"Send me your light and your faithful care, let them lead me; Let them bring me to your holy
mountain, to the place where you dwell."
(Psalm 43:3)
Dr. Martin Luther King wrote, "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." His words fit well with our text for today. The Psalmist is seeking help in the midst of his trouble. This forty-third Psalm continues the lament of the preceding Psalm, echoing three times between the two Psalms these words of assurance: "Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God." The threat of darkness brings despair...the light of God dispels that darkness and draws the believer into right relationship with the Creator. Love does this...love overcomes the darkness.
The path we travel during Lent often reflects the darkness of sin that seems to overshadow our lives. We are drawn to the cross where it seems that darkness swallows up the Light. And yet, we see the cross as part of God's plan, the tool that commanded the terrible price of salvation. But darkness did not drive out darkness there. Hate could not overcome. The Light of the world, Jesus, the Christ, overcame the darkness...his love overwhelmed the shadows.
Over the next few nights, a rare occurrence will fill the dark night with unusual light. The planets Jupiter and Venus will pass very close to each other and the juxtaposition of these two bright planets should, according to Mike Wall, writing for Space.com, "blaze bright over the western horizon for about four hours after sunset." Take a moment and step outside over the next few evenings to see the difference these bright lights make in the evening sky. Then ponder the light of the Creator that overcomes our darkness through Jesus Christ.
Prayer: Gracious God, send me your light and your faithful care, and let them lead me. Amen.
Jim Abernathy
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