Exploring the Stars 探索星空

[Dexu Xia]

Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one.  Isaiah 40:26

In 2021, a multination effort led to the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope—deployed nearly a million miles from Earth to better investigate the universe. This marvel will peer into deep space and examine the stars and other celestial wonders.

This is indeed a fascinating astronomical piece of technology, and if everything works, it will provide us with amazing photos and information. But its mission isn’t new. In fact, the prophet Isaiah described searching the stars when he said, “Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one” (Isaiah 40:26). “Night after night” they speak of our Creator who hurled this imperceptibly immense universe into existence (Psalm 19:2)—and with it the countless luminous bodies that silently grace our night sky (v. 3).

And it’s God Himself who decided how many of the shining objects there are: “He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name” (Psalm 147:4). When mankind sends complicated, fascinating probes to explore the universe, we can enjoy with spellbound wonder the discoveries they make, because each observation points back to the One who made the solar system and everything beyond it. Yes, the “heavens declare the glory of God” (19:1)—stars and all.

By:  Dave Branon

How do the stars and the entire universe speak of God and His creative ways? What thoughts and emotions strike you as you think about His power?

Heavenly Father, thank You for creating such an amazing universe for me to enjoy

你们向上举目，看谁创造这万象，按数目领出。—以赛亚书40章26节

经过多国的共同努力，詹姆斯·韦伯太空望远镜于2021年底发射升空，进入距离地球150万公里的轨道运行，以更深入地观测宇宙。这台史上最强的太空望远镜可窥视宇宙深处，探测星体和其他天文奇观。

这台望远镜确实是一项令人惊叹的天文科技成就，如果一切都正常运作，它将为我们提供许多精采的太空影像和资料。不过，它所担负的并不是什么新奇任务。事实上，先知以赛亚在述说星空的奥秘时曾说：“你们向上举目，看谁创造这万象，按数目领出”（以赛亚书40章26节）。诗篇也说，“这夜到那夜”宇宙万象传扬这位创造主的名，是祂创造了这个浩瀚无垠的宇宙（诗篇19篇2节），又在其中安放数不尽的星辰，使其默默地点缀着我们的夜空（3节）。

不仅如此，上帝还亲自决定星辰的数量：“祂数点星宿的数目，一一称它的名”（147篇4节）。当科学家们发射复杂、新奇的太空探测器去探索宇宙时，他们的发现会令我们惊叹并且着迷，因为每一个观察都指向那一位创造太阳系，以及其他所有星系的上帝。是的，日月星辰、宇宙万物，“诸天述说上帝的荣耀”！（19篇1节）

作者：  白德夫

星辰与整个宇宙如何颂扬上帝
和祂的创造大能？当你想到祂的能力时，
有什么想法和情绪触动你的心？

天父，感谢祢如此爱我，
创造如此奇妙的宇宙，让我享受其中