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! In Darkness
!!!! Daniel 2 22
/“Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his.
21 He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them.
He gives wisdom to the wise/ /and knowledge to the discerning.
22 He reveals deep and hidden things; /*/he knows what lies in darkness,/*/ //and light dwells with him.
23 I thank and praise you, O God of my fathers: You have given me wisdom and power, you have made known to me what we asked of you, you have made known to us the dream of the king.”/
No one will dispute that these are dark times.
Recent events have caused us to look into the abyss of human depravity, to contemplate the awful acts of a group of fanatical murderers[1].
There is still great danger and the possibility of further acts of terrorism.
It was at just such a time that Daniel – about whom we shared a short study recently – was confronted with the unreasonable demands and the awful threats of the Babylonian ruler, Nebuchadnezzar.
He calls his friends to a time of prayer – and God shows him the way forward – so Daniel responds in these striking words of praise.
We are given a view of the Sovereign Lord:
/21 //He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them.
He gives wisdom to the wise/ /and knowledge to the discerning.
22 He reveals deep and hidden things; /*/he knows what lies in darkness,/*/ //and light dwells with him./
This morning Daniel reminds us that God is in charge – and that HE UNDERSTANDS WHAT LIES IN DARKNESS and LIGHT DWELLS WITH HIM.
So let us spend a short while considering what the prophet is saying.
He reflects on his own experience: .
19 *During the night* the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision.
He shares that experience with Paul who in a number of instances in Acts proves God in the darkness – The man from Macedonia, with Silas in prison, The city of Corinth,
In prison in Jerusalem, and on the ship in the storm.
God enjoys breaking in on our darkness
/22 //He reveals deep and hidden things; /*/he knows what lies in darkness,/*/ //and light dwells with him./
But this morning I want to draw on the Gospels to illustrate this theme – and although the narratives will speak of real darkness – we need to apply what we learn to the darkness of UNCERTAINTY or of DOUBT or of TROUBLE.
I want you to be reminded that the Gospel records remind us that:
1.
At times of CRISIS
2.
At times of fear
3. At times of danger God illuminates the darkness
4. At times of betrayal
5. At a time of disappointment
As we briefly remind ourselves of these familiar narratives we shall see Daniel’s words made “Yes” and “Amen” in Jesus.
!
At times of crisis
It is striking that at critical moments in the ministry of Jesus the darkness is transformed:
Incarnation
Transfiguration
Crucifixion
Resurrection
God chose a DARK TIME in which to reveal HIS LIGHT!
But the Gospels also contain other striking reminders of this principle – that God delights to ILLUMINATE THE DARKNESS OF OUR EXPERIENCE
Our Lord who frequently chose the dark night hours for prayer also revealed Himself to others in the darkness:
!
At times of FEAR
On of the most famous encounters is that recorded in John 3.
John 3:1-19
1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 *He came to Jesus at night* and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God.
For no-one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him."
Undercover of darkness – because he was afraid of others – at night he comes to Jesus.
When John refers to him later he speaks of him as the one “who came to Jesus by night”
Jesus did not reject him – or challenge him to come at in more sociable hours – he spoke to him in simple direct personal ways that opened the heart of this man to the spiritual truth and LIGHT that He Himself is.
19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.
That very first coming of Christ’s light into our lives is a SPIRITUAL NIGHT-TIME
Nicodemus would agree, I think, that God does some of His best work in the dark hours!
!
At a time of DANGER
Mark 6:45-52
45 Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd.
46 After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.
47 When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land.
48 He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them.
About the fourth watch of the night he went out to them, walking on the lake.
He was about to pass by them, 49 but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost.
They cried out, 50 because they all saw him and were terrified.
Immediately he spoke to them and said, "Take courage!
It is I. Don't be afraid."
51 Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down.
They were completely amazed, 52 for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.
It was a time of – adversity
Misunderstanding apprehension
Danger
About the fourth watch of the night he went out to them, walking on the lake.
He was about to pass by them, 49 but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost.
They cried out, 50 because they all saw him and were terrified.
"Take courage!
It is I. Don't be afraid."
51 Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down.
Perhaps like me, you have your own experiences to compare with theirs?
I am not suggesting that He only comes in the darkness – that is obviously not tru, but He does come then – and when He does He TRANSFORMS IT.
Several narratives provide the next illustration:
!
At a time of BETRAYAL
JOHN 13 30:
30 As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out.
And it was night.
And
MATTHEW 26 31:
31 Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written:
“ ‘I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’
Of course you could add the experience of Peter illuminated by the flames in the courtyard of the High Priest….
In the matter of JUDAS somehow the deed and the time go together
Betrayal – or as in the case of Peter – denial – is a thing of the night.
And the darkness accentuates the sense of tragedy and failure.
JESUS knows the secrets of the darkness – for He has been that way – shared its betrayal and its disillusionment
Only Jesus can transform such darkness with the light of His LOVE and His FORGIVENESS!
And after His death there was a darkness that seemed to colour even the daytime.
!
!
!
At a time of DISAPPOINTMENT
Here you can blend together the significance of the Two EASTER night-time experiences:
LUKE 24, 29
29 But they urged him strongly, "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over."
So he went in to stay with them.
30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them.
31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognised him, and he disappeared from their sight.
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