How do you come up with a list of summer Bible verses? For me, summer means sitting in my garden with a cup of coffee at sunrise and sticky marshmallow bonfires at sunset. Therefore this collection of Bible verses about sunsets and sunrises is especially for the summer months.

Bible verses about sunsets and sunrises remind me that the sun gods of ancient religions can’t compare to the one who created our brilliant star and the planets that orbit it.

The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament shows his handiwork. (Psalm 19:1)

Bible Verses about Sunshine

Before we get into a list of Bible verses about sunshine, I want to share a story from Joshua chapter 10.

Joshua is leading the children of Israel into the promised land. The very land promised to Abraham hundreds of years before. These people had wandered as nomads in the desert for 40 years and the time was finally right for them to take over the land promised to them and inhabit it.

Of course, “take over” required removing the cities that had been established. Once again, God chooses to prove His power, strength, and very existence over that of the false dieties worshipped by the inhabitants.

Most of us are aware of the story of Joshua and the battle of Jericho which is one of the first stories we teach our children. However, the conquering of the promised land did not end there, it was one bloody battle after another as God purified the land of idolatry and sin.

Ai was the next to fall and it was clear to the other kings in Canaan that they were about to be destroyed so they did what any intelligent king would do and joined forces. Five kings arrayed in battle attire and their warriors went out to meet Joshua and the children of Israel. What they misunderstood was that they were also meeting the God of Abraham who was the true strength behind Joshua.

God tells Joshua not to be afraid and then continues to not only help them fight, but He sends large hailstones to kill those who were fleeing the battle. Joshua tells the Lord that he needs a few more hours of daylight and commands the sun to stand still.

And you know what happened? It did stand still (well, technically the earth stood still but same difference, the sun did not set). Joshua and his army finished the battle and returned home. End of story.

Crazy isn’t it? If God can stop the rotating of the earth in order to fight a battle, don’t you think God can change the circumstances in your life??

Ok, here is your list of Bible verses about sunshine just as I promised!

And take heed, lest you lift your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun, the moon, and the stars, all the host of heaven, you feel driven to worship them and serve them, which the Lord your God has given to all the peoples under the whole heaven as a heritage.  (Deuteronomy 4:19)

Then God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years; and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth”; and it was so.  Then God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also. ¹⁷ God set them in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth, and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. So the evening and the morning were the fourth day. (Genesis 1:14-19)

In them He has set a tabernacle for the sun,
Which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,
And rejoices like a strong man to run its race.
Its rising is from one end of heaven,
And its circuit to the other end;
And there is nothing hidden from its heat. (Psalm 19:4-6)

Thus says the Lord,
Who gives the sun for a light by day,
The ordinances of the moon and the stars for a light by night,
Who disturbs the sea,
And its waves roar
(The Lord of hosts is His name): (Jeremiah 31:35)

Arise, shine;
For your light has come!
And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.
For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth,
And deep darkness the people;
But the Lord will arise over you,
And His glory will be seen upon you.
The Gentiles shall come to your light,
And kings to the brightness of your rising. (Isaiah 60:1-3)

Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear! (Matthew 13:43)

But the path of the just is like the shining sun,
That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.
¹⁹ The way of the wicked is like darkness;
They do not know what makes them stumble. (Proverbs 4:18-19)

Commit your way to the Lord,
Trust also in Him,
And He shall bring it to pass.
⁶ He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light,
And your justice as the noonday. (Psalm 37:5-6)

For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
The Lord will give grace and glory;
No good thing will He withhold
From those who walk uprightly. (Psalm 84:11)

Aren’t these great summer Bible verses? They could be used as the base of a really great study! For more scripture studies, check out these posts!

Psalms for Forgiveness and Repentance: A Testament to God’s Mercy

2o Bible Verses about Identity in Christ and How to Apply Them to Your Life

Bible Verses about Sunsets

I am not sure what sunsets have to do with Bible verses about summer, except that because of the northern region I live in, I do not enjoy sunsets during the winter nearly as much as I do in the summer. So I felt it was fitting for this collection of Bible verses about summer. Plus, I wanted to share my story 🙂

It was in the evening that God sent the angel of death to kill the first born of each Egyptian family. At sunset, the children of Israel killed the passover lamb, spreading the blood on the doorposts.

Hundreds of years later, Jesus, our Passover lamb, said “it is finished” and dies just before sunset.

Sunsets have a beautiful symbolic meaning of something ending, a closing of a chapter. This is a great sunset Bible verse!

What profit has a man from all his labor
In which he toils under the sun?
One generation passes away, and another generation comes;
But the earth abides forever.
The sun also rises, and the sun goes down,
And hastens to the place where it arose. (Ecclesiastes 1:3-5)

My Own Sunset Experience

I could only find one sunset Bible verse, but I have a story that is dear to my heart that will hopefully make up for my lack of verse content.

I first wrote about this two years ago during a time we were all grieving and I was in a bad place. The epiphony I got this day has stayed with me and strengthened me through many dark days.

The whirlwind leading up to Christmas had subsided. We spent five days playing games, hanging out and enjoying having no routine. No pressure to get to activities or lessons. No pressure to cook healthy meals or be anywhere at a designated time. No pressure to put on my “happy” face to hide the constant sadness in my heart.

We celebrated Joshua turning four. His excitement was contagious as he asked me a dozen times a day if he was four yet. Paw Patrol cupcakes and accessories, colorful balloons, family, and fun new toys.

Lastly, we loaded everyone up into the van and headed to a resort which boasted three indoor waterparks. We had stayed here last year and enjoyed ourselves so much that we decided to make it a yearly tradition. The kids and I had been excitedly anticipating it for months.

Now that trip was coming to an end as I watched the miles slide past me out the car window as we drove home.

I started mentally reviewing our January calendar. Joshua’s well check, Caleb’s allergy shots, swim team and lessons, piano, school (shoot! I forgot to order Caleb’s new Science book). You know the drill.

I usually enjoy busy. Thrive on it really, but not today, not last week. I felt the urge to curl up in my bed, put a Hallmark movie on and hide from the world (with chocolate of course).

I was surprised at myself and rather than trying to make sense of the dread in my heart, I decided to sulk. Just as my pouting was getting underway, Brett said “check out the sunset”. I looked ahead and saw nothing but dim sky and tall pine trees.

“No, behind us”

And there it was, a beautiful display of red, orange, and pink. It filled the entire view of the back window with a bold brightness.

I turned around and glanced again at the bleakness in front of us. Yes, just like my life.

Behind me was the fun we’d just had, behind me was the much needed break from the chaos, behind me was my Rebekah. (I lost my beautiful 8 year old daughter in an accident three years ago. “Rebekah’s Heart” talks more about what a gift she was.)

And there was the source of my dread.

My Rebekah was bright and colorful and full of light, just like that sunset. Christmas morning without her bouncing up and down, was more than a little dim. Our vacation couldn’t be completely enjoyable because she was missing. My goal of embracing 2019 doesn’t seem doable without her.

I watched the tall evergreens fly past as we continued the boring drive home. There was more snow on the ground now, the sky was darker, Brett was grumbling about the slow pickup in front of us.

Perhaps, this is why God impressed “embrace” upon my heart to begin with. I am afraid to embrace life because my life hurts. Embracing people results in hurt too. I am afraid to embrace hope because I was once full of hope and that ended in an ugly accident.

So then what? I turned and looked behind me. The vibrant sunset had faded to a dim glow of color. This fit my mood perfectly. I was pretty bent on keeping this negative attitude.

I continued to sulk until God whacked me upside my head.

The color will return again tomorrow with the sunrise.

That proverbial light bulb went off! Ohhhhhhh!

Tomorrow will have its own joys and hopes and dreams. If I continue to look back and mourn for what was then I will miss what tomorrow holds.

You can read the rest of my ramblings at “Do You have the Courage to Let Go of the Sunset?”. Sometimes we are afraid of the sunsets because they are a closing of a chapter. We are afraid to let go, move forward, release the security we have been clinging to.

Bible Verses about Sunrise

Sunrise can symbolize new life, new beginnings, the dawning of a new chapter or era. When I ponder these concepts, my heart goes to the resurrection of Jesus. Early on the first day of the week, Jesus raises from the dead, defeating death, and triumphing over satan.

It was at sunrise that Mary and the other women go to the tomb only to find it empty. It was at sunrise that Mary Magdalene knelt weeping because someone had stolen the body of her beloved Jesus only to hear him say her name and be the first one to see him risen.

Sunrise, new life, redemption.

Are you starting a new chapter? Are you in a period of sunrise as the Lord reveals his truth and guides your footsteps? Even if you have been a long time follower of Christ, he will still lead you into a new season of life, into a sunrise. Embrace it, own it, lean into it.

This Bible verse about sunrise is a word of praise and what better way to begin your summer season (or your day) than with a song of worship to your creator?

Blessed be the name of the Lord
From this time forth and forevermore!
From the rising of the sun to its going down
The Lord’s name is to be praised. (Psalm 113:2-3)

Bible Verses about Morning

And on the flip side of sunsets, we have Bible verses about morning. A time of newness, the beginning of a new day, a new adventure, another try. No list of Bible verses about summer would be complete without mentioning sunrises. Here are a few Bible verses about sunrises to start your day off right.

‘He who rules over men must be just,
Ruling in the fear of God.
And he shall be like the light of the morning when the sun rises,
A morning without clouds,
Like the tender grass springing out of the earth,
By clear shining after rain.’ (2 Samuel 23:3-4)

He made the Pleiades and Orion;
He turns the shadow of death into morning
And makes the day dark as night;
He calls for the waters of the sea
And pours them out on the face of the earth;
The Lord is His name. (Amos 5:8)

Bible Verses about Sunsets and Sunrises: Our Faith Fulfilled in Eternity

A few last summer Bible verses pointing to the hope we have in Christ and the beauty of God’s redemptive plan for us.

“The sun shall no longer be your light by day,
Nor for brightness shall the moon give light to you;
But the Lord will be to you an everlasting light,
And your God your glory.
Your sun shall no longer go down,
Nor shall your moon withdraw itself;
For the Lord will be your everlasting light,
And the days of your mourning shall be ended. (Isaiah 60:19-20)

But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. (Revelation 21:22-23)

There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever. (Revelation 22:5)

I sincerely hope you enjoyed this round up of summer Bible verses! Be sure to drop a comment below and let me know which ones spoke to your heart!

Be sure to check out these other Bible verse collections!

Bible Verses about Hope and Healing

Bible Verses about Hope in Hard Times

15 Most Beautiful Bible Verses