Light In the Darkness

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Opening Prayer

Merciful Lord, You are my faithful friend. Remind me today and tomorrow that I am in Your wise hands.

Read Isaiah 50:1-11

^[1] This is what the LORD says: “Where is your mother’s certificate of divorce with which I sent her away? Or to which of my creditors did I sell you? Because of your sins you were sold; because of your transgressions your mother was sent away. ^[2] When I came, why was there no one? When I called, why was there no one to answer? Was my arm too short to deliver you? Do I lack the strength to rescue you? By a mere rebuke I dry up the sea, I turn rivers into a desert; their fish rot for lack of water and die of thirst. ^[3] I clothe the heavens with darkness and make sackcloth its covering.” ^[4] The Sovereign LORD has given me a well-instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed. ^[5] The Sovereign LORD has opened my ears; I have not been rebellious, I have not turned away. ^[6] I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting. ^[7] Because the Sovereign LORD helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame. ^[8] He who vindicates me is near. Who then will bring charges against me? Let us face each other! Who is my accuser? Let him confront me! ^[9] It is the Sovereign LORD who helps me. Who will condemn me? They will all wear out like a garment; the moths will eat them up. ^[10] Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the word of his servant? Let the one who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the LORD and rely on their God. ^[11] But now, all you who light fires and provide yourselves with flaming torches, go, walk in the light of your fires and of the torches you have set ablaze. This is what you shall receive from my hand: You will lie down in torment.

Meditate

Here, the prophet gives the challenging invitation to venture all upon God (10). As Christians, we can move into the future, confident that God has gone before.

Think Further

There are various kinds of darkness: the physical darkness of a cloudy night or an unlit room; the emotional shadows of death and depression; the social gloom of loneliness or persecution; and the spiritual desolation of unforgiven sin or perceived separation from God. In some of these expressions there can be deep desperation. Maybe you have experienced this directly or in the life of a friend.

Often our first inclination is to try to dispel the darkness by ourselves. While physical darkness can easily be overcome by the lighting of fires (or, now, the flicking of a switch), not so other types of darkness. In particular, trying to create our own solutions to spiritual darkness is doomed to fail; we may even make things worse (11). Israel’s people knew the darkness of being disowned by God because of their sinfulness (1-3). They experienced such forsaken times that they could not respond to the overtures of the One whose all-powerful, cosmic Word had wooed them in the past. The servant, too, knew dark times of social rejection and physical abuse (4-9), though, for him, this was not due to sinfulness but faithfulness. His obedient spirit was constantly sustained by the guiding word of his master, which enabled him to endure opposition and persecution.

The nation would have done well to listen to the servant (10,11). Had they, like him, found light in their darkness by trusting their God rather than trying to provide their own remedies (like worshiping impotent idols) they would not have endured repeated episodes of seeming abandonment. However, faithfulness to God is no guarantee of an easy life. Many of his obedient servants have experienced periods of the “dark night of the soul” (John of the Cross, 1542-1591), but they have learned that their Lord sustains them through the darkness until his light returns.

Apply

Pray for the light of Jesus’ love to break into the life of a friend or acquaintance burdened by significant darkness (John 8:12).

Closing prayer

Lord, I thank You for light given to me when I am stumbling in darkness. Truly, Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path (Psa.119:105).

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