I figured I would start the year with a little Bible study. Here are some things that Scripture tells us about Divine Light and how we may experience and embody Light in our lives. The following is a Scriptural outline on how we can experience Divine Light, through Jesus Christ, but the power of God's Spirit.
This is intended to help us understand how "Scripture speaks" on various topics. I have taken topical outlines I created for preaching and teaching, and reformatted them as articles to provide minimal framing and commentary, so that Scripture passages on certain topics may be collected, read, and meditated on. This is not an exhaustive commentary on Scripture, but rather an opportunity to collect thematic Scriptures together to see the trajectory that Hebrew and Christian Scriptures take, and how they converge and diverge on various topics. This is drawn from my own eclectic reading in Biblical and Systematic Theology, as well as topical resources such as Alister McGrath’s Thematic Reference Bible, Walter Elwell’s Topical Analysis of the Bible, Nave’s Topical Bible, Bible Gateway online, and the Open Bible online.
God enfolds us in God's Glory through every creature, time, and place. This is because God is Light, and wrapped in Light, and wraps us in Light:
Isaiah 60.1 Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.
Isaiah 60.19-20 The sun shall no longer be your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give light to you by night; but the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. Your sun shall no more go down, or your moon withdraw itself; for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your days of mourning shall be ended.
Revelation 21.23 And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb.
Psalm 104.1–2 [1] Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, you are very great. You are clothed with honor and majesty, [2] wrapped in light as with a garment. You stretch out the heavens like a tent...
Psalms 84.11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield; he bestows favor and honor. No good thing does the LORD withhold from those who walk uprightly.
Sirach 42.16 The sun looks down on everything with its light, and the work of the Lord is full of his glory.
Habakkuk 3.4 The brightness was like the sun; rays came forth from his hand, where his power lay hidden.
Daniel 2.22 God reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with him.
Psalms 139.11-12 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light around me become night,” even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is as bright as the day, for darkness is as light to you.
Just as Jesus Christ is transfigured by being wrapped and enfolded in the Glory of God [Mark 9.2-8; Matthew 17.1-9; Luke 9.28-37] so also we are made to be transfigured by his Light and Glory
Mark 9.2–8 [2] Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, [3] and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. [4] And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. [5] Then Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” [6] He did not know what to say, for they were terrified. [7] Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!” [8] Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus.
John 1.3–5 [3] What has come into being [4] in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. [5] The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
2 Corinthians 3.18 And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.
2Corinthians 4.6 For it is the God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Just as Jesus Christ is the Light of the world, so also Jesus has made us to be his Light to the world. We are made to shine with Christ light from within. Part of spiritual growth is to shine God's light to others, as we are stained glass windows to refract God's Light: Pro 4.18; Isa 51:4; 58.8–10; 60.1–3; 62.1; Dan 12.3; Mat 5.14–16; Luke 2.32; Acts 13.47; 26.18, 26.22–23; 1Pe 2.9
John 8.12 Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”
Matthew 5.14–16 [14] “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. [15] No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. [16] In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
When we open our eyes to God's Light and are filled with God's Spirit, we become filled with God's Light:
Matthew 6.22–23 [22] “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light; [23] but if your eye is unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
Luke 11.33–36 [33] “No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar, but on the lampstand so that those who enter may see the light. [34] Your eye is the lamp of your body. If your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light; but if it is not healthy, your body is full of darkness. [35] Therefore consider whether the light in you is not darkness. [36] If then your whole body is full of light, with no part of it in darkness, it will be as full of light as when a lamp gives you light with its rays.”
We are called to live in this Light and walk in this Light, by understanding God's Word and dwelling in God's presence:
Psalm 36.9 For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.
Psalms 119.105, 130 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path... The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.
Numbers 6.24–26 [24] The LORD bless you and keep you; [25] the LORD make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; [26] the LORD lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.
1 John 1.5–7 [5] This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. [6] If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; [7] but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
God's Light is encountered in God's children and fills the entire creation as we do good which shares God's Light with others:
Psalm 19.1–4 [1] The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. [2] Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge. [3] There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard; [4] yet their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.
James 1.17 Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
Proverbs 20.27 The human spirit is the lamp of the LORD that sheds light on one’s inmost being.
Psalms 97.11 Light dawns for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart.
Proverbs 4.18 But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.
Sirach 32.14–16 [14] Whoever fears the Lord will accept instruction; those who rise early will find approval. [15] Whoever seeks the Law will be filled with it, but the hypocrite will stumble over it. [16] Those who fear the Lord will discover his decree, and they will kindle righteous deeds like a lamp.
Colossians 1.12 Give thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light.
Ephesians 5.8–14 [8] For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light— [9] for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true. [10] Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. [11] Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. [12] For it is shameful even to mention what such people do secretly; [13] but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, [14] for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Sleeper, awake! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
1Peter 2.9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
Revelation 22.5 And there will be no more night; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.
We must avoid stumbling in darkness, and being deceived by dark spiritual forces that masquerade as Light. Jn 3:19-20; Job 24:16-17; Pr 2:12-15; 4:19; Isa 5:20; 29:15; Mt 6:23; Ro 1:21; Ro 13:12; 2Co 6:14; Eph 5:8-12; 1Jn 1:5-6
John 11.9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Those who walk during the day do not stumble, because they see the light of this world.
Proverbs 4.19 But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.
2Corinthians 4.4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
Spiritual growth begins with opening ourselves to the Light of the Son of God like a plant opens to the Light of the Sun: Psa 18.28; 19:8; 43:3; 119:130; Isa 42.6–9; 60.1; Mic 7:8-9; Jn 8:12; Eph 1:18; 2Pe 1:19. If we seek, God will open our eyes to God's Glory and Light beyond us, and within us, and throughout all creation:
Acts 26.18 Open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God...
Ephesians 1.17–18 [17] I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, [18] so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints.
Sometimes the Light of God is so overwhelming it plunges us into darkness, just as coming out of a dark room into the Light of the Sun blinds us. God dwells in this unapproachable Light of a trillion suns, and only those who have prepared for this Vision by contemplating the Son can see God:
1Timothy 6.15-16 [15] He is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords. [16] It is he alone who has immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see; to him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.
Exodus 20.18–21 [18] When all the people witnessed the thunder and lightning, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking, they were afraid and trembled and stood at a distance, [19] and said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, or we will die.” [20] Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid; for God has come only to test you and to put the fear of him upon you so that you do not sin.” [21] Then the people stood at a distance, while Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was.
1 Kings 8.12 Then Solomon said, “The LORD has said that he would dwell in thick darkness.
Psalm 18:11 He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him - the dark rain clouds of the sky.
Psalm 97.1-4 [1] The LORD is king! Let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad! [2] Clouds and thick darkness are all around him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. [3] Fire goes before him, and consumes his adversaries on every side. [4] His lightnings light up the world; the earth sees and trembles.
A few final thoughts on the experience of Divine Light through mystical and everyday experience:
"There is no way of telling people that they are all walking around shining like the sun." (Thomas Merton)
“At the center of our being is a point of nothingness which is untouched by sin and by illusion, a point of pure truth, a point or spark which belongs entirely to God, which is never at our disposal, from which God disposes of our lives, which is inaccessible to the fantasies of our own mind or the brutalities of our own will. This little point of nothingness and of absolute poverty is the pure glory of God in us. It is so to speak His name written in us, as our poverty, as our indigence, as our dependence, as our sonship. It is like a pure diamond, blazing with the invisible light of heaven. It is in everybody, and if we could see it we would see these billions of points of light coming together in the face and blaze of a sun that would make all the darkness and cruelty of life vanish completely ... I have no program for this seeing. It is only given. But the gate of heaven is everywhere.” (Thomas Merton, Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander)
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