A Little Light Reading: Part Two ...it all started when I looked at my neighbor’s driveway … and, then, looked at my driveway ... What a difference a little light makes. Now, we look at the Old Testament and what it says about the importance of light. How important is light in Scripture? Consider this: The very first recorded words of God: Let there be light (Genesis 1:3). Gods very first act of creation was creating light: And God said, Let there be light (Genesis 1:3). Make no mistake: If we will be that light, God will see it: The second recorded words of God: And God saw the light, that it was good (Genesis 1:4). Are we supposed to be separate from the world? Gods first act-after His first act of creation? God divided the light from the darkness (Genesis 1:4). In the days of Moses, one of the plagues which struck Egypt was the absence of light: there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days (Exodus 10:22). Not only does our light separate us from the darkness ... regardless of how dark the world gets ... we must be, and have, within us, that light: all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings (Exodus 10:23). Nehemiah wrote that, in their travel across the wilderness, that God leddest them in the day by a cloudy pillar; and in the night by a pillar of fire, to give them light in the way wherein they should go (Nehemiah 9:12). God still gives us His light, to guide us, in the way we should go. King David wrote a lot about Gods light, and, when you consider that part of the Davidic Covenant promised that David my servant may have a light alway before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen me to put my name there (1 Kings 11:36), it makes sense that David would refer to this light often. Other writers would write of this covenant, and the importance of this light: Howbeit the LORD would not destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that he had made with David, and as he promised to give a light to him and to his sons for ever (2 Chronicles 21:7). David would write: LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us (Psalm 4:6). For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness (Psalm 18:28). The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1). For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light (Psalm 36:9). And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday (Psalm 37:6). Other Psalmists would also refer to the light: O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me (Psalm 43:3). Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous (Psalm 112:4). God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light (Psalm 118:27). Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path (Psalm 119:105). The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple (Psalm 119:130). Davids son, Solomon, would also refer to light: But the path of the just is as the shining light (Proverbs 4:18). This light inside of us is so important to guide our way. How does the world act? Those who dont have this light? They grope in the dark without light, and he maketh them to stagger like a drunken man (Job 12:25). The book of Job contains several references to light, including this: Yea, the light of the wicked shall be put out, and the spark of his fire shall not shine (Job 18:5). Solomon would agree with this in Proverbs 13:9: The light of the righteous rejoiceth: but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out. Isaiah would plead, O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the LORD (Isaiah 2:5). Isaiah would describe the words of those who dont have this light: To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them (Isaiah 8:20). Isaiahs great words of prophecy would often refer to light: The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined (9:2) ... I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles (42:6) ... I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them (42:16) ... Hearken unto me, my people; and give ear unto me, O my nation: for a law shall proceed from me, and I will make my judgment to rest for a light of the people (51:4) ... Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward (58:8) ... Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee (60:1) ... And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising (60:3) ... The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory (60:19) ... Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the LORD shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended (60:3). I love the book of Isaiah! And, Daniel ... who wrote this of the wisdom of God: He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him (Daniel 2:22). I often write that, when the Spirit of God is with you, you cant hide it: Others-even unbelievers-will clearly see this ... and, when they are in a desperate situation, they will come to you, just like what happened to Daniel. The King was greatly troubled over both his dreams, and the fact that his wise men could not interpret the meaning of his dreams. His wife, the Queen, came to the King to report that There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him ... (Daniel 5:11). When Daniel was brought to the King, here are the first words the King spoke to Daniel: I have even heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee ... And I have heard of thee ... (Daniel 5:14-16). If Gods Spirit ... the Light ... is really in you ... word will get around. Make no mistake: Life is tough, and the world around us is dark. Let us all look to the words of Micah: Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me ... he will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold his righteousness (Micah 7:8-9). Before I close, lets go back to Daniel for the great soul-winning verse: And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever (Daniel 12:3). Amen! Next time, the New Testament! Blessings, R.V.R.
Posted on: Sat, 25 Jan 2014 02:36:46 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015