God Sees Darkness as Light

Psalms 139:12

“Even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.”

As I was praying over the Middle East and North Africa, the Lord spoke to me from Psalms 139:12 and said, “I do not despair with darkness because darkness is as light to Me.” During some of the darkest days in Israel under the wicked rule of Ahab and Jezebel, who were killing all of God’s prophets, the great prophet Elijah finds himself in a cave full of despair at the condition of his nation and in fear of his very life. God is not even fazed by Elijah’s complaint, but declaires, “I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him." (I Kings 19:18)

As we watch the growing wickedness and darkness spread over our world, our nation and sometimes over our lives, we can lose our God’s perspective. God is not fazed by the darkness but rejoices in the light. We need to put on our night goggles of God’s Word and God’s perspective of current events. God paid no attention to Elijah’s despair and complaint, but simply tells Elijah to get up and go anoint the next king of Syria and of Israel and Elisha the next national prophet of Israel.

In Isaiah chapter eight God speaks judgment over Israel, but in Isaiah 9:1-2 God declares, “Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever….The people who walk in darkness will see a great light — a light that will shine on all who live in the land where death casts its shadow.” God who is light and sees darkness as light, speaks light into darkness. In Genesis one, darkness covered the earth, and God spoke light into the midst of this total deep darkness, and there was light.

We are not people of the darkness but of the light. Our perspective and response to what is going on around us should be diametrically different than the world that walks in darkness. Proverbs 18:21 says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue,

And those who love it will eat its fruit.” Jesus said, "Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 18:18)

As you pray over our world, ask God to open your eyes to see what He sees and pray that those who walk in darkness will see a great light. If you are in a dark place, know that darkness and despair will not go on forever and rejoice that the darkness is as light to God, and God speaks light into darkness.

Andy Clark