One of the most important and overlooked verses in the Bible. Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15.
Why is it important? To understand the Bible, the way God intended us too, we must ‘rightly’ divide the word of truth. Many Christians will only perform a cursory reading of the Bible; missing much of the deeper truths that it reveals. Others will refuse to look beyond the first principals of Christ, affirming the Gospel is enough for them. However, the Word says, “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,” Heb. 6:1. In other words, Jesus is the foundation. Without Him we can go no further, but once the foundation is laid, one must continue to build upon the house so it may be ‘approved’ to live in rather than constantly laying down the foundation or abandoning the foundation altogether.
So how does one ‘rightly’ divide the Word? There are many ways. This post will be one such example, but it will only work using the KJV. The following will be a good deal of scripture to read but promises a blessing for the reader at the end. We will look at the word “darkness” within the Bible to understand how God determines its meaning.
The most abundant condition in the universe is darkness. Certainly, God is the creator of darkness (Isa 45:7, Isa 50:3), however, unlike light, it has no source. It just exists. Why is most of the universe in darkness and why has God never called darkness “good” in all of scripture?
– For the enemies of God, darkness is used as a judgement.
And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt. 22 And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days: 23 They saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for three days: but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings. Exodus 10:21-23
Woe unto you that desire the day of the Lord! to what end is it for you? the day of the Lord is darkness, and not light. 19 As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him. 20 Shall not the day of the Lord be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it? 21 I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies. 22 Though ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept them: neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts. 23 Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols. 24 But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream. Amos 5:18-24
But with an overrunning flood he will make an utter end of the place thereof, and darkness shall pursue his enemies. Nahum 1:8
Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron; 11 Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High: Psalm 107:10-11
– Darkness is used as a divider.
And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them: 20 And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night.Exodus 14:19-20
– Darkness is linked to “death” and “without any order”
Before I go whence I shall not return, even to the land of darkness and the shadow of death; 22 A land of darkness, as darkness itself; and of the shadow of death, without any order, and where the light is as darkness. Job 10:21-22
And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. 45 And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. 46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. Luke 23:44-46
– Darkness is equated with evil the opposite of goodness.
When I looked for good, then evil came unto me: and when I waited for light, there came darkness. Job 30:26
Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Isa 5:20
And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. John 3:19
– Darkness is connected to God’s wrath.
I Am the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of his wrath. 2 He hath led me, and brought me into darkness, but not into light. 3 Surely against me is he turned; he turneth his hand against me all the day. Lamentations 3:1-3
That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, Zeph 1:15
– Darkness is the “way of the wicked”.
The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble. Proverb 4:19
– Darkness is a servant separated from the King.
Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Mat 22:13
– Forsaken of God is darkness.
Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Mat 27:45-46
– Darkness signifies a betrayal against God.
Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders, which were come to him, Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves? 53 When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness. Luke 22:52-53
– Darkness is associated with spiritual wickedness in high places.
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Eph. 6:12
– Darkness is linked to sin, death, judgement, and hell.
For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; 2 Peter 2:4
– Where God “dwells”, there is no darkness.
This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 1 John 1:5
And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. Rev. 21:23
– Darkness is associated to rebellion against God.
And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. Jude 1:6
Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever. Jude 1:13
If you have made it this far, congratulations. You have a definitive understanding of how God uses “darkness”. Now for the test. Using what you just learned, what happened in two of the most misunderstood verses in the bible?
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. Genesis 1:1-2
For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: 2Pe 3:5
Looking for that Blessed Hope! 