Out of Darkness
The Lord tests the righteous,
but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.
Let him rain coals on the wicked;
fire and sulfur and a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup.
Psalm 11:5-6 ESV
For days, I have been rising before dawn, intending to write about the darkness. But as the glimpses of light begin to fill the sky, I am so drawn to the glories on the horizon that I can’t bear to think of anything but the light. Again, I have watched the first pinks arrive in the east and find them also reflected in the skies of the west, where Idaho mountains turn gold.
That is what brings me life: the appearance of the light. I think of last night – stepping outside to look up into the dark sky: the blue-black sea overhead held interest only because of the pinholes of stars piercing the darkness. The white clouds moving westward; were they illuminated by the moon? Again, in the vast night, it was the light I longed for.
We have enough darkness here. It not only fills the skies, but it also fills the hearts of humans. God warned us in the very beginning:
“Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, and you must rule over it.” Genesis 4:6-7
We should know. It is not a secret. It is an old, old story that we would like to dismiss as a fairy tale - something concocted and made up. But doesn’t it ring true?
We have a choice: to do well or not to do well. To become angry or to cast that insidious anger aside and behind. Because sin is real: it is a predator who intends to harm us, waiting patiently, low and hidden. Watchful, muscles tensed to leap, to pounce, to destroy. It has an insatiable desire to harm us… but. But God always introduces a way out, a way to overcome. You must rule over it. We are stronger than it. That is what God tells us. Turn away from the anger and the sin. Don’t look longingly at it. Don’t feed it or nurture it. Rule over it.
So that is why I long for the light. Not the darkness. As I think about these things, looking out at the morning sky filled with white, blue, and navy-gray clouds, the sun still hidden behind the mountains and hills, overhead appear black wings, long and extended. Vultures. They continue to fill the sky, their black silhouettes multiplying, circling, expanding. I lose count of them at 25, 30… They are a reminder that there are things of darkness that feed on death.
Over the past weeks, such darkness has made itself known. A disturbed and tormented young man who very thoughtfully and intentionally took aim at children as they bowed their heads in prayer. A hooded man filled with demons, excused and released into this world, who sat behind a young woman, innocent and unaware, as if a lamb before the slaughter; he stood behind her and slit her throat with his knife. Across the country, another man inscribed words on the casings of his bullets. He carefully planned his arrival on a rooftop to take aim at a brilliant young man who was passionate about having conversations with young men and women. His crime was simply allowing them to ask him questions, listening, and sharing his opinion. They stood in line to talk to him, to debate ideas! What drew them there? His sign overheard was an invitation for conversation: ‘Prove Me Wrong’. The bullet found its mark in his throat, and he was silenced. But was he?
We are reassured as we watch the vultures darken the sky over us: The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:5. John wrote to explain who Jesus was and who he is: he was the Word, he was grace, truth, life, and the true light. Death and darkness would not, will not, defeat him. His light will not be darkened.
My husband and I are traveling across this country. I am studying the Psalms as we go. Psalm 91 encourages me to trust God in all things. Why? Because he is good. He is a shelter, a refuge, a fortress, a shield, a buckler (I need to look that one up!). He is my dwelling place. (Let that one sink in!).
He invites me to abide in the shade of his shadow, under the protection of his wings. He will command his angels concerning me; they will hold me up with their hands. (For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone. Psalm 91:11-12)
Why do I need such extreme protection? Such reassurance and comfort? Because it is well known that there is darkness and danger here where we live. God does not want us to be ignorant, naïve, or deceived. He desires us to have our eyes open, to carefully listen, and to choose to overcome.
A couple of weeks ago, I traveled into a landscape that was black and harsh. I went there intentionally, as it was on our path: The Craters of the Moon. Apparently, thousands of years ago, a volcano erupted there, shooting embers into the sky as molten lava flowed to cover the living earth for miles.
We could drive out into the black-encased land and walk along well-constructed asphalt boardwalks over the hardened lava flow. As we walked deeper into the landscape, I became uneasy. Everything I saw was dead. Even the trees that had attempted life there were twisted and turned in unnatural curves, distorted and dry. The winds blew – not hot but cold, threatening to push me off the narrow walkway and into the sharp glass of broken ancient lava.
I decided I didn’t want to be there. I didn’t want to search for the curved, snake-like formations of ebbing flow or the cones that had sent out burning cinders as the volcano's explosions waned. I wanted to run. But I realized I had to walk firmly and carefully against the strong power of the winds pushing against me, promising to throw me off balance.
I was reminded of the angels’ warnings to Lot and his family. I was reminded of all the men of Sodom banging at the door. I was reminded of the refusal to be rescued from the coming fire, the burning embers, the smell of sulfur beginning to fill the air.
I was reminded of God’s warnings to the wicked who choose to indulge their desires. “What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood is crying to me from the ground” Genesis 4:10. Our spilled blood has a voice, and it cries out to God.
Cain never repented, turned, bowed to the Creator of life in horror at what he had done. He was not forgiven because he did not want to be. He chose darkness over light. And his descendants followed his path. It is a story that did not end well.
I will remember God’s righteousness. He desires us to repent and to draw close to him. He warns us of the evil at the door. God will not tolerate the darkness that threatens to overcome the light.
There are six things that the Lord hates,
seven that are an abomination to him:
haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
and hands that shed innocent blood,
a heart that devises wicked plans,
feet that make haste to run to evil,
a false witness who breathes out lies,
and one who sows discord among brothers. Proverbs 6:16-19
I will turn away from that darkness whose desire is contrary to me. I will search for the light. The light that will overcome the darkness. I will hold onto this promise:
The Lord tests the righteous,
but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.
Let him rain coals on the wicked;
fire and sulfur and a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup.
For the Lord is righteous;
he loves righteous deeds;
the upright shall behold his face. Psalm 11:5-7
Questions: How do you rule over the darkness? How do you choose what is righteous?
Passion - Crushing Snakes (Live From Passion 2020) ft. Crowder, TAYA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qUPAI-VVhY
Psalm 11
In the Lord I take refuge;
how can you say to my soul,
Flee like a bird to your mountain,
2 for behold, the wicked bend the bow;
they have fitted their arrow to the string
to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart;
3 if the foundations are destroyed,
what can the righteous do?[a]
4 The Lord is in his holy temple;
the Lord's throne is in heaven;
his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man.
5 The Lord tests the righteous,
but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.
6 Let him rain coals on the wicked;
fire and sulfur and a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup.
7 For the Lord is righteous;
he loves righteous deeds;
the upright shall behold his face.
Footnotes
a. Psalm 11:3 Or for the foundations will be destroyed; what has the righteous done?