God:s Light Overcomes the Darkness
Thanks be to God!
You have granted me life and lovingkindness; And Your providence (divine care, supervision) has preserved my spirit.
Now,
If I sin, then You would take note and observe me, And You would not acquit me of my guilt. Should I lift my head up, You would hunt me like a lion; And again You would show Your marvelous power against me. You renew Your witnesses against me And increase Your indignation and anger toward me; Hardship after hardship is with me [attacking me time after time]. Would He not let my few days alone, Withdraw from me that I may have a little cheer Before I go—and I shall not return— To the land of darkness and the deep shadow [of death], The [sunless] land of utter gloom as darkness itself, [The land] of the shadow of death, without order, And [where] it shines as [thick] darkness.” Job 10:12, 14, 16-17, 20-22 AMP
Oh Lord relent! Some are still there dwelling in darkness.
Will You perform wonders for the dead? Shall the departed spirits arise and praise You? Selah. Will Your lovingkindness be declared in the grave Or Your faithfulness in Abaddon (the underworld)? Will Your wonders be known in the darkness? And Your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness [where the dead forget and are forgotten]? Psalms 88:10-12 AMP
Yes!
The people who walk in [spiritual] darkness Will see a great Light; Those who live in the dark land, The Light will shine on them. You [O God] will increase the nation, You will multiply their joy; They will rejoice before You Like the joy and jubilation of the harvest, As men rejoice when they divide the spoil [of victory]. Isaiah 9:2-3 AMP
See!
Some dwelt in darkness and in the deep (deathly) darkness, Prisoners [bound] in misery and chains, Because they had rebelled against the precepts of God And spurned the counsel of the Most High. Therefore He humbled their heart with hard labor; They stumbled and there was no one to help. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, And He saved them from their distresses. Psalms 107:10-13 AMP
For,
This is what God the Lord says, He who created the heavens and stretched them out, Who spread out the earth and its produce, Who gives breath to the people on it And spirit to those who walk on it, “I am the Lord, I have called You (the Messiah) in righteousness [for a righteous purpose], I will also take You by the hand and keep watch over You, And I will appoint You as a covenant to the people [Israel], As a light to the nations (Gentiles), To open the eyes of the blind, To bring out prisoners from the dungeon And those who sit in darkness from the prison. I am the Lord, that is My Name; My glory I will not give to another, Nor My praise to carved idols. Indeed, the former things have come to pass, Now I declare new things; Before they spring forth I proclaim them to you.” Sing to the Lord a new song, Sing His praise from the end of the earth! You who go down to the sea, and all that is in it, You islands and coastlands, and those who inhabit them [sing His praise]! The Lord will go forth like a warrior, He will stir up His zeal like a man of war; He will shout out, yes, He will raise a war cry. He will prevail [mightily] against His enemies. Isaiah 42:5-10, 13 AMP
Yes there are,
Those who go down to the sea in ships, Who do business on great waters; They have seen the works of the Lord, And His wonders in the deep. For He spoke and raised up a stormy wind, Which lifted up the waves of the sea. They went up toward the heavens [on the crest of the wave], they went down again to the depths [of the watery trough]; Their courage melted away in their misery. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, And He brought them out of their distresses. He hushed the storm to a gentle whisper, So that the waves of the sea were still. Then they were glad because of the calm, And He guided them to their desired haven (harbor). .. He sets the needy securely on high, away from affliction, And makes their families like a flock. The upright see it and rejoice; But all unrighteousness shuts its mouth. Who is wise? Let him observe and heed these things; And [thoughtfully] consider the lovingkindness of the Lord. Psalms 107:23-26, 28-30, 41-43 AMP
Rejoice!
The Light shines on in the darkness, and the darkness did not understand it or overpower it or appropriate it or absorb it [and is unreceptive to it]. John 1:5 AMP
For You, O Lord, are my lamp; The Lord illumines and dispels my darkness. For by You I can run upon a troop; By my God I can leap over a wall. 2 Samuel 22:29-30 AMP
Yes,
While you have the Light, believe and trust in the Light [have faith in it, hold on to it, rely on it], so that you may become sons of Light [being filled with Light as followers of God].” Jesus said these things, and then He left and hid Himself from them. John 12:36 AMP
But,
…if I look to Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead) as my home, If I make my bed in the darkness, If I call out to the pit (grave), ‘You are my father’; And to the worm [that feeds on decay], ‘You are my mother and my sister [because I will soon be closest to you],’ Where now is my hope? And who regards or considers or is even concerned about my hope? Will my hope go down with me to Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead)? Shall we go down together in the dust?” Job 17:13-16 AMP
No! For it is said,
For once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of Light [live as those who are native-born to the Light] (for the fruit [the effect, the result] of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), Ephesians 5:8-9 AMP
Do not participate in the worthless and unproductive deeds of darkness, but instead expose them [by exemplifying personal integrity, moral courage, and godly character]; for it is disgraceful even to mention the things that such people practice in secret. But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light [of God’s precepts], for it is light that makes everything visible. For this reason He says, “Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine [as dawn] upon you and give you light.” Ephesians 5:11-14 AMP
Yes! Bring in the Light.
Man puts an end to darkness [by bringing in a light], And to the farthest bounds he searches out The rock buried in gloom and deep shadow. He breaks open (mine) shafts far away from where people live, [In places] forgotten by the [human] foot; They dangle [in the mines] and hang away from men. Man puts his hand on [and tears apart] the flinty rock; He overturns the mountains at the base [looking for treasure]. He cuts out channels and passages among the rocks; And his eye sees every precious thing. Man dams up the streams from flowing [so that they do not trickle into the mine], And what is hidden he brings out to the light. Job 28:3-4, 9-11 AMP
Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” John 12:31-32 NIV
For,
Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding [feast] is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. So go to the main highways that lead out of the city and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.’ Those servants went out into the streets and gathered together all the people they could find, both bad and good; so the wedding hall was filled with dinner guests [sitting at the banquet table]. “But when the king came in to see the dinner guests, he saw a man there who was not dressed [appropriately] in wedding clothes, and he said, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without wearing the wedding clothes [that were provided for you]?’ And the man was speechless and without excuse. Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him into the darkness outside; in that place there will be weeping [over sorrow and pain] and grinding of teeth [over distress and anger].’ For many are called (invited, summoned), but few are chosen.” Matthew 22:8-14 AMP