The phrase “let those who love Him be like the sun” comes from Judges 5:31 in the Bible. This verse is part of the Song of Deborah, where the prophetess Deborah celebrates Israel’s victory over their enemies under the leadership of Barak. To understand the full meaning of this phrase, we need to look at the verse in context.
Judges 5 records Deborah’s song after Israel’s victory over the Canaanites. In verse 31, Deborah declares: “Thus let all your enemies perish, O Lord! But your friends be like the sun as he rises in his might.” This verse contrasts the fate of Israel’s enemies with the blessing for those who love God.
The first part of the verse speaks of the destruction of Israel’s enemies. Deborah prays that just as the Canaanites were defeated, so may all of Israel’s enemies perish before the Lord. This demonstrates God’s justice in bringing judgment on those who oppose His people.
The second part of the verse transitions to speak blessing on those who love God. These friends of God are to “be like the sun as he rises in his might.” Here, the sun is used as a metaphor for the vibrant life, strength, and vitality that come from loving God. Just as the sun rises with power and brightness, casting aside the darkness, so God’s people are to rise up and live boldly and confidently in His strength.
There are several important implications we can draw from this verse:
- God’s justice and salvation. God defends and saves His people, while judging their enemies. This demonstrates His justice and faithfulness towards those who follow Him.
- The blessing of loving God. Those who love God and walk in fellowship with Him will experience His energizing power and faithfulness in their lives, just like the rising sun.
- Being a light to the world. Like the brilliant sun, God’s people are to rise up and shine brightly in a world covered in darkness. The more we know the love of Christ, the more His light in us will make an impact.
- Strength and confidence. Loving God does not mean being passive or weak. Rather, we are to boldly live out our faith with the confidence that comes from God’s spirit working in us.
- Renewal and fresh starts. Every sunrise is symbolic of new beginnings and fresh mercies from God. There is hope of renewal for the future when we walk in God’s love.
In summary, to “let those who love Him be like the sun” speaks poetically of the power, energy, and vibrant life that result from walking closely with God. It is a picture of the justice, salvation, and daily blessings that God pours out on those who love Him wholeheartedly. This verse encourages God’s people to be bold and shine brightly in a world that needs God’s light and love. The more we know the love of Christ ourselves, the brighter our lives will shine to make an impact on the darkness around us.
1. God’s Justice and Salvation for His People
In Judges 5:31, Deborah begins by praying that Israel’s enemies would perish before the Lord. This demonstrates God’s justice in bringing judgment against those who oppose His people. The Canaanites were enemies of Israel and opposed God’s purposes. Their defeat shows God’s active role in defending and protecting His chosen nation Israel against those who sought to destroy her.
This principle of God’s justice against His enemies is seen throughout Scripture. In Nahum 1:2, God is described as one who “takes vengeance on his adversaries and keeps wrath for his enemies.” Exodus 15 celebrates God destroying the Egyptian armies who enslaved Israel. While God is merciful, He is also just and will eventually deal with those who continually reject Him and harm His people.
The other side of God’s justice is His salvation for His people. Judges 5 is a celebration of God’s deliverance of Israel from Jabin king of Canaan and his commander Sisera. Deborah declares in verse 2 that God granted victory to His people when they cried out to Him in their distress. When God’s people call upon Him, He responds as a faithful, covenant-keeping God who saves and delivers.
This salvation is ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who died to save all who put their faith in Him. God’s justice was poured out on Christ so that His people could be forgiven and declared righteous (Rom 3:25-26). There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Rom 8:1). As believers, we can have assurance of God’s salvation both now and eternally.
So Judges 5:31 teaches that God is zealously committed to both judging the wicked and saving those who love Him. This demonstrates His unchanging righteous and just character.
2. The Blessing of Loving God
After speaking of the destruction of the wicked, Deborah contrasts their fate with the blessing on those who love God: “But your friends be like the sun as he rises in his might” (Judg 5:31). The dawn of a new day with the sun rising in full force is an image of vibrancy, energy, and life. This is the blessing that comes from loving God wholeheartedly.
Throughout Scripture, loving God is connected with blessing and spiritual thriving. God promises in Exodus 20:6 to show “steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.” In Psalm 69:36, David declares that those who love God’s salvation will “dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.” Loving God includes both obeying His commands and embracing His salvation.
Jesus also taught that the greatest commandment was to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matt 22:37). A life lived in devoted love for God will overflow with the energizing vitality pictured by the rising sun in Judges 5:31.
This is because intimacy with God allows His life to flow through us by the Holy Spirit. As 1 John 4:16 says, “God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.” Abiding in God’s love transforms us to share in His divine energy, power, and righteousness. The more we open our hearts to God’s love, the more we will experience His life-giving blessings.
3. Being a Light to the World
Not only does loving God bless the believer individually, but it leads to being a light and witness to the world. Just as the sun rises and sheds light on the earth, God’s people are to rise up and shine His light into the darkness.
Isaiah 60:1 declares, “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.” As we walk in love with God, His glory rises upon us and we become carriers of His light. The more we know the love of Christ, the brighter our light shines before others (Eph 3:19).
Jesus called His followers the “light of the world” and exhorted them to “let your light shine before others” (Matt 5:14, 16). The light is His love being manifested through His people to dispel darkness and draw people to salvation. Shining our light includes both living righteously and testifying about Christ.
When we love God wholeheartedly, His life and character will be naturally displayed through us. Our lives will testify to the reality of knowing Christ. Darkness cannot overcome the brilliant rising sun of Christ’s love shining in and through His people.
4. Strength and Confidence in God
The metaphor of the rising sun also speaks of the strength and confidence that come from loving God. To “be like the sun as he rises in his might” indicates a bold rising up to live empowered by God’s strength.
Those who wait on and hope in the Lord “will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not be weary; they will walk and not faint” (Isa 40:31). God pours His mighty strength into those who genuinely love and commune with Him.
This strength enables His people to live confidently and courageously. Psalm 118:14 declares, “The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.” And Psalm 112:7-8 states that a righteous person “is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord. His heart is steady; he will not be afraid.”
The bold, steady life pictured by the rising sun comes from those who find their strength and confidence in the love of God. His love empowers us to rise up and live dynamically for Him without fear.
5. Renewal and Fresh Starts Each Day
Finally, the image of the rising sun also signifies fresh mercies and renewal day by day. Lamentations 3:22-23 says it is the Lord’s steadfast love that allows us to see each new morning, because His faithfulness is great. Each sunrise represents a new beginning and the promise of God’s presence that day.
This hope of renewal is beautifully captured by the hymn “Great is Thy Faithfulness”:
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
For the believer who loves God, each day is a reminder of His faithfulness. No matter what happens, we can find mercy, strength, and renewal in God’s unchanging love when we commune with Him daily.
So in summary, Judges 5:31 teaches that we are to boldly rise up and live energized by the power of God’s love each new day. As we love Him wholeheartedly, His purposes our accomplished through us, His people. What an awesome privilege it is to be conduits of God’s light and displays of His covenant love to the world as we walk with Him each day.