Have you ever been on a walk as the sun goes down and the stars appear as the black envelop of the heavens unfolds above you? Have you ever seen the sparkle of stars like a celestial ballet just for you? Have you ever looked up and marveled at the wonder of the hand that made such an amazing work of art? Vincent Van Gogh was walking home from a long day of painting and the glory of the Lord's creation was on display. He was so inspired that he ran home and started his most famous painting. In Starry Night Van Gogh captures the beautiful dance of nature praising the creator. Look at the cypress tree on the left of the painting spiraling up to heaven like a Pentecostal with arms raised in worship. Look at beauty on display in the heavens.
1 O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory
above the heavens.
2 From the lips of children and infants
you have ordained praise
because of your enemies,
to silence the foe and the avenger.
3 When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
4 what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?
5 You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
and crowned him with glory and honor.
6 You made him ruler over the works of your hands;
you put everything under his feet:
7 all flocks and herds,
and the beasts of the field,
8 the birds of the air,
and the fish of the sea,
all that swim the paths of the seas.
9 O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
What is not well known about Van Gogh is that his first career was as a minister. He wasn’t a good speaker, he didn’t dress well or manage the church in good fashion. But he loved his people with all his heart. He gave all he had for medicine for sick children and blankets for the poor. When his bishops saw that he had sold all of his possessions and was living like a peasant they fired him. He was considered a failure as a pastor. But what did Van Gogh say about his faith?
"The best way to know God is to love many things." Vincent Van Gogh
He loved these people, and didn’t just give them religion. He gave them the basics of life that they needed. He gave them blankets, medicine, love, respect. The professional businessmen of the church couldn’t see past suits and buildings to the people that needed love.
"Love is something eternal, the aspect may change, but not the essence." Vincent Van Gogh
Van Gogh left the church but started a ministry of a different kind. He became an painter but his work was much different than others of his time. He wasn’t concerned about capturing light reflecting off surfaces. Vincent's work was about something much more evangelical. He wanted to touch peoples hearts, to show the that God was the greatest artist of all and that his creation is marvelous and masterful.
“I feel that there is nothing more truly artistic than to love people” Vincent Van Gogh
Van Gogh struggled with inner-demons. His health was never good. Overexposure to lead, undiagnosed and untreated epilepsy and depression lead him on a downward spiral that ultimately lead to his death. But in his work we see one man's everlasting tribute to the Artist-God. We see praise for the wonders of the moon and stars. We see an artist worshipping the creator with an overloaded brush, brilliant colors and oil paint. And by gazing upon this work, and closing our eyes, we too feel that feeling of amazement at the Greatness of our God.
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