Pulpit Today

To say God dwells in darkness seems to contradict Scriptures that associate Him with light.  The Bible equates darkness with chaos (GEN 1:2), distress (ISA 5:30), terror, and bondage (EZE 34:12).  Scripture calls demons “powers of darkness.” (EPH 6:11-12).  Ultimately, the wicked will be cast into eternal “darkness” as punishment for their sin (MAT 8:12).  Despite the description Scripture assigns to darkness 2 Samuel 22:12 says, God “made darkness canopies around Him.”  Exodus 20:21 says, “Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was.”  And Psalm 18:11 says: “[God] made darkness his secret place.”  So how do we reconcile this light-dark disparity that exists with our God whom John said “is light and in him there is no darkness at all” (1JN 1:5)?

When the Bible describes God enshrouded in darkness, it alerts seekers to places where they can find a deeper experience with Him and uncover His riches.  The masses can find God in public places, for even “the heavens declare His glory,” but discerning seekers of God discover His secrets in covert locations.  They search for places to “abide in the shadow of the almighty” (PSA 91).  Like Moses, they pitch their tent “outside the camp” to find company with God, and like Christ, they retreat to their Garden to find His fellowship.  Some of life’s greatest encounters with God have occurred in covert places, and there are times when no other place can confer His blessings.

Abraham entered his eternal Covenant with God at night (GEN 15:1-3).

The hidden heights of Midian is where Moses heard God’s call from the burning bush, and Mount Sinai, covered with a thick, dark cloud is where he secured the Ten Commandments.

Elijah stood inside a cave when God challenged him to continue his prophetic ministry.

An angel met Gideon in a winepress—a sunken enclosure—and commissioned him to deliver Israel from the Midianites.

When the shepherds found Jesus, they discovered Him under the cover of night.  And although Jesus performed most of His miracles during daylight, He found strength to bear the Cross in the darkness of Gethsemane.

And then, the Bible’s most detailed panorama of the apocalypse was penned by John, an exile to the Island of Patmos.

People “after God’s heart” know what it means to say with David, “You visited me in the night” (PSA 17:3).  It’s time to escape the crowds, commotion, and chaos and retreat to a pavilion of God’s presence where His whispers will fill your heart and His treasures will flood your soul.  Remember God’s promise through Isaiah, “I will give you the treasures of darkness and wealth stored in secret places” (45:3).