AS A LIGHT
Series: Metaphors in the Bible– Sermon Three
Proverbs 1:6
We began this series a few weeks ago and took last week off to Preach on the Christmas Story
But I want to get back to the Series on the WORD OF GOD
I began the First Two Messages on WHY WE BELIEVE THE BIBLE IS THE WORD OF GOD
I told you in the Last Message that we would begin a Metaphorical Study of the Word of God
Don’t let the Word “Metaphorical” shy you away from the messages
Metaphors & Similes are a normal part of our lives!!!
We all would probably be amazed just how much we use them in our every day vernacular
MUHAMMED ALI USED A GREAT SIMILE
Float Like a Butterfly, Stink like a Bee
Metaphors and similes are great creative writing tools.
They are used in form of comparison.
AS A WRITER, USING THESE TECHNIQUES HELPS TO PROMOTE VISUALS WITH WORDS.
BASICALLY – METAPHORS AND SIMILES ARE WORD PICTURES
IT IS CALLED SPEAKING FIGURATIVELY
FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE
A SIMILE is a comparison using like or as. It usually compares two Dissimilar or Different objects.
For example: His feet were as big as boats. We are comparing the size of feet to boats.
A metaphor states that one thing IS something else. It is a comparison, but it does NOT use like or as to make the comparison.
For example: Her hair is silk. The sentence is comparing (or stating) that hair is silk.
Ge 25:25
And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they
called his name Esau.
Ex 24:17
And the sight of the glory of the LORD was like devouring fire on the
top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel.
THE BOOK OF JOB IS FULL OF METAPHORS AND SIMILES
Job 14:1
Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.
He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a
shadow, and continueth not.
Ps 1:3
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that
bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not
wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
Ps 1:4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind
driveth away.
Ps 22:14
I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my
heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.
DAVID SAID IN Ps 31:12 I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel.
Isa 53:6
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own
way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
I could go On and On in the Word of God showing you that it is a book of Hidden Truths
This Bible is a Book that Many times I have to read the Same verse over and over and over to get the richness of the Meaning
IT IS FILLED WITH ANALOGIES AND SYMBOLS AND PARABLES
Solomon called them DARK SAYINGS IN PROVERBS ONE
Pr 1:6
To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of
the wise, and their dark sayings.
“DARK SAYINGS” Words expressed in an Enigmatical or Mysterious way, to require the reader to study if they would understand their meaning!!
Analogies are not only to be imagined, but are intended by God to be traced between the story of Israel and the lives of believers.
Israel was ordained to be a type; the tribes and their marchings are living allegories traced by the hand of an all wise providence.
Unspiritual persons may sneer about fancies and mysticisms, but Paul spake
well when he said "which things are an allegory" in Galatians 4:24
LOOK AT MATTHEW 13:34-35
I CORINTHIANS 2:1-16
There are so many Metaphors and Similes in the Word of God
Analogy
Allegory
Symbol
Parable
God intended it that Way – GOD WROTE IT THAT WAY
Now I can’t preach a series on every Metaphor and Symbol in the Bible
That would take a life time
But we are going to a Study of the Bible in Metaphors
WHAT THE BIBLE COMPARES ITSELF TO!!!
Let’s Start tonight with Study the Symbol of Light
THE WORD OF GOD AS LIGHT
Psalm 119:105 -- METAPHOR
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”
II Peter 1:19 -- SIMILE
“We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:”
Now let’s Read this verse in Context
We have also a MORE SURE WORD of Prophecy
Peter was not saying that they had a New & Better Bible
Peter was Saying “we’ve got a more firm belief in the Bible than ever before”
WHY??? It was greater than what the OT Saints had
1. The Had the Voice of the Prophets
2. We have the Voice of the Prophets and the Fulfillments of those voices
Peter said “It’s not just Traditions”
“It’s not just old Fables”
“It’s not just some Stories that have been passed down”
Many of the Jews would not let go of the “Stories and fables” - “He came unto his own and his own received him not”
Peter said “We’ve got the Old Testament Yes”
But I also heard a Voice that said “this is my beloved Son, hear ye him”
“I also saw his Glory on the Mountain”
“We saw him fulfill the Old Testament Prophecies right before our eyes”
“I saw the Empty tomb myself”
“I hugged his neck when he told me I was forgiven for the Denial”
“I Saw him leave in the clouds and heard the angels say “this same Jesus”
I HAVE A “MORE SURE WORD” I’ve seen this Book come to life
NOW LOOK IN II CORINTHIANS 4:1-7
NOW LET’S LOOK AT THE SYMBOLISM
THE WORD OF GOD AS LIGHT
Light is Mention in the Word of God – 244 Times
Light is seen in the Word of God as
1. Good – Gen. 1:4 “And God saw the light, that it was good: and God
divided the light from the darkness”
Evil is Darkness
2. God is Light and him is no darkness at all
3. Christ is called the Light of the WOrld
4. The Church is now the Light of the World
5. Light is Called Life itself
6. Light is Knowledge in the Word of God
THERE ARE THREE TYPES OF LIGHT IN THE BIBLE
1. The Light of Creation – “Let there be light”
2. The Light of Regeneration - 2Co 4:6 “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
1Pe 2:9 “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy
nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:”
3. The Light of Glorification
Joh 1:14
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Hebrews 1 talks about the Brightness of his Glory
I Timothy 6:16 “Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting.”
1Jo 3:2
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
AND THE WORD OF GOD IS OUR FIRST TASTE OF THAT LIGHT
The Word of God is not all the Light
The Word of God is the Amount of Light that God has given us
IT’S NOT ALL OF GOD’S BUT IT IS ENOUGH OF GOD’S LIGHT!!
I’LL COME BACK TO THAT IN JUST A BIT
Notice Somethings about Light as it relates to the Word of God
I. LIGHT IS PLEASANT
Light is Pleasant and Comfortable
Solomon said Ec 11:7
“Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun:”
How Awful it would be to be blind!!!
How Dreadful it would be to be able to see but be captive in Darkness
Light Deprivation has terrible effects on the Body’s Nervous System
"There is no area of our mental and bodily functioning that the sun does not influence. Our bodies were designed to receive and use it in a wide range of ways. We were not designed to hide from it in houses, offices, factories and schools. Sunshine, reaching us through our eyes and our skin, exercises a subtle control over us from birth to death, from head to tail."
Quote from the Department of Education
The Comparison here is that The Word of God is pleasant and Delightful
In Ps 97:11 Light is compared to gladness “Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart”
I’d take one Day with the Light of God’s Word than 1,000 days without the Word
I say amen with the Psalmist when he said in Ps 84:10 “For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.”
WHAT A DIFFERENCE THE WORD OF GOD HAS MADE IN OUR LIVES
I. LIGHT IS PLEASANT
II. LIGHT PENETRATES
Light has a Piercing Quality
It is subtle in its infiltration
It can pierce into the least of crevices
The Light Can pierce through the Cracks
WHAT DID the Writer of HEBREWS SAY in 4:12 “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
The word of god can find the crevice
I’VE SEEN OBJECTS THAT DID NOT SEEM TO HAVE A CRACkk
But those crevices and Cracks will be revealed when put to the Light!!!
I’ve seen people in that seemed to be so Hard
Seemed to be so Sealed Up
Their Wife couldn’t Get through to them
Their Children couldn’t Get through to them
The Man of God
The People of God couldn’t Get through to them
BUT THAT BIBLE – IT CAN FIND THE CREVICE
THAT LIGHT OF GOD”S WORD – CAN PENETRATE THE MOST SEALED AND CLOSED MINDED SOUL
Many Times – The Sinner will not let on that he is bothered
BUT I PROMISE YOU DOWN DEEP IN THE RECESSES AND CORNERS OF HIS SOUL
GOD’S LIGHT IS PIERCING, PRODDING, AND PROVOKING HIS CONSCIENCE OF THE EVIL THAT LIES WITHIN HIM!!!
I. LIGHT IS PLEASANT
II. LIGHT PENETRATES
III. LIGHT IS PERCEPTIVE
Light Brings things out in to the Open
Light Makes Manifest
Light discovers things
Light Causes things to appear as they are in their proper nature
LIGHT SHOWS THINGS AS THEY REALLY ARE
Light is a Revealer
LIGHT EXPOSES, UNCOVERS, BARES IT ALL
Darkness will hide imperfections
Darkness is Dangerous
I don’t want to buy anything in the Dark
Car, Motorcycle, House, Knife, Gun!!!
I didn’t pick out my wife in the Dark
I wanted to see her as she really is!!!
THAT’S WHY I’M NOT CRAZY ABOUT THESE CANDLE LIT DINNERS
I WANT TO SEE IF THERE IS A EL COOKAROCHA IN MY PLATE
GIVE ME SOME LIGHT!!!
I WANT TO SEE MY MEDIUM RIBEYE SENT FROM HEAVEN
STEAK
I WANT TO SEE MY FRIES WITH EXTRA GREASE AND SALT
LIGHT IS PERCEPTIVE
Eph 5:13 “But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.”
YOU CAN’T MAKE TRUE JUDGEMENT WITHOUT LIGHT FRIEND!!
THAT’S WHY SOME OF YOU THINK SO WELL OF YOURSELF – YOU’VE NOT SEEN YOURSELF IN THE LIGHT!!!
That’s why some of you think that certain places in the world are OK for God’s Children to go to!!! You’ve not seen them in the Light!!!
AMEN!!! AMEN!!! AMEN!!!
The Word of God is a Revealer!!!
Hebrews 4:12 says the word is a discerner
The Word of God Can Distinguish
Tell apart
Differentiate
Set Apart
Separate
DO YOU KNOW WHY SOME PEOPLE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH SEPARATING FROM THE WORLD
THEY HAVE NOT BEEN IN THE WORD OF GOD
THE WORD OF GOD IS A DISCERNER
THE WORD OF GOD WILL SEPARATE
THE WORD OF GOD CLARIFIES THINGS
The Devil is the Author of Confusion
The Devil likes to Mix you up and Puzzle you
BUT THE WORD OF GOD IS CLEAR, CONCISE AND TO THE POINT
That’s why I don’t worry about Preaching this Book Straight
1. God Likes it and Will reward me for it
2. The Holy Ghost Likes it and will bear witness in my heart
3. The People of God like and will stay close to it
HEY!!! IF THE BIBLE RUNS PEOPLE OFF--WE DIDN’T NEED THEM
THIS BOOK WILL NOT RUN OFF GOD’S CROWD!!!
THIS BOOK DISCOVERS SOME THINGS
THIS BOOK IS LIGHT – LIGHT IS A REVEALER
LIGHT SHOWS THE WAY THINGS REALLY ARE
This Book Shows
1. There is a God and Only One the Creator
2. The State of Man before and After his Fall
3. The Awfulness of Sin
4. The Secret Counsel and Eternal Love of God to Lost Mankind
5. The Lord Jesus as the Virgin Born, Sinless Son of God who
came to the World for a Purpose
a. To Bring God to Us
b. To Live perfect and Fulfil the Law
c. To Die in our place under the Judgment of God
d. To Rise again for our Justification
e. To Ascend to Heaven and make intercession for us
f. To Come again to get us and to set up a Kingdom that will never be destroyed
6. How Man is to Worship
7. The Purpose of the Church
8. All that is Needed to be Born Again into the Family of God
I. LIGHT IS PLEASANT
II. LIGHT PENETRATES
III. LIGHT IS PERCEPTIVE
IV. LIGHT IS A PATHWAY
I was on this part a while ago and I said I would come back to it
I said earlier –
THE WORD OF GOD IS OUR FIRST TASTE OF GOD’S GLORIOUS LIGHT
The Word of God is not all the God’s Light
The Word of God is the Amount of Light that God has given us
IT’S NOT ALL OF GOD’S LIGHT BUT IT IS ENOUGH OF GOD’S LIGHT!!
Light Guides men on their Way
The Traveler Benefits from the Light of a Pathway
You can avoid Dangers and Snares on the Trail if you have a Light
That’s Why David Said “Thy Word is a Lamp unto my feet and a Light unto my path”
LOOK BACK AT II PETER 1:19
As unto a LIGHT THAT SHINETH in a dark place
That is, the Word resembles a candle, a lamp, or a torch, in a dark room or in an obscure road at night!!!
The Light makes objects distinct which were before unseen
The Light enables us to behold many things which would be otherwise
Invisible!!!
Peter in this representation seems to have been saying that the prophecies do not give a perfect light, or that they do not remove all obscurity, but that they shed some light and enough light to get us through the journey
TAKE HEED TO YOUR LIGHT
DON’T GET CAUGHT UP IN WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW --- WE HAD BETTER BE THANKFUL FOR WHAT WE DO KNOW
For now we do see through a Glass Darkly
We know in Part
We Prophesy in Part
BUT THAT WHICH IS PERFECT IS GOING TO COME
LOOK WHAT PETER SAID
We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
THIS IS NOT ALL OF GOD’S LIGHT – BUT IT’S ENOUGH LIGHT TO GET US THROUGH THE NIGHT!!!
UNTIL THE DAY SHALL DAWN
ONE OF THESE DAYS – THE DAY WILL DAWN
And we will see everything in the clear light of the sun
Farther Along we’ll know all about it
Farther Along we’ll understand Why
HEY!!! HIS WORD IS A LAMP NOT A SUN
HIS WORD IS A LIGHT IN A DARK PLACE
PETER IS GIVING THE EQUIVALENT TO A MODERN DAY FLASH
LIGHT!!!
A Flashlight is of great value in a dark night!!!
PETER SAID “TAKE HEED TO YOUR LAMP”
One thing about a Lantern or a Torch or a Flash Light – YOU CAN GET SO CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT’S AHEAD THAT YOU NEGLECT TO SHINE RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE
Deer Hunting the Other Day – I was Looking for a Deer I had Shot
I was so concerned about Shining ahead of Me – I RAN SQUARE
INTO A LIMB THAT BOUT PUT MY EYE OUT
Matt 6:34 “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”
Matt 6:11 “Give us this day our daily bread.”
THE WORD OF GOD IS NOT ALL THE LIGHT THAT GOD IS – BUT’S IT IS ENOUGH FOR TODAY!!!
UNTIL THE DAY DAWN
The reference here is to the morning light
We should attend to the light furnished by the Scriptures until the truth shall be rendered more distinct at his coming
Peter is directing our minds onward to a period when all shall be clear
He’s Pointing us to that glorious time when the Saviour shall return to receive his people to himself in that heaven where all shall be light.
And in the Meantime, we should avail ourselves of all the light which we have, and should apply ourselves diligently to the study of the way!!!
I. LIGHT IS PLEASANT
II. LIGHT PENETRATES
III. LIGHT IS PERCEPTIVE
IV. LIGHT IS A PATHWAY
V. LIGHT IS PRODUCTIVE
Light contributes much to the Vegetation, growth and Life of plants and other creatures
THE PROCESS OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS – Commenced By Light – Is probably the Most important Biological Process known – Nearly all Life Depends upon it
Light is Productive
Light is also the cause of heat that is sent down onto the earth
Light is Productive
SO MUCH COULD BE PREACHED RIGHT HERE
BUT THE WORD OF GOD IS PRODUCTIVE
IT IS NEEDED FOR A MAN TO BE BORN AGAIN
IT IS NEEDED FOR A MAN TO LIVE
IT IS WHAT MAKES MAN ALIVE
Ps 119:50 “This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath
quickened me.”
Ps 119:93 “I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou
hast quickened me.”
VI. LIGHT IS A PURIFIER
Light is called the Refining Pot of Nature
Without Light – The World would be a Place of unwholesome
Pestilences and Diseases
The Word of God is a Cleanser and Purifier
Psalm 119:9 “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking
heed thereto according to thy word.”
Joh 15:3 “Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken
unto you.”
Eph 5:25-27 “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it
should be holy and without blemish.”
I. LIGHT IS PLEASANT
II. LIGHT PENETRATES
III. LIGHT IS PERCEPTIVE
IV. LIGHT IS A PATHWAY
V. LIGHT IS PRODUCTIVE
VI. LIGHT IS A PURIFIER
VII. LIGHT IS PURE
Light is of an Undefileable Nature
Though it passes through all of the Earth which is in many areas filthy---It is Not defiled by it’s passing
The Light Shines on the Clean and the Dirty
The Light Shines on the Fancy White Shiny Homes and it shines on the
Dilapidated, decrepit homes in the poorest section
YET NEITHER AFFECT THE PURITY OF THE LIGHT
LIGHT CLEANSES ALL THINGS BUT IS DEFILED BY NOTHING
LIGHT IS A QUALITY SO SPIRITUAL THAT NOTHING CAN FASTEN UPON IT TO POLLUTE
AND WHAT A PICTURE OF GOD’S WORD
It has passed through the ages of humanity and yet is undefiled
It has been handled by the Rich and the Poor
The Clean and the Filthy
Believers and Non Believers
AND YET IT REMAINS UNTAINTED, UNCONTAMINATED, UNSPOILED, UNTOUCHED, UNBLEMISH, UNHARMED
IT IS PURE AS THE LIGHT IS PURE!!!
Ps 119:140 “Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.”
VIII. LIGHT IS PREEMINENT
There is nothing so Glorious as Light in all of God’s Creation
Light is Preeminent over all of God’s Creations
Light is in control over all of God’s Creations
We are Controlled by the Light
We live our lives on Lights Regulations
LIGHT RULES THIS WORLD
It is also Preeminent Because Light Rules the Darkness
The Darkness cannot Stop the Light
In fact Darkness only lives where Light is Absent!!!
It is not Night time that Pushes the Day away
It is the Day that leaves and allow Night to Come
The Light does not ask permission from the Dark to Shine
The Light Shines and the Darkness Yields
WHAT AN AWESOME PICTURE OF THE WORD OF GOD
IT IS THE GLORIOUS GOSPEL
DARKNESS ( EVIL) HAS NO POWER WHEN LIGHT (THE
WORD) SHOWS UP
THERE’S NOT ENOUGH DARKNESS IN THIS WORLD TO PUT OUT THE LIGHT
NOT ENOUGH SIN
NOT ENOUGH DEMON
NOT ENOUGH DEVILS
NOT ENOUCH PRINCIPALITIES AND POWERS
WHEN THE SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS ARISES ---- THEY WILL YIELD TO THE POWER OF THE WORD AND SAY IN PERFECT UNISON
THOU ART WORTHY – THY NAME IS ABOVE EVERY NAME
YOU ARE LORD – YOU ARE LORD – YOU ARE LORD
THE LIGHT IS PREEMINENT!!!
