The first six verses of Psalms 19 is entirely astronomical in nature. Let’s break it down verse by verse:

“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handiwork.” (verse 1)

The word “declare” is the Hebrew word “caphar”, and it means, “to enumerate, to recount (something), i.e., to celebrate, to rehearse, show forth, speak, tell, declare.” H5608

“The heavens also declare his righteousness, his mercy, and his faithfulness.” (See Ps. 36:5; 50:6; 89:2).

The heavens then are telling a story concerning the glory of God which is “celebrated” and “rehearsed” for all to see night after night.

When Moses asked to see God’s glory, the Lord replied saying:

“The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin…” (Ex. 34:6-7)

“Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.” (verse 2)

This knowledge is concerning “the glory of God” which is seen in Christ:

“For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Cor. 4:6).

“There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.” (verse 3)

That is, the voice of the stars and the knowledge they convey night after night concerning the glory of God is spoken in a language that all can understand, pictographs (i.e., “constellations”).

“Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun.” (verse 4)

The word “line” is the Hebrew word qav and it means: “a cord (as connecting), especially for measuring; figuratively, a rule; also a rim, a musical string or accord:--line.” H6957. This connecting cord, which figuratively is as a rim, is a fitting description of the circle of the zodiac. A connecting cord linking one zodiacal connection to the next.

This verse is quoted by the apostle Paul when referring to the gospel having being preached in times past.

“How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.” (Rom. 10:14-18)

Thus, the message of salvation was known long ago before the Bible was written. It was displayed in the heavens above, leaving the heathen without excuse.

Verse 4 goes on to state that in the heavens that “declare the glory of God,” he has placed “a tabernacle for the sun.”

The sun is an allegorical representation of Christ who was the “light of the world,” “the Sun of righteousness” (Jn. 8:12; Mal. 4:2. See also, Mt. 17:2; Rev. 1:16)

The tabernacle in the heavens that the sun (i.e., bridegroom) passes through is a reflection of the tabernacle in heaven itself, which the earthly tabernacle was patterned after that Moses was instructed to build in the wilderness.

“And let them make me a sanctuary that I may dwell among them. According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.” (Ex. 25:8,9)

The book of Hebrews makes this comparison of the earthly tabernacle being made after the pattern of the heavenly:

“It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.” (Heb. 9:23)

Within the Most Holy compartment dwelt the Shekinah glory of God between the two cherubim above the Ark of the Covenant that contained the law of God. Circling around that glory on the outside were the encampments of the 12 tribes of Israel and the mixed multitude. Four lead tribes on each side of the tabernacle. On their banners were the emblems of a lion, a man, an Ox and an Eagle, a reflection of the four living creatures that surround the throne of God in Ezekiel 1 and Revelation 4. These identical creatures are represented in the Zodiac:

Judah (Lion) - Leo, the Lion

Reuben (Man) - Aquarius, Water Bearer

Ephraim (Bull/Ox) - Taurus, the Bull

Dan (Eagle) - Scorpio, the Scorpion. Within the 30 degree sign of Scorpio is the well-known “Eagle Nebula.” (Or the Eagle may be

represented in the sign of Cancer. See my discussion on this in the sign of Cancer)

The Eagle Nebula

The Tabernacle of Moses

God’s glory as we have seen is his mercy, his righteousness, his faithfulness, and his salvation. This glory fills the tabernacle in the heavens. In like manner, his glory filled and sanctified the tabernacle of Moses in the wilderness. (See Ex. 29:43; 40:34).

In both the Tabernacle of Moses and the Tabernacle in the heavens, God’s glory is declared and his tabernacles sanctified by his glory, portraying in symbolic language the work of his salvation for the children of Israel.

Interesting to note that the Tabernacle of Moses consisted of 48 vertical boards that were 10 cubits high. This mirrors the structure of the 12 zodiac signs with their 36 decans (12+36=48). Each sign divided into three 10 degree divisions called decans.

This picture with the camp of the Israelites is available as an 18” x 24” poster or as digital file on my store page.

© 2021 Robert L. Williams, Jr.

“Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.” (verse 5)

In Isaiah 62:5 we read: “as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.”

In the parable of the ten virgins, the “bridegroom” represents Christ. It is Christ that is figuratively represented as the sun “rejoicing as a strong man to run a race” as he passes through the 12 signs of the Zodiac, the 12 tribes of Israel of which he is their “bridegroom”, for he is married to them! The “strong man” as we will discover, is Hercules in the sign of Scorpio who was given 12 labors to perform, the Mighty One of Israel.

“His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.” (verse 6)

Thus description of the sun in this verse is also a picture of Jesus Christ as well.

“But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” (Mic. 5:2)

“Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.” (1 Cor. 4:5)

Truly, the heavens do declare “the glory of God”, even “Thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens.” (Ps. 89:1,2)