The great luminary of the night, formed by JEHOVAH on the fourth day of creation, (Genesis 1:14-19) Philosophers speaks much of this planet, in respect of its magnitude, form, phases, tides, etc. But the great point in which we are taught to regard the moon, is from what the word of God saith concerning it. There we learn "that the Lord appointed the moon for certain seasons, and the sun knoweth his going down." (Psalms 104:19,) Moses also beautifully speaks of the peerless majesty of this empress of the night ministering to her Maker's glory, when describing in the lot of Joseph's blessings the "precious fruits brought forth by the sun, and the precious things put forth by the moon." Probably the sacred writer, in allusion to those heavenly influences, meant to speak of yet far higher blessings in the sweet work of grace upon the soul, when Jesus, the Sun of righteousness, brings forth the fruits of his Holy Spirit, and causeth the soul from his influence, as the moon borrows from the sun, to put forth all precious things in him. Here is indeed the good will of him that dwelt in the bush. (Deuteronomy 33:3.)
The moon is compared to the church, and considered a striking emblem of her; for as the whole of her light is derived from the sun, so the church wholly depends upon the Lord Jesus, and only shines in the glory she draws from him. And as the moon is subject to an eclipse, and hath her waxing and waning times, so the church knows how to be abased and how to abound. All her enjoyments, all her splendour, usefulness, services, depend wholly upon her Lord. When Jesus, the Sun of righteousness, causeth his rays of light to act upon the church, by their kind influences, the church then like the moon from the sun, ministers according to the divine appointment of her Lord; but if the earth comes between, that is, if earthly affections intervene between Christ and the soul, then, like the interposition in the planetary world, there will be an eclipse. Hence in a day of brightness, and light, and glory, the church is represented in the Revelations as "a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet. Every thing of earth and earthly affections will be under our feet, when our souls are clothed with the bright robes of Jesus's righteousness, and Christ himself "formed in the heart the hope of glory." (Revelation 12:1; Colossians 1:27.)
We have a lovely description in the Canticles of such a view of the church, where Jesus himself is beholding her in this blessed state, and exclaiming with delight," Who is she that looketh forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners?" (Song of Solomon 6:10.) The whole church of Jesus, and every individual believer of the church, answers to this description. The morning in a day of grace, though small, has then the glimmerings of divine light in the soul; yet are they the sure harbingers of sun-rising, and "mark that path of the just which shineth more and more unto a perfect day." And the church is then fair as the moon in Jesus' eye, though, like the moon, when shining in her greatest brightness, spots may be seen upon her, and all the light she affords the earth is but what she first receives from the sun. In herself she is after all but an opaque body. What an exact resemblance to the church! She is fair and comely, but it is from the beauty and comeliness of her Lord; she hath nothing of her own, but all from him. But then she is still not only fair as the moon, but clear as the sun. Yes! In Jesus the church is beheld, and in his righteousness she is righteousness; yea, the Lord himself commands her so to be called, after the name of her Lord and Husband, Jeremiah 23:6; Jeremiah 33:16. And how terrible as an army of banners must the church be, thus looking forth as the morning, fair as the moon, and clear as the sun, let the word of God decide. "The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly." (Romans 16:20.) See Queen of Heaven.