Biblical Theology: Light and Dark

We’ve talked about what Biblical theology is and how to get started with Biblical theology. Now we get to the fun part!! Let’s give it a try!!

light and dark Biblical theology

I’ve done more of the work this time, but I hope you’ll see that this is simple and YOU can study Biblical theology too! All I did was take the 4 sections of the story of Scripture and used the handy concordance at BibleGateway.com. I searched for “light” and “dark” as well as related words.

 

Now, most of what I found was relevant but some just wasn’t. It takes some practice to know what is important and what isn’t. Again, that’s why it’s helpful to read books like Nancy Guthrie’s.  But here is what I found

 

Creation:

God created the light and he separated it from the darkness. (Gen 1-2)

God created the light! He separated it from the darkness so they would be distinguishable.

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Fall:

“It is a land of blackness like the deepest darkness, gloomy and chaotic, where even the light is like darkness.” (Job 10:22)

“They grope around in darkness without light; he makes them stagger like a drunkard.” (Job 12:25)

“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness, who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.” (Isaiah 5:20)

“But if anyone walks during the night, he does stumble, because the light is not in him.” (John 11:10)

Because of the Fall, it is hard for those outside of Christ to distinguish what is light and what is dark.

 

Redemption:

Light and lamps in the temple (many references)

“Lord, you light my lamp; my God illuminates my darkness.” (Psalm 18:28)

“The Lord is my light and my salvation- whom should I fear?” (Psalm 27:1)

“For this is what the Lord has commanded us: I have made you a light for the Gentiles to bring salvation to the end of the earth.” (Acts 13:47)

Paul’s conversion on the way to Damascus describes a bright light. (Acts 22)

We know that God created the light to be separate from the dark, but because of the Fall those without Christ can’t see them clearly and confuse light and dark. We see Scripture point to light in the Temple that signifies God. The Lord is our light. Christians are then the light to the world.

 

Restoration:

“The sun will no longer be your light by day and the brightness of the moon will not shine on you. The Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your splendor. Your sun will no longer set, and your moon will not fade; for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and the days of your sorrow will be over.” (Isaiah 60:19-20)

“And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light will the nations walk… and there will be no night there.” Rev. 21: 24-25

When Jesus returns and we are living in the new creation, there will be no need for any light other than what comes from God. He will be our only light source!

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And the keystone of it all?

“Jesus spoke to them again: “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)

 

Do you see how the display of light and darkness throughout the Bible points right to Jesus?

 

And this barely gets us started! There are SO many references to light and to dark. We could also look at day and night. It might even be significant that God’s presence is signified as fire in many places through the Old Testament. We could dig for hours!! And think about how much better we would understand the unfolding story of Scripture!

 

 

Megan Dickerson wants to share the truths of God’s Word with winsome clarity. She blogs at TheWinsomeHome.com where she shares about everyday theology and Bible study. Megan is married to Drew and they are both graduates of Southern Seminary and students at Southeastern Seminary. Together, they have 2 sons and 2 daughters.

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