Session 6: I am a Light
Background
Darkness was thought of as a curse. Thus the OT speaks of death as a land of darkness (Job 10:21–22; 17:13; Ps. 88:6). Darkness is frequently associated with supernatural events involving the judgment of God, such as the plagues of Egypt (Exod. 10:21), the coming of the Lord (Isa. 13:9–10; Joel 2:31; Matt. 24:29), and Christ’s crucifixion (Matt. 27:45). The day of God’s judgment is often described as a day of darkness (Joel 2:2; Amos 5:18–20). Elsewhere darkness forms part of God’s punishment on the disobedient (Deut. 28:29; 1 Sam. 2:9; Job 5:14; 15:30; 20:26; Ps. 107:10; Isa. 47:5; Jer. 13:16; Ezek. 32:8).
In the NT the place of punishment for humans and sinful angels is designated “the outer darkness” (Matt. 8:12; 22:13; 25:30; cp. 2 Pet. 2:4; Jude 6, 13). Darkness often has an ethical sense. Scripture speaks of ways of darkness (Prov. 2:13; 4:19), walking in darkness (John 8:12; 1 John 1:6; cp. 2 Cor. 6:14; Eph. 5:8), and works of darkness (Rom. 13:12; Eph. 5:11). In this ethical sense God has no darkness in Himself (1 John 1:5). Powers hostile to God can be termed darkness. People thus face a choice of whether to yield allegiance to God or to darkness (Luke 22:53; John 1:5; 3:19; Col. 1:13; 1 Thess. 5:5). Darkness also symbolizes ignorance, especially of God and of God’s ways (Isa. 8:22; 9:2; John 12:46; Acts 26:18; 1 Thess. 5:4; 1 John 2:9). God’s deliverance (either from ignorance or hostile powers) is described as lighting the darkness (Isa. 9:2; 29:18; 42:7–16; Mic. 7:8; 1 Pet. 2:9). See Light.