The concept of "Darkness of Judgments" in the Bible often symbolizes the obscurity and severity of divine judgments upon individuals, nations, or the world. This theme is prevalent throughout Scripture, where darkness is frequently associated with God's righteous judgment and the consequences of sin.

Old Testament References

In the Old Testament, darkness is often depicted as a tool or symbol of God's judgment. For instance, in the book of Exodus, one of the plagues that God sends upon Egypt is a palpable darkness: "Then the LORD said to Moses, 'Stretch out your hand toward the sky so that darkness spreads over the land of Egypt—a darkness that can be felt.' So Moses stretched out his hand toward the sky, and total darkness covered all Egypt for three days" (Exodus 10:21-22). This darkness was a direct judgment against Pharaoh and the gods of Egypt, demonstrating God's power and authority.

The prophet Isaiah also speaks of darkness in the context of judgment: "For behold, darkness covers the earth, and thick darkness is over the peoples; but the LORD will rise upon you, and His glory will appear over you" (Isaiah 60:2). Here, darkness represents the spiritual blindness and moral decay of the nations, contrasted with the light of God's salvation.

New Testament References

In the New Testament, darkness continues to symbolize judgment and separation from God. Jesus Himself uses the imagery of darkness to describe the fate of those who reject Him: "And throw that worthless servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Matthew 25:30). This "outer darkness" signifies the ultimate judgment and exclusion from the presence of God.

The Apostle Paul also uses the metaphor of darkness to describe the spiritual state of those who live apart from Christ: "They are darkened in their understanding and alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their hearts" (Ephesians 4:18). Here, darkness is equated with ignorance and separation from the life-giving truth of the Gospel.

Symbolism and Themes

Throughout Scripture, darkness as a symbol of judgment serves multiple purposes. It underscores the seriousness of sin and the holiness of God, who cannot tolerate unrighteousness. It also highlights the contrast between the light of God's presence and the darkness of a world in rebellion against Him. The "darkness of judgments" is a reminder of the consequences of turning away from God's commandments and the inevitable justice that follows.

Moreover, the theme of darkness is often juxtaposed with light, representing hope and redemption. While darkness signifies judgment, light symbolizes salvation and the presence of God. This duality is evident in passages such as John 1:5: "The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it" . Here, the light of Christ triumphs over the darkness of sin and judgment, offering hope to all who believe.

Conclusion

The "Darkness of Judgments" in the Bible serves as a powerful reminder of God's justice and the reality of His righteous judgments. It calls believers to live in the light of God's truth and to seek His mercy and grace through faith in Jesus Christ.Proverbs 20:20
Whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.
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Isaiah 8:22
And they shall look to the earth; and behold trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish; and they shall be driven to darkness.
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Isaiah 13:10
For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.
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Jeremiah 4:28
For this shall the earth mourn, and the heavens above be black; because I have spoken it, I have purposed it, and will not repent, neither will I turn back from it.
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Jeremiah 13:16
Give glory to the LORD your God, before he cause darkness, and before your feet stumble on the dark mountains, and, while you look for light, he turn it into the shadow of death, and make it gross darkness.
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Lamentations 3:2
He has led me, and brought me into darkness, but not into light.
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Ezekiel 32:7,8
And when I shall put you out, I will cover the heaven, and make the stars thereof dark; I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon shall not give her light.
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Joel 2:2,10
A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread on the mountains: a great people and a strong; there has not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.
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Amos 4:13
For, see, he that forms the mountains, and creates the wind, and declares to man what is his thought, that makes the morning darkness, and treads on the high places of the earth, The LORD, The God of hosts, is his name.
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Amos 5:18,20
Woe to 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.
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Amos 8:9
And it shall come to pass in that day, said the Lord GOD, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day:
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Micah 7:8
Rejoice not against me, O my enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light to me.
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Matthew 24:29
Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
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Mark 13:24
But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,
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Luke 23:45
And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the middle.
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Revelation 8:12
And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.
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Revelation 9:2
And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.
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Of the Error of Human Judgments when the Truth is Hidden.
... Melancholy and lamentable judgments they are, since the judges are men who cannot
discern ... If such darkness shrouds social life, will a wise judge take his seat ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/city of god/chapter 6 of the error of.htm

The Desire of the Soul in Spiritual Darkness
... But there will be such a cloud of darkness about him, and his good works will ... For,
in the 18th verse, he declares, "In the way of thy judgments, O Lord, we ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 1 1855/the desire of the soul.htm

Abram's Horror of Great Darkness.
... the brightness disappears, and an horror of great darkness fell upon him. ... The reasons
are with him "Whose judgments are unsearchable, and his ways past finding ...
/.../lee/sermons on various important subjects/sermon v abrams horror of.htm

The Powers of Darkness
... THE POWERS OF DARKNESS. ... their faults and make atonement for their sins." It includes
a description of the Ten Courts of Hell and the judgments pronounced therein ...
/.../cable/the fulfilment of a dream of pastor hsis/chapter xii the powers of.htm

Light for those who Sit in Darkness
... a right spirit will I put within them." "They shall also walk in my judgments, and
observe ... I mean you that sit in darkness, you that are ignorant, you that are ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/light for those who sit.htm

Light for them that Sit in Darkness;
... out of Egypt; by feeding upon Christ by faith we come from under the Egyptian darkness,
tyranny of ... Nor his appearing in his dreadful providences or judgments. ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/light for them that sit.htm

Psalm XIX.
... can understand sins, which close the very eye, to which truth is pleasant, to which
the judgments of God are desirable and sweet? yea, as darkness closes the ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm xix.htm

"If we Say that we have no Sin, we Deceive Ourselves, and the ...
... light, and are exhorted to walk honestly as in the day, because, though there is
a mixture of darkness in them, of weakness in their judgments, and impurity in ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xvi if we say.htm

Dying Fires
... As to sin, the darkness of ignorance is largely due to the darkness of sin. ... all men
more or less"much perverted, often wrong in its judgments, feeble, easily ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/dying fires.htm

General Service for the Festivals of Our Lord Jesus Christ,
... burned with fire unto the midst of heaven, with darkness, clouds and thick darkness. ...
Lord commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and judgments that ye ...
/.../anonymous/the general menaion/chapter i general service for.htm

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