Monday Reflection – January 24, 2022

Monday Reflection – January 24, 2022
The Light of God

If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light around me become night,” even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is as bright as the day, for darkness is as light to you. Psalm 139:11-12

Psalm 139 may very well be regarded as a praise and prayer to the God who knows all and is everywhere. This magnificent Psalm is titled For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. It does not surprise us that such a significant Psalm came from David’s pen, who was the sweet Psalmist of Israel. Claude Fleury says profoundly, “Let the modern wits, after this, look upon the honest shepherds of Palestine as a company of rude and unpolished clowns; let them, if they can, produce from profane authors thoughts that are more sublime, more delicate, or better turned; not to mention the sound divinity and solid piety which are apparent under these expressions.” In other words, so beautiful is this Psalm yet from the pen of a mere shepherd. Isn’t it amazing what God can do with any of us to accomplish His will, no matter how simple or poor our state! Precious jewels we can become in the hands of our marvelous God and Potter.   

David affirms in Psalm 139 that the all-present God is with us. He considers the truth that God is present everywhere, and there is no corner or dimension of the universe hidden from Him. Heaven is not too high and hell is not too low; God is everywhere. It is in this context that we find today’s Watchword – If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light around me become night,” even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is as bright as the day, for darkness is as light to you. David here declares that if he were to contemplate or say that darkness is his experience, he must remind himself that there is no darkness with God. God’s presence with David was like a constant light in the darkness. As the pillar of cloud illuminated Israel in the wilderness (Exodus 13:21), so with God’s presence the night shines as the day.

Horne also reminds us that “Darkness may, indeed, conceal us and our deeds from the sight of men; but the divine presence, like that of the sun, turns night into day, and makes all things manifest before God.” Morgan agrees and asserts that “Darkness is light to Him, and has no hiding place from Him.” Whenever we are tempted to hide or do things in the cover of the dark, we would do well to remember that there is no darkness associated with God. God will beam his light into our created dark spaces and all things are revealed to Him.

Another dimension is not just that darkness is as light to God, but that God Himself is light. While God is the creator of light, He is the epitome of light. In God dwells the fulness of light that beams into every space. Jesus also declares himself as the light of the world and those who follow him will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life (John 8:12). Not just that, but hear Jesus’ instructions to those who follow Him, “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven (Matthew 5:14-16). And as John visions the new heaven and new earth, he says in Revelation 21:23, “And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb.” May we walk with God who is our light and lights our way.

Jermaine Gibson