761. EXO 10:22, EXO 10:23. LIGHT AND DARKNESS; OR THE CHURCH AND THE WORLD

Exo_10:22, Exo_10:23. Light and Darkness; or the Church and the World

"And there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days: they saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for three days; but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings."’97Exo_10:22, Exo_10:23.

Nothing affects so much as contrast, and much of divine truth is presented to us in this form. In this way we are deeply struck with the condition of our first parents, before and after the fall, in the enjoyment and loss of paradise. Thus, too, the different characters of the righteous and wicked are more striking. See Cain and Abel: a murderer and a martyr: a child of Beelzebub and an heir of glory. Look, too, at Jacob and Esau. One ardently engaged in the pleasures of the chase, the other earnestly seeking "the favor and blessing of God." Sometimes this contrast is seen on a larger scale. Look at the families of Noah and his sons, and the whole world. See the one floating safely on the billows of that flood which invoked the other in utter ruin. Our text leads us to consider one of these striking contrasts. The ninth plague is now afflicting the land of Egypt. Thick darkness is covering the whole land, Exo_10:23. Universal honor is filling the minds of the Egyptians". But at this very time all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings. In this God made a miraculous and striking difference, and in this we have presented before us the contrast between the world and the Church; between the families of the wicked and the families of the pious; between the carnal and the renewed heart. Let us confine ourselves to this contrast, as existing between the world and the Church. We notice, then,

I. Egypt, in its darkness, was a type of the world. It was so also in other particulars. In its tyrannical dominion by the despotical Pharaoh; in its diversified idolatry; but particularly in the darkness which enshrouded it. But a question arises, What do we mean by the world? We mean all the intelligent responsible beings who are living without the fear of God, and strangers to his saving grace. They may greatly differ from each other. But those who constitute what in scripture is signified by the world, resemble each other in this: they are under the dominion of Satan, and not the servants of the Lord Jesus Christ. Now each such individual is a child of the world, and the whole, in their collective capacity, are in darkness.

1. Darkness is an emblem of ignorance and error, and the world is involved in these. In worldly matters there may be intelligence. Wise, as it regards literature and science; but with respect to God, their souls, salvation, and religion, they are in darkness’97their understandings are blinded and their judgments perverted. "This darkness hath covered the earth, and gross darkness," &c.

2. Darkness is an emblem of guilt, and the world is involved in this. Sin is the work of darkness. Hence the apostle says, "Have no fellowship," &c. Now, the whole world is guilty before God. Every man is a transgressor. "There is not one righteous’97no, not one."

3. Darkness is an emblem of peril, and in this the world is involved. As the world is guilty, so it is condemned. God’s judgment of it is recorded. God’s displeasure is announced. God’s wrath is threatened. It is to be the scene of the divine vengeance. It is to be renovated by fire, 2Pe_3:10.

4. Darkness is the emblem of misery, and in this the world is involved. Now, the misery of the men of the world arises from three things:

(1.) From the accusations of guilt, the cause of their condemnation. As a fever it burns up their spirits, and this feeling they cannot extinguish.

(2.) From the unsatisfying nature of their portion. They want happiness, but cannot find it. They go to the briny flood which only adds to their thirst; or they sink into wretchedness as the prodigal, and have not even husks to eat.

(3.) From gloomy fears as to the future. Bad as the portion of the world is, it is their best’97their good things. But it cannot be retained. Age advances,’97infirmities encompass,’97death stalks forth,’97the grave opens,’97and then there is the unknown world, the judgment, eternity. And they have no light’97no hope. Surely, then, this is enough to account for the misery of the wicked. Let us then turn our attention to the Church of God.

II. The Israelites with light in their dwellings were a type of the Church.

Who constitute the Church? The spiritual seed of Abraham. Those who have left the world, and become the spiritual followers of Jesus. They are in the world as Israel in Egypt, but they are distinct and separate from it. They are not of it, even as their Lord was not of it, and like the Israelites of old they have light in their dwellings.

1. They have the light of saving knowledge.

They may be far inferior to the world in rank, station, wealth, and learning; but they possess the true knowledge of God and of his Son Jesus Christ. They know Christ as the true Messiah. They know him experimentally,’97they know him in his power to save. Once they were in darkness, but now are they light, &c. They have been translated, &c.

2. They have the light of the divine approbation.

They know they are of God. They know their love to God. Also his love to them. The word of God assures them that they are beloved of God; the Holy Spirit bears witness, and hence their conscience testifies by its pacific voice, that "being justified by faith they have peace," &c.

3. They have the light of holiness.

Sin is darkness; holiness, light. They wear the robe of light. They are obedient to the statutes of light. They walk in the paths of light, and it shineth more and more, &c. Ye are the children of the light and of the day.

4. They have the light of a joyful hope.

Christ in them the hope of glory. See 1Pe_1:4; Tit_2:13. Now this hope cheers and sustains the believer, and fills him with joy unspeakable.

5. They have the light of the divine presence.

The Lord is ever with his people. He is their sun, making their day. He guides by his glorious presence through the whole pilgrimage of life. He was thus the light of Abraham, of Jacob, and Israel in the desert. Thus by his Spirit he leads his people into all truth, and conducts them to eternal glory.

In applying this subject we behold the contrast between those who are of the world and the people of God, in several conditions of life.

(1.) See them in adversity. The wicked have an addition of darkness. No solace,’97no ray to cheer them; hence how often they sink into despair and rush into eternity. The Christian feels, but he recognizes God’s hand. He bows down, bears the rod, and kisses the chastising hand, and God’s blissful countenance enables him to rejoice in tribulation.

(2.) See them in sickness. No light. Painful, restless, and an overwhelming anxiety. The sick chamber is as dark as Egypt. But the righteous have light in their dwellings. The serene countenance, the pious resignation, the cheering hope, show the difference. It is all right, says the pious soul; to live is Christ. God is my portion.

(3.) See them in death. With the wicked it is a leap in the dark’97a plunge into the horrid black abyss. Oh, how terrific!’97how appalling! But the righteous have light in death’97often the celestial beams of glory.

Application

1. Believers, shine in your dwellings, &c.

2. Sinners, come to the light, &c.

Autor: JABEZ BURNS