Dwelling in the Thick Darkness

Darkness is a time, a season for drawing near to our God, of testing trial, grief of heart, ill health and the many varied burdens of the flesh.. 

Perhaps our usual understanding of God is as God is Light. "I am the Light of the world" was one of Jesus’ seven "I am" statements in gospel of John.

John 8:12 

“I am the Light of the World: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life.”

Praying much over this topic, I’ve been seeking where the Lord would have it go.

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The following verse in my daily reading was the trigger of the topic. The timeline setting is at the time of building of Solomon's temple..

2 Chronicles 6:1

..." said Solomon, The LORD hath said that he would dwell in the thick darkness."

“Thick darkness” , this seems a contrary description of the LORD God, Who went as a pillar of cloud in the day before His people, and a pillar of fire in the night ... I also immediately thought of a number of references elsewhere of those who “sit in darkness”, some shown below.

Psalm 107:10-11

"Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron;

Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High:"

Isaiah 42:6-7

"I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, .... for a light of the Gentiles;

To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house."

Micah 7:8

"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."

Luke 1:76-77,79

(Zachariah, John’s Father, speaking of John, the Baptist.)

"And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways;

To give knowledge of salvation unto His people by the remission of their sins,

To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."

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Curiously in these verses there is a real progression.

Psalm 107 speaks of those in darkness as consequence of their (our) sin.

Isaiah 42 presents the hope ... opening of blind eyes (an aside:- this is a good verse to claim for salvation, etc of loved ones).

Micah 7 (a verse I’ve loved for decades) ... when in darkness there’s light! Rejoice not my enemy... I shall arise..  though in darkness, the LORD shall be my light! Joy indeed!

Luke 1 refers to Christ and His work upon salvation, He will guide our feet in peace. Peace brings contentment, contentment leads to joy.

Yet even in a saved, surrendered, rejoicing Christian walk following the One, Who is the Light of the World, there are periods of the darkness of the valleys. 

We can’t always live on the mountaintop, the valleys are needful.

One thing I’ve really realised, God dwelling in darkness does not mean He has darkness in Him. 
God dwelling in deep darkness merely shows God is omnipresent.
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And so for us in period of darkness,
there is a purpose in God's plan for us. 

O, may we be teachable in this dark valley. 
There is rich treasure here, spiritually. 

We will never learn this on the mountaintop of good times.

As stated in introduction:

Darkness is a time, a season for drawing near to our God, through the testing trial, grief of heart, ill health and many varied burdens of the flesh.. 

https://youtu.be/1-fFQ47wxeA
Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art;
Thou my best thought, by day or by night;
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father and I, Thy true son;

Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.
.......
O King of glory, my victory won;
Rule and reign in me ’til Thy will be done;
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall;
Still be my vision, O Ruler of all.
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Drawing near to God ... this is what the valleys are, times of drawing near .. learning afresh to trust, rest in Him ... for the LORD “dwells in deep darkness”. 

He is there in the midst of our heartache, our grief, loss of loved one, health, financial security, etc.

We are not alone.

“Lo, I am with thee alway, even unto the end of the world.”

May we always recall, when in Darkness... deep darkness, that our Lord is our light.

Praying for each of you in your burdens. 
May this bless your heart as it did mine... 
I pray so.

'Draw near to God, and He will draw nigh to you.'

Prayer hugs, Shaz in Oz.x 

PS. If this has blessed you I'd love it if you would join as a wonderful encourager of this blog ...  link HERE.

Thank YOU to those who have done so already. You really encourage me to keep on! 💕

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