Sitting In The Darkness

SITTING IN THE DARKNESS

SCRIPTURE: Psalm 107:10 “Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in

affliction and iron; 107:11 Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High:”

INTRODUCTION:

It is probable that it was on a return from exile or captivity. There is nothing in the psalm to forbid the supposition that this was the return from the captivity at Babylon, and that the psalm was designed to be used at the re-dedication of the temple after the restoration. Every part of it would be appropriate to such an occasion, and it is every way probable that so important an event would be celebrated with appropriate songs of praise. Very often when we speak of darkness in terms of Christianity, we automatically have negative thoughts. Such is true in a lot of cases. The reasons of Darkness though vary, at least according to my attempt to expound and exhort from these particular Scriptures. This darkness can be a terrible experience or it can be an experience of delight. Barnes’ Notes

To “sit in darkness” is significant of great ignorance or of affliction and trouble, as darkness is an

emblem of calamity. Barnes’ Notes

And in the shadow of death A dark, gloomy, chilly shade such as “Death” would cast if he stood between us and the light. Barnes’ Notes

The reference is to the sad and gloomy residence of the Hebrews in the land of captivity. Barnes’ Notes

Being bound in affliction and iron Captives and slaves. Barnes’ Notes

Notice they are sitting and not “walking through the valley of the shadow of death.” This would imply that whatever the experience, the time frame of the experience is being extended by “sitting”.

Darkness à {2822} èv,j — choshek, kho-shek’; from 2821; the dark; hence (literally) darkness; figuratively, misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness: — dark(-ness), night, obscurity.

I. EXPLANATIONS FOR THE DARKNESS

A. Providential Darkness:

1. It is a time of learning and fellowship with Christ. You are still on the “right way” (v. 7), but God has taken you aside for a moment in time.

2. It is meant to bring glory to God.

Psalm 107:8 “Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!”

3. It is meant to strengthen your relationship with God and your understanding of His presence and planning in your life.

Psalm 107:9 “For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with

goodness.”

B. Mandatory Darkness (*This explanation is in context with the segment of Scriptures.)

1. It is a determined sentence for willing disobedience.

Psalm 107:11 “Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High:”

{5006} Åa"n; — na’ats, naw-ats’; a primitive root; to scorn; or (Eccl. 12:5) by

interchange for 5132, to bloom: — abhor, (give occasion to) blaspheme, contemn, despise, flourish, X great, provoke.

Psalm 107:17 “Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.”

Galatians 6:7 “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man

soweth, that shall he also reap.”

2. It is meant for chastisement.

I Corinthians 11:32 “But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that

we should not be condemned with the world.”

II Corinthians 6:9 “As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we

live; as chastened, and not killed;”

Hebrews 12:5 “And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as

unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor

faint when thou art rebuked of him: 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he

chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 12:7 If ye endure

chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom

the father chasteneth not?”

3. It is a plan to humble your spirit and salvage your salvation.

Psalm 107:12 “Therefore he brought down their heart with labor; they fell down,

and there was none to help.”

{3665} [n"K; — kana`, kaw-nah’; a primitive root; properly, to bend the knee;

hence, to humiliate, vanquish: — bring down (low), into subjection, under, humble (self), subdue.

I Corinthians 5:3 “For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have

judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done

this deed, 5:4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered

together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5:5 To

deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the

spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

4. It is a time of repentance to restore your relationship with the Father.