Topical Bible: Darkness: Inexplicable Nature of

◄ Darkness: Inexplicable Nature of ►

Jump to: Torrey's • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

In the biblical narrative, darkness often symbolizes the absence of God's presence, judgment, or the mysterious and unfathomable aspects of God's creation and actions. The concept of darkness is multifaceted, representing both physical absence of light and spiritual or moral obscurity.

Creation and Sovereignty

In the account of creation, darkness is depicted as the initial state of the world before God introduced light. Genesis 1:2 states, "Now the earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters." Here, darkness is portrayed as a primordial condition, over which God exercises His sovereign power by bringing forth light, order, and life.

Divine Judgment

Darkness is frequently associated with divine judgment and the withdrawal of God's favor. In the plagues of Egypt, darkness serves as a tangible manifestation of God's power and displeasure. Exodus 10:21-22 recounts, "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." This darkness was not merely the absence of light but a profound, oppressive presence that signified God's judgment against Pharaoh and the Egyptian gods.

Spiritual and Moral Darkness

The Bible often uses darkness metaphorically to describe spiritual blindness and moral corruption. In John 3:19 , Jesus explains, "And this is the verdict: The Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness rather than the Light because their deeds were evil." Here, darkness represents the human inclination to reject divine truth and embrace sin. The inexplicable nature of this darkness lies in its ability to obscure truth and lead individuals away from the light of Christ.

Mystery and Revelation

Darkness also signifies the mysterious and incomprehensible aspects of God's nature and plans. In Job 12:22 , it is written, "He reveals the deep things of darkness and brings deep shadows into light." This passage suggests that while darkness may conceal, God possesses the power to illuminate and reveal hidden truths. The inexplicable nature of darkness, therefore, underscores the limitations of human understanding and the necessity of divine revelation.

Cosmic and Eschatological Darkness

In eschatological contexts, darkness is often associated with the end times and the day of the Lord. Joel 2:31 prophesies, "The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD." Such imagery conveys the cosmic upheaval and divine intervention that will accompany the fulfillment of God's ultimate plan for creation. The inexplicable nature of this darkness points to the awe-inspiring and fearsome reality of God's final judgment and the establishment of His eternal kingdom.

Christ, the Light of the World

In contrast to darkness, Jesus Christ is presented as the Light of the World, offering hope and redemption. John 8:12 records Jesus' declaration, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life." The inexplicable nature of darkness is ultimately overcome by the light of Christ, who dispels spiritual blindness and offers salvation to all who believe.

Throughout Scripture, darkness serves as a powerful symbol of the mysterious, often unfathomable aspects of God's creation, judgment, and redemptive work. It challenges believers to seek the light of Christ and trust in God's sovereign plan, even when faced with the inexplicable and unknown.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Job 38:19,20
Where is the way where light dwells? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof,
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Of the Nature of Regeneration, with Respect to the Change it ...
... their seasons, when they walk in darkness, and see ... it in any mechanical transports
of animal nature, in any ... but known by some inward inexplicable sensation to ...
/.../doddridge/practical discourses on regeneration/discourse iii of the nature.htm

Preface to the "Divine Names. "
... altar in Athens "to God unknown," as author of the inexplicable darkness, which
he ... This touch of nature, preserved in a chronicle, written more than 1400 years ...
/.../dionysius/dionysis on divine names/preface to the divine names.htm

Results of Christ's Manifestation.
... of men sought to make out the nature of God ... did not keep His words, could bring no
darkness to His ... in Him." In this John sees nothing inexplicable, however sad ...
/.../v results of christs manifestation.htm

Apparent Discrepancies, and Mode of Removing Them.
... God; powers which, by producing results inexplicable by ordinary ... point of contact
in human nature before religious ... them to the powers of darkness rather than ...
/.../section 91 apparent discrepancies and.htm

From the Fact that St. ...
... whence is understood the oneness of nature in Them ... whereas the Scriptures also express
the inexplicable Majesty of ... light should shine out of darkness, shined in ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter xii from the fact.htm

To Alexander, Bishop of the City of Constantinople.
... it has been shown that His inexplicable subsistence excels ... He, indeed, is of an
immutable nature, every way ... be obscured by unreason; or that darkness should be ...
/.../i to alexander bishop of the.htm

Lovely to a Poet or an Artist's Eye is the Unevenly-Built and ...
... in,"making a brightness in a darkness, and suggesting ... denoted the reserved forces
of her nature,"and her ... apparently by a sudden and inexplicable desire to ...
//christianbookshelf.org/corelli/the master-christian/ii lovely to a poet.htm

Division Begins in the Church from this Controversy; and Alexander ...
... the essence of God; and the Father is inexplicable by the Son ... The Son knows not the
nature of his own essence ... and light has no fellowship with darkness, nor has ...
/.../chapter vi division begins in the.htm

Feasting on the Sacrifice
... the actual passing into the darkness of the ... is the strange and almost inexplicable
recrudescence of ... the sensitive, emotional, and voluntary nature, the great ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture j/feasting on the sacrifice.htm

The National Preacher.
... And why did nature shudder, and shroud herself in darkness, at the consummation
of those sufferings? All these things are utterly inexplicable, on the ...
/.../leland/the national preacher vol 2 no 7 dec 1827/the national preacher.htm