The Bible with Nicky and Pippa Gumbel, Classic Version, 2015Sample

Light in Dark Times

A month ago, Pippa and I were in Salzburg, Austria, taking part in an event organised by the Loretto community. It was such an inspiring occasion. In celebration of the day of Pentecost, 6,000 young people, full of the Holy Spirit and worshipping Jesus, packed Salzburg Cathedral. It was like a bright light in the midst of the spiritual darkness of so much of what we see in Europe today.

Many of us go through dark times in our own lives. St John of the Cross spoke of the ‘dark night of the soul’. There were dark times for the people of God both in the Old and New Testament times. There have been dark periods in the history of the church. Yet, as we see in each of today’s passages, even in the dark times there are rays of light. 

Psalm 80:8-19

1. The light of God’s smile

Father Raniero Cantalamessa is famous, among other things, for his smile. His face shines like a light – especially when he smiles. It has been said that a smile is the light in your window that tells others there is a caring, sharing person inside. As Mother Teresa put it, ‘The smile is the beginning of love.’

How amazing to think of the light of God’s smile shining on us! Yesterday we looked at the comfort and strength of knowing we are in God’s presence. Today we see another aspect of that – not only is God with us, but we can also enjoy his favour. The psalmist prays:

‘Smile your blessing smile:
That will be our salvation’ (v.19, MSG).

The people of Israel were clearly facing dark times. The ‘vine’ (vv.8,14) is an image for the nation of Israel. God brought the people of Israel out of Egypt. He cared for it like a vine.

But now the vineyard walls are broken down (v.12). It appears that the vine is cut down and burned with fire (v.16a). ‘Trespassers pick its grapes at will ... mice nibble away at what’s left’ (vv.12–13, MSG). The people are perishing.

In these dark times the psalmist cries out to God for restoration and revival: ‘Revive us, and we will call on your name. Restore us, O Lord God Almighty; make your face shine upon us, that we may be saved’ (vv.18–19).

Lord, we look at the state of the church in this country. Its walls have been broken down. It appears in a desperate state. Yet you have restored and revived your people in the past, we believe that you can do so again today. We cry out to you for revival. Revive us again, O Lord, we pray. Fill your people with your Holy Spirit. May the churches again be filled with people serving Jesus with all their hearts. May this land be transformed and restored – smile your blessing smile: that will be our salvation.

Acts 24:1-27

2. The light of the gospel

Everywhere Paul went he shone ‘the light of the gospel’. But not everyone could see it. He wrote, ‘The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God’ (2 Corinthians 4:4).

As we have been reading over the past few days, these were dark times in Paul’s life. He was imprisoned and on trial. The prosecution lawyer, Tertullus, is an example of a sycophantic lawyer. He flattered the governor: ‘We are most grateful in all times and places for your wise and gentle rule’ (Acts 24:2, MSG).

His flattery was followed by false accusations about Paul, suggesting he was ‘time and again disturbing the peace, stirring up riots against Jews all over the world, the ringleader of a seditious sect called Nazarenes’ (v.5, MSG). The Christian faith was described as a ‘sect’ (v.5) – rather in the way that some people today might dismiss church as a ‘cult’.

Paul makes his defence (v.10 onwards). He deals first with the specific allegations, denying what is not true and admitting what is true. He admits being a follower of Jesus (‘the Way’, v.14). He admits to what was arguably a mistake he made in the heat of the moment (v.21). (All of us make mistakes and it does no harm to admit them, even though it is often hard to do so.)

Paul tries to show the orthodoxy of his beliefs. He worships the God of history (v.14a). He believes everything in the Scriptures (v.14b). He shares the Jewish hope of the resurrection (v.15). He points out that he believes everything that agrees with the Law and that is written in the Prophets and that he has the same hope in God as the Pharisees, that ‘there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked’ (v.15). He points to his clear conscience (v.16), his ‘gifts for the poor’ (v.17) and his innocence (v.18).

His judge, Felix, was not necessarily evil, but he was weak, dithering, indecisive and politically motivated. He did not want to condemn an innocent man, but he did not have the courage to set him free. As a weak judge, when he did not know what to do, he simply ‘adjourned the proceedings’ (v.22). He used delay as a device.

But avoiding a decision is a decision in itself. Sitting on the fence, putting off a decision, was in this case a decision to put an innocent man in prison. We cannot avoid responsibility by indecision. Indecision is itself a decision not to act. It is a decision to maintain the status quo. It is an action with consequences.

Paul took every opportunity to shine the light of the gospel. Whenever he could, ‘he spoke about faith in Jesus Christ’ (v.24).

Felix was frightened by Paul’s words and again he adjourned proceedings (v.25b). He kept Paul in prison for two years hoping for a bribe. Then even when a new governor was appointed and there was no financial gain to be had from Paul, Felix still didn’t release him for political reasons (v.27).

Lord, help us to make the most of every opportunity. When we are opposed, falsely accused and frustrated help us, like the apostle Paul, to take every opportunity to preach the gospel. Help us to be those who shine the light of the gospel in the darkness.

2 Kings 10:1-11:21

3. The light of young people

Soul Survivor oversees several Christian summer festivals for young people. Over 30,000 will attend their festivals in the UK alone this year. Three years ago, Pippa and I had the privilege of visiting one of their events. It was so exciting to see the faith, passion and enthusiasm of these young people. It is a great sign of hope for the future.

As with the Salzburg Cathedral event, it is a bright light on the horizon. However bad things look, there is hope that the next generation will do better.

If you think you are living in a dark world, study this passage and you will see that there have been times in history that are just as bad, or even worse.

This was another dark period in the history of the people of Israel. It was a time when horrific events took place, such as the slaughter of the seventy princes whose heads were stacked in two piles at the city gates (10:7–8). And there were other massacres as well (v.17, MSG). Jehu was praised for not behaving like the worst of the kings of Israel, the precedent set by King Ahab. In particular, Jehu destroyed Baal worship in Israel.

However, he did not turn away from the precedent set by King Jeroboam that was the worship of the golden calf (v.29). He ‘wasn’t careful to walk in God's ways and honour the God of Israel from an undivided heart’ (v.31a, MSG).

In Judah things seemed no better. Athaliah tried to massacre the whole royal family (11:1, MSG). But God protected Joash, in much the same way as he protected Moses and Jesus: Jehosheba ‘hid him and his nurse in a private room away from Athaliah. He didn’t get killed. He was there with her, hidden away for six years in The Temple of God. Athaliah, oblivious to his existence, ruled the country’ (vv.2–3, MSG).

Later, ‘Jehoiada brought out the king’s son and put the crown on him; he presented him with a copy of the covenant and proclaimed him king. They anointed him, and the people clapped their hands and shouted, “Long live the king!” ’ (v.12). After this, the king ‘took his place on the royal throne, and all the people of the land rejoiced. And the city was quiet, because Athaliah had been slain with the sword at the palace’ (vv.19–20).

Joash was only seven years old when he became king (v.21) but this young man brought hope for the future (see 2 Kings 12 and 2 Chronicles 24).

Lord, thank you that once again you kept a light shining even in the darkest of times. Thank you that so often we see hope in young people. Thank you for the children and youth in our own church and the hope they bring. Thank you for the youth movements throughout the country and the light that shines through them. Thank you that even in the darkest of times, you always keep your light shining. Thank you that there is hope for the future.

Pippa Adds

2 Kings 10:31

‘Yet Jehu was not careful to keep the law of the Lord, the God of Israel, with all his heart.’

It is hard to remain wholeheartedly committed all the time. Think what he might have achieved for God if he had.

Notes:

Unless otherwise stated, Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version Anglicised, Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 Biblica, formerly International Bible Society. Used by permission of Hodder & Stoughton Publishers, an Hachette UK company. All rights reserved. ‘NIV’ is a registered trademark of Biblica. UK trademark number 1448790.

Scripture quotations marked (AMP) taken from the Amplified® Bible, Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)

Scripture marked (MSG) taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.