Light When the Sun and Moon Do Not Shine

Light

When the Sun and Moon Do Not Shine

The imagery of light is used throughout the Old and New Testaments

One of the most alarming imageries is

The sun not giving its light and the moon darkened

Even if we are in the last days and the sun and the moon are darkened forever

We can take these words from Isaiah

“Arise and shine”

We have hope because the scriptures tell us that

We will not need the sun because God will be our Light 

So you might be like me and feel depressed and question is there any hope

Don’t let the darkness take out your Light

"Arise, shine, for your Light has come,

and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.

What a shame it would be if we

Allowed the darkness of this world to make us forget

The glory of the LORD rises upon you

When the Sun and Moon Do Not Shine

The imagery of light is used

throughout the Old and New Testaments.

One of the most alarming imageries is…

 The sun not giving its light

and the moon darkened.

It is a picture we see in Matthew 24

as Jesus describes the last days.

This imagery is spoken of many

times by the Old Testament prophets…

Isaiah 13:10; Joel 2:10, 3:15; Ezekiel 32:7,8;

Jeremiah 4:23; Amos 5:18, 20

Revelation speaks of the sun becoming black.

 Revelation 6:12

The imagery of the sun and moon not giving light

speaks of a time when there is no justice…

So justice is far from us, and righteousness does not reach us.

We look for light, but all is darkness;

 for brightness, but we walk in deep shadows.

Like the blind we grope along the wall,

feeling our way like men without eyes.

At midday we stumble as if it were twilight;

among the strong, we are like the dead.

Isaiah 59:9-10

For many of us, we see the world in darkness. 

The evening news seems to remove

any hope we might have seen that day.

As we see injustice, hatred, and evil increase,

we need to be careful we do not lose heart.

It is depressing to see the evils of this world

and the suffering it brings on others.

  

You and I need to know how to handle

the days when the sun does not shine.

Ignoring it is not the answer.

The Bible does not ignore the darkness of sin.

We cannot curse it by our condemning statements.

So how do we handle the days of

depression when the sun does not shine?

First we must never give up.

Let us not become weary in doing good,

 for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people,

especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Galatians 6:8-10

We are always to do good, and

look for opportunities to do good.

Like a candle in a dark room is

a good deed, everyone sees it.

To the poor even a little is much.

 In the same way as darkness fills our world,

just our little acts of kindness

and love don’t go unnoticed.

In times past when people forgot the Lord

there were always those who kept their light shining

and because of them we still have the light today.

Isaiah saw the darkness yet he said…

"Arise, shine, for your Light has come,

and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.

See, darkness covers the earth

and thick darkness is over the peoples,

but the LORD rises upon you

and his glory appears over you.

Nations will come to your light,

and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

Isaiah 60:1-3

Even if we are in the last days and the sun

and the moon are darkened forever.

We can take these words from Isaiah…

“Arise and shine”.

We have hope because the scriptures tell

 us that we will not need the sun

because God will be our Light.

 

So you might be like me and feel

depressed and question is there any hope.

Don’t let the darkness take out your Light…

"Arise, shine, for your Light has come,

and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.

What a shame it would be if we allowed the

darkness of this world to make us forget…

The glory of the LORD rises upon you.

God’s glory is upon you,

that is exciting,

that glory is full of hope.

Think about it…

 Minorities have changed the world.

Whether bad or good…

Somebody spoke up and others listen.

Who knows maybe when you speak up…

Nations will come to your light.

Let your depression motivate you because…

But the LORD rises upon you

and His glory appears over you.

After Isaiah 60 comes Isaiah 61

the passage Jesus quoted…

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,

because the LORD has anointed me

to preach good news to the poor.

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim freedom for the captives

and release from darkness for the prisoners,  

 to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor

and the day of vengeance of our God,

to comfort all who mourn,

 and provide for those who grieve in Zion —

to bestow on them a crown of beauty

instead of ashes,

the oil of gladness

instead of mourning,

and a garment of praise

instead of a spirit of despair.

They will be called oaks of righteousness,

a planting of the LORD

for the display of his splendor.

Isaiah 61:1-3

Scripture Reading

Isaiah 61 NIV

"Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. 2 See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you. 3 Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

4 "Lift up your eyes and look about you: All assemble and come to you; your sons come from afar, and your daughters are carried on the arm. 5 Then you will look and be radiant, your heart will throb and swell with joy; the wealth on the seas will be brought to you, to you the riches of the nations will come. 6 Herds of camels will cover your land, young camels of Midian and Ephah. And all from Sheba will come, bearing gold and incense and proclaiming the praise of the LORD. 7 All Kedar's flocks will be gathered to you, the rams of Nebaioth will serve you; they will be accepted as offerings on my altar, and I will adorn my glorious temple.

8 "Who are these that fly along like clouds, like doves to their nests? 9 Surely the islands look to me; in the lead are the ships of Tarshish, bringing your sons from afar, with their silver and gold, to the honor of the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has endowed you with splendor.

10 "Foreigners will rebuild your walls, and their kings will serve you. Though in anger I struck you, in favor I will show you compassion. 11 Your gates will always stand open, they will never be shut, day or night, so that men may bring you the wealth of the nations — their kings led in triumphal procession. 12 For the nation or kingdom that will not serve you will perish; it will be utterly ruined.

13 "The glory of Lebanon will come to you, the pine, the fir and the cypress together, to adorn the place of my sanctuary; and I will glorify the place of my feet. 14 The sons of your oppressors will come bowing before you; all who despise you will bow down at your feet and will call you the City of the LORD, Zion of the Holy One of Israel.

15 "Although you have been forsaken and hated, with no one traveling through, I will make you the everlasting pride and the joy of all generations. 16 You will drink the milk of nations and be nursed at royal breasts. Then you will know that I, the LORD, am your Savior, your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob. 17 Instead of bronze I will bring you gold, and silver in place of iron. Instead of wood I will bring you bronze, and iron in place of stones. I will make peace your governor and righteousness your ruler. 18 No longer will violence be heard in your land, nor ruin or destruction within your borders, but you will call your walls Salvation and your gates Praise. 19 The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. 20 Your sun will never set again, and your moon will wane no more; the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow will end. 21 Then will all your people be righteous and they will possess the land forever. They are the shoot I have planted, the work of my hands, for the display of my splendor. 22 The least of you will become a thousand, the smallest a mighty nation. I am the LORD; in its time I will do this swiftly."