“Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun” (Eccl. 11: 7)

Light was the first thing God created after the heavens and the earth (Gen. 1: 3).  It is a natural symbol for what is good, pleasant, useful and true.  While darkness is the universal symbol and condition of sin and death, light is the symbol of life and holiness.

 In the book of Ecclesiastes, the preacher describes light as “sweet” - “Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun” (Eccl. 11: 7).  John Gill puts it aptly:  “… this light is sweet and pleasant, not to a blind and carnal man, who despises it, and reckons it foolishness, but to those who are enlightened by the Spirit of God; and to these it is very delightful, even to all their senses; it is sweet to their taste, a joyful sound to their ears, and beautiful to their sight are the feet of them that bring its good tidings. The light of grace, which appears in first conversion, and comes from God suddenly, which at first is small, but increases, is exceeding pleasant, strikes the soul with delight and wonder; it is marvellous light, I Pet. 2: 9; and so is the light of joy and gladness to believers, when it arises to them after a time of darkness, or the light of God’s countenance, Ps. 4: 6; and such will be the light of the latter day glory, and more especially the light of the heavenly state.”
 
Light in the Old Testament

Light is a many-sided concept in the OT.  The term is often used of literal light, but also as a way of communicating spiritual truths.   The OT often uses the absence of light to reflect the portion of the wicked.   They “grope in the dark without light” (Job 12: 25).  Bildad, one of Job’s friends, saw the wicked “driven from light into darkness, and chased out of the world” (Job 18: 18).

When the appalling plague of “thick darkness” terrified the Egyptians, and rendered them helpless for three days,  “all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings” (Ex. 10: 23).  In the wilderness, the Lord led His people by a pillar of cloud by day and of fire by night (Ex. 14: 20).  “It appears that this cloud had two sides, one dark and the other luminous: the luminous side gave light to the whole camp of Israel during the night of passage; and the dark side, turned towards the pursuing Egyptians, prevented them from receiving any benefit from that light. How easily can God make the same thing an instrument of destruction or salvation, as seems best to his godly wisdom! He alone can work by all agents, and produce any kind of effect even by the same instrument; for all things serve the purposes of His will” – Adam Clarke.

Light symbolises the blessing of the Lord.  In his days of deep affliction, Job recalled the days of divine favour and guidance - “when His candle shined upon my head, and when by His light I walked through darkness” (Job 29: 3).  Those who walk in “the light of His countenance” are blessed: “Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of Thy countenance” (Ps. 89: 15).  Another side to that expression in Psalm 90: 8 reminds us that secret sins are set “in the light of Thy countenance.”  No one can escape the close scrutiny of God’s all-seeing eye. 

God’s blessing upon His people is expressed in terms of light.  The prophet Micah expressed his trust in the Lord thus: “Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me … He will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold His righteousness” (Mic. 7: 8-9).   God watches over His own.  He grants His servants blessing and victory so that they need never be dismayed.

Light is an attribute of God.  He is said to be robed with light (Ps. 104: 2).  The psalmist triumphantly proclaimed: “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”  (Ps. 27: 1).

God’s Word is a torch or lamp in a dark night (Ps. 119: 105); it lights up our path and prevents our stumbling over obstacles, or falling down precipices, or wandering off into paths which would lead into danger, or would turn us away from the path to life. 

Unlike man who gropes in the dark, God sees everything clearly; darkness and light are alike to Him: “If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.  Yea, the darkness hideth not from Thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to Thee” (Ps 139: 11-12; cf. Job 34: 21).  No veil can hide us from God’s eye, no, not that of the thickest darkness.  “No hypocritical mask or disguise, how specious soever, can save any person or action from appearing in a true light before God. Secret haunts of sin are as open before God as the most open and barefaced villanies” – Matthew Henry.  What is to us hidden by darkness, or unknown through ignorance, is perfectly seen and known by God.  Things appear dark to us - disappointment, bereavement, ill-health, care, losses; but all is light to God.   The existence of sin and suffering on the earth seems dark to us but not to Him, for He sees the reasons and the end of all.  As His children, we are fully assured that “all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose” (Rom. 8: 28).
(…to be continued)