Title of the Message:
“Why the Darkness?”
Solomon quoted God when he said that God would dwell in the thick darkness. Doesn’t that seem strange to you that the God of Light should dwell in thick darkness?
You need to understand the context of this verse. Solomon had just completed the building of the Temple. The Tabernacle furniture was being brought into the new structure. A cloud of thick darkness overshadowed the dwelling place. God’s glory filled the house.
Think with me of the Old Testament Tabernacle. There was the abundance of daylight in the courtyard where the brazen altar stood. There was abundant light from the seven golden candlesticks in the Holy Place. But in front of the Holies of Holies was a thick veil. The Holy of Holies was a dark place.
Only once a year could the high priest enter into this room with blood on the tip of his right ear, right thumb and great right toe. How could he see in such a dark place? In one hand he carried a container with seven drops of blood to place on the mercy seat. In the other hand he was to carry a ceremonial bucket with burning embers from the Brazen Altar. That would give him just enough light to approach the Altar of the Mercy Seat. Over the mercy seat was a cloud. Certainly the light of God’s glory was inveiled within that cloud.
For our meditation today we will ask but one question:
"Why the Darkness?"
1. God chooses to remain a mystery.
(1 Cor 13:12 KJV) For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
There is so much that we do not know about God. I do know that Jesus is the Son of God, that he went to cross, that he died for my sins, that he was buried, and that in three days he arose again. I do know that "whosoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved." I do know that "You must be born again." I do know that one day Heaven will be my eternal home. But there is yet so much that I do not know. God chooses to remain a mystery. We will have all of eternity to come to know him.
2. God desires intimacy.
(Phil 3:10 KJV) That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
(Phil 3:11 KJV) If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
Darkness draws us inward. If you were standing on a mountain on a clear blue sky day, your eyes will wander off into the distance. But when you are in the darkness, you are made to look inwward. Paul said that it was when he was going through the darkest days of his life that he became intimate with God. God comes to us in our time of trouble.
3. We are to live by faith.
(Psa 23:4 KJV) Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
When the darkness prevails upon you, and you can longer trust in your own judgment, you learn to lean on the guidance of the Good Shepherd!
4. It is for your own protection.
Note this Story of Moses:
(Exo 33:18 KJV) And he said, I beseech thee, show me thy glory.
(Exo 33:19 KJV) And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.
(Exo 33:20 KJV) And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live. (Exo 33:21 KJV) And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock:
(Exo 33:22 KJV) And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by:
(Exo 33:23 KJV) And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen.
If God revealed himself to you in all of his glory, it would be impossible for you to live. Today, we only see him in part!
ONE DAY…
YOU WILL SEE HIM FACE TO FACE
Note the story of Abraham:
(Gen 15:17 KJV) And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces.
Conclusion:
I believe that the day that the high priest entered into the Holy of Holies, he was reinacting what had taken place in the life of Abraham. In the hour of darkness, God had sealed a covenant relationship with Abraham. In the early morning darkness, he came as a cloud of glory and passed through the embers and pieces of the sacrificed flesh made by Abraham in the evening hour.
Someday:
God will reveal himself to you all of his glory.
Please envision with me what it must have been like to be the high priest taking his first sacred steps within the veil that darkened the Holy of Holies. Slowly the embers from his ceremonial bucket would reveal the tapestry of celestial angels. The gold of the Mercy Seat now stood before him. The throne of the mercy seat.. the glory of the cloud. The ark itself, containing all of the promises of God.
Surely this is a picture of what death itself must be like? One day, God will reveal himself to us in all of his majesty.
How I long to see him face to face!
