting the Day Star arise in our hearts. In 2 Nephi 32, Nephi, after having just told us exactly what the doctrine or gospel of Jesus Christ is, marvels that we still question what we are supposed to do after we have recieved it. He replies, "For behold, again I say unto you that if ye will enter in by the way, and receive the Holy Ghost, it will show unto you all things what ye should do.(v.5)" Essentially he is saying that we have the testimony of Jesus, we have the Holy Ghost, and we have the more sure word of Prophecy. He beckons us, just as Peter did, to give heed to it because we are in a dark place. Nephi continues, "Behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and there will be no more doctrine given until after he shall manifest himself unto you in the flesh. And when he shall manifest himself unto you in the flesh, the things which he shall say unto you shall ye observe to do.(v.6)" The Day Star can and will arise in our hearts if we give heed to the light. In John 14 Christ taught us about the role of the Holy Ghost, but He also mentioned that He himself would come to us because He would not leave us comfortless. Christ is the Day Star. He can arise in our hearts if we let him. As He arises in our hearts, we will in turn be lifted up as Morning Stars ourselves.
Wow, Dale. Your understanding is so... there. Amazing writing. Thank you!
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