The Treasures of Darkness

Mir Diamond Mine, Yakutia, Russia, Author Staselnik (CC BY-SA 3.0 Unported)

“I will give you the treasures of darkness And hidden riches of secret places, That you may know that I, the Lord, Who call you by your name, Am the God of Israel” (Isa. 45: 3).

Diamonds are one of the hardest natural substances known.  Billions of years old, diamonds form deep in the earth, under tremendous pressures and temperatures [1].  They are considered among the most valuable gemstones in the world, and are mined only with great difficulty.

But the treasures of darkness which God promises us are infinitely more precious.

Literal and Figurative Darkness

The word “darkness” can be interpreted both literally and figuratively.

Strong’s Concordance informs us that darkness is not only to be found in mines (Job 28: 3).  Darkness was over the surface of the deep at Creation (Gen. 1: 2).  Darkness was one of the plagues God caused to fall on Egypt, giving it a supernatural dimension (Ex. 10: 21).

The word can, also, be used to signify ignorance; confusion/perplexity; doubt, depression, and mourning; secrecy; evil and sin; death, destruction, and judgment.

What treasures can these possibly yield?  Let us examine them one at a time.

Ignorance

“…[T]he fool walks in darkness” (Eccl. 2: 14).  But “…wisdom excels folly As light excels darkness” (Eccl. 2: 13).

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Prov. 9: 10).  Wisdom is, therefore, the first treasure of darkness [2].

Confusion/Perplexity

“[The wicked] grope in darkness with no light, And He makes them stagger like a drunken man” (Job 12: 25).

The wicked grope in darkness, relying on their own devices.  But the Lord is a lamp to the feet of the righteous.  He enlightens the Christian’s darkness (2 Sam. 22: 29), so much so, that we are instructed not to lean on our own understanding (Prov. 3: 5).

Direction/guidance is, therefore, the second treasure of darkness.

Doubt, Depression, and Mourning

“For the enemy has persecuted my soul; He has crushed my life to the ground; He has made me dwell in darkness, Like those who have long been dead” (Ps. 143: 3).

Many Christians suffer from depression and/or doubts.  Others wrestle with the question of faith as a result of losing a loved one.  These factors do not diminish faith.  In fact, they can ultimately strengthen it.

“The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned” (Matt. 4: 16).

This identifies faith as the third great treasure of darkness.

Secrecy

“Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, But the night shines as the day; The darkness and the light are both alike to You” (Ps. 139: 12).

Nothing can be hidden from the Lord.  No secret plot, no hidden motive by others can harm us, if God does not allow it.

Whatever may befall us, God will use for good (Rom. 8: 28).  He has numbered the very hairs on our head (Luke 12: 7).  We are safely in His care.

Security is, therefore, the fourth treasure of darkness.

Evil and Sin

“Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness…” (Isa. 5: 20).

We may at times be discouraged.  It may appear that the world is growing ever more dark, ever more evil.  But Christ has overcome the power of darkness.  And we are promised justice – if not in this world, then the next.

Justice is, therefore, the fifth great treasure of darkness.

Death, Destruction, and Judgment  

“Near is the great day of the Lord… A day of wrath is that day, A day of trouble and distress, A day of destruction and desolation, A day of darkness and gloom, A day of clouds and thick darkness, A day of trumpet and battle cry Against the fortified cities…” (Zeph. 1: 14-16).

We have been saved through the death and resurrection of Christ, rescued from banishment to outer darkness for our sins.

Salvation is, therefore, the sixth and greatest treasure of darkness.

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[1]  This statement, admittedly, takes an “old earth” view of Creation.

[2]  Jewels, in sequence:

Black pearl and shell, Author Brocken Inaglory (GNU, CC BY-SA 3.0 Unported, 2.5 Generic/2.0 Generic/1.0 Generic).

Cut emeralds (GNU, CC BY-SA 3.0 Unported).

Cushion cut sapphire, 4.20 cts, Author Weiner Edelstein Zentrum (CC BY-SA 3.0 Unported).

Crystalline gold, Source http://resourcescommittee.house.gov/subcommittees/emr/usgsweb/photogallery/ (PD- USGS, Dept. of Interior).

Mozambique ruby, Author DonGuennielG-Empire The World of Gems, Source http://www.g-empire.de (CC BY-SA 4.0 International).

Diamond, Author Mario Sarto (GNU, CC BY-SA 3.0 Unported).

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