Advent Devotion – A Light Shines in the Darkness – Day 7
Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light.
Micah 7:8
Our Defender and Protector in the Dark
Some days, it feels like evil is winning. When we hear of yet another school shooting or acts of senseless, random violence, it is hard to see the light. When we see people who profit from manipulating and taking advantage of others, it feels like there is no justice. Some days, it feels like Satan is winning, and it looks like he is gloating. I am sure it felt that way for those who watched Jesus hanging on a cross in agony. And yet we have a promise repeated to us again and again.
At the time when this Scripture was written, electricity had not yet been harnessed. The people of Micah’s day did not have streetlamps or flashlights. The roads connecting the villages were not smoothly paved; instead, there could have been treacherous terrain that might also have bandits and wild animals lurking in the dark. Travel by night was not as simple as it is for you and me today.
However, if someone needed to travel at night, they did have small oil lamps that would light up the ground right in front of them. It would not light up the path six feet ahead of them; it would simply light up the next step. The author of Psalm 119:105 tells us, “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” And again in today’s passage from Micah, we hear, “Though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light.” We already learned that God is light and that this light existed even before the sun, moon, and stars were created.
You and I do not depend on our own might, our ability, or our wisdom and reasoning to get through the challenges of this life. Our enemy does not have power over us, because we have the source and creator of light defending and protecting us.
As the Lord told Zerubbabel in Zechariah 4:6, “‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty.” And with King David, we can proclaim, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God” (Psalm 20:7).
When it feels like we are surrounded by darkness, and when it feels like our enemies are winning and even gloating over us, we can proclaim with every confidence that our Lord will be our light!
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for giving me so many examples from your holy Word of people who trusted in you. You have proven time and time again that you are trustworthy. Please help me remember this when I am going through challenging times. Send people into my life to remind me of and encourage me in your promises. You have taken care of my biggest problem—my sin, which separated me from you—and I know you will take care of all of my other problems as well. Amen.
Written by Rhoda Wolle
