Putting Darkness for Light

Day 12: Isaiah 5:16-21

But the LORD of hosts shall be exalted in judgment, and God that is holy shall be sanctified in righteousness.
Then shall the lambs feed after their manner, and the waste places of the fat ones shall strangers eat.
Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope:
That say, Let him make speed, and hasten his work, that we may see it: and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come, that we may know it!
Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!

Because God is a God of covenant, covenant curses will follow those who are in covenant with Him and yet break that covenant. One of the covenant curses falls upon those who live purposely contrary to the inherent holy and true nature of God: calling evil good, good evil, darkness light, light darkness, bitter sweet, and sweet bitter.

Why is this so significant? Not only is it against God’s character of truth, it abuses the power of words that God has given to us. Did you know that spoken words have power to change the physical realm? Read more

Living the Shining Life

Day 11: Proverbs 4:13-19

Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.
Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.
Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.
For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.
For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.
But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.

Once again, we see the power of the Word of God reemphasized. (Are you starting to see a theme here?) The picture is one of clinging to instruction, defending her, doing all in your power to keep her closely to yourself. “She is thy life.” Truly the Word of God is life – are you investing your days in doing all you can to guard it within your heart and mind? Praise God for His Holy Spirit within us who guides us into all truth and brings to our remembrance everything Jesus has said!

In the rest of this passage, two paths are contrasted: the path of the wicked and the path of the just. Of the path of the wicked, little description is given, and little is necessary. The solemn warning, however, is reiterated – just in case you were thinking about being curious about the wicked’s lifestyle: Read more

His Enlightening Commandment

Day 10: Psalm 19:1-10

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.
There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.
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,
Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.
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.
The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

The darkness of the world, the flesh, and the devil blinds and dims our eyes. Spiritually, we are nearsighted; we look upon our own things instead of on things above and the things of others. No wonder we can only see as in a mirror dimly! No wonder Jesus spoke in parables – “that seeing they might not see and hearing they might not hear, for this people’s eyes are darkened.” As the Pharisees of Jesus’ day, we walk about as blind people thinking that we see. As the church in John’s day, we do not even know that we are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.

Yet what is the eye salve that Jesus counsels the church of Revelation to buy that they might see?

Death Becomes Light!

Day 9: Job 12:13-25

With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.
Behold, he breaketh down, and it cannot be built again: he shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening.
Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up: also he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth.
With him is strength and wisdom: the deceived and the deceiver are his.
He leadeth counsellors away spoiled, and maketh the judges fools.
He looseth the bond of kings, and girdeth their loins with a girdle.
He leadeth princes away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty.
He removeth away the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the aged.
He poureth contempt upon princes, and weakeneth the strength of the mighty.
He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death.
He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them again.
He taketh away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth, and causeth them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.
They grope in the dark without light, and he maketh them to stagger like a drunken man.

This passage is an attempt to corral the ways of God into human terms – a difficult feat, as we know that God’s ways are much higher than man’s. One thing comes out clearly in Job’s words from a hear overflowing with suffering: the way God works isn’t something we can understand. Often He appears to work in contradictions: droughts and floods, spoiling counselors, making judges fools, spoiling princes, overthrowing mighty men, removing the wise man’s speak, removing understanding from the aged, weakening the strength of the mighty, and blessing and then destroying nations.

Where is the light in this? To the earthly mind, this sounds like darkness and confusion. Read more

Light Is Sown

Day 8: Psalm 97:1-12

The LORD reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof.
Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne.
A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about.
His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled.
The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory.
Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship him, all ye gods.
Zion heard, and was glad; and the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of thy judgments, O LORD.
For thou, LORD, art high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods.
Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.
Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.
Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.

In this passage, earthly light repeatedly describes the majesty and holiness of God:

Clouds and darkness round about Him

A fire going before Him

Lightnings of God enlightening the world

Hills melting like wax in His brilliant presence

Despite the natural fear God’s awesome glory might incite in those who are not one with Him, this Psalm focuses on quite a different response: joy.

“Let the earth rejoice.”

“Zion heard and was glad.”

“The daughters of Judah rejoiced.”

“Gladness for the upright in heart.”

“Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous.”

“Give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness.”

Because our all-powerful and holy God reigns in the earth, the earth ought to respond with pure joy: nothing evil can have any ultimate power or position when the earth is under the dominion of the omnipotent God! Read more

Light of the Living

Light Day 7: Psalm 56:1-13

Be merciful unto me, O God: for man would swallow me up; he fighting daily oppresseth me.
Mine enemies would daily swallow me up: for they be many that fight against me, O thou most High.
What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.
In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.
Every day they wrest my words: all their thoughts are against me for evil.
They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark my steps, when they wait for my soul.
Shall they escape by iniquity? in thine anger cast down the people, O God.
Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?
When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.
In God will I praise his word: in the LORD will I praise his word.
In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.
Thy vows are upon me, O God: I will render praises unto thee.
For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?

Notice the oneness and trust that the Psalmist has with God in this passage. In every aspect of his life, he’s turning to God, trusting God, relying on God for protection, provision, and help. In the midst of his struggles, he is turning to His Father for mercy, understanding, strength, peace, and sympathy.

Interestingly, however, the Psalmist isn’t asking God for anything in this particular Psalm apart from the opening phrase, “Be merciful unto me.” Instead, he’s simply declaring the following:

Thy Word is a Light

Light Day 6: Psalm 119:105-112

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments.
I am afflicted very much: quicken me, O LORD, according unto thy word.
Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, and teach me thy judgments.
My soul is continually in my hand: yet do I not forget thy law.
The wicked have laid a snare for me: yet I erred not from thy precepts.
Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart.
I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes alway, even unto the end.

Today we approach the specifics of the daily process of abiding in the Light. Certainly Jesus Christ is the Light that dwells in us – but what does that look like in our daily experience?

Psalm 119 is filled with the answer – stated specifically here in verse 105: “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”

A familiar verse – but what does it mean, and how does it shed light on how we walk in the light in our lives?

Abiding in the light means remaining in the Word. Even a single thoughtful read-through of Psalm 119 should quickly confirm that it isn’t just enough to read the Bible, study the Bible, or even memorize the Bible – though all of these are certainly necessary and immensely beneficial to our walk with God. Read more

I Am Come A Light

Light Day 5: John 12:44-50

Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me. I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak. ~ John 12:44-50

If your life or daily walk is characterized by darkness – confusion, indecision, negativity, fear, hatred, selfishness, pride, apathy, depression, and so forth – it’s by your own choice.

“What?” you might say. “I certainly don’t choose to live in in darkness. I’m trying my best to avoid these things, but sometimes life happens.”

That’s what Jesus said.

Wait on the Lord – Part 2

“Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

(Isaiah 40:30–31)

In part one of this post, I talked about how we need God for everything in life. The line of the song Jesus loves me is very true: “[We] are weak, but He is strong!”

When God created Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden, how did He intend them to live? He did not make them strong in themselves and then they became weak when they sinned. Quite the opposite – God created them utterly weak and helpless in themselves so that they could depend entirely on Him. When they took their eyes off their Creator and began to trust in their own ability, that is when were conquered by sin and fell from their relationship with God.

What should our response be? The fact that we are weak is not a problem for God – it is actually the way that we were designed to be.

Jesus said “…without me ye can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

Waiting on the Lord is being bound as one with Him. The Hebrew word translated as “wait” means “to bind together (perhaps by twisting), i.e. collect; (figuratively) to expect.” (Strong’s Concordance)

On our own, we faint and grow weary. If we are joined to the all-powerful Creator of the universe, our strength is transformed into the very ability of God!

Let us press on the know the Lord. Then His power will work in us to accomplish through us all He desires for us and those around us!

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