Provérbios 4

Provérbios 4

Cole - The root reason that people reject Jesus is that they are in spiritual darkness and they love it because their deeds are evil. As we saw in John 3:19+, “men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.” Those who do not follow Jesus are living in spiritual and moral darkness. The evidence of spiritual darkness is that you want to get rid of Jesus from your life (8:20). But eliminating Christ from your life does not eliminate God as the sovereign of the world. He is sovereign over all things, including the timing of the death of His Son (Acts 2:23; 4:27-28). One day every knee will bow before Jesus, either for rewards or for condemnation (Phil. 2:9-11). The root reason that people reject Jesus is that they love their sin. They don’t want the Light to expose their evil deeds. So Jesus’ astounding claim (8:12), “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life,” draws a line and asks, “Which side are you on?” (Jesus Light of the World) Darkness (0653)(apelah) means "darkness." "Like its counterpart (LIGHT), this word is used in a figurative sense. Even the instances of natural darkness are used to illustrate spiritual darkness. Moses warned the Israelites that if they did not follow the Lord, they would be like a blind man groping in the darkness (Deut. 28:29). Proverbs 7:9 warns against foolishness, comparing the unwise to those who go in to a prostitute after dark. The plague of darkness sent on Egypt was actual darkness (darkness "that could be felt" [Ex. 10:22]), but it was also a statement by Yahweh of Egypt's spiritual condition. Spiritual darkness is a lack of understanding of the ways of the Lord. Light, or walking in the light, is often used to illustrate having understanding. The comparison of spiritual darkness and light is a favorite of the prophets, Isaiah and Jeremiah. Like Amos, Joel 2:2+ and Zephaniah 1:5 describe the "Day of the Lord" as darkness. The coming judgment day being preached about in the Old Testament was often understood by the Israelites as a punishment of the surrounding nations. But the prophets described the Day of the Lord as darkness, because Israel would be judged for their sins also." (Complete Biblical Library Hebrew-English Dictionary) TWOT - Light and darkness are well-known opposites in Palestine. In that land the light does not fade gradually after twilight. Sunset is preceded by brightness, which is soon changed with the disappearance of the sun. Within an hour, sunset has given way to the darkness of night. There are symbolic uses of darkness as there are of light. As light presages glory, blessing, purity, so darkness foreshadows disaster. Apelah - 10v - darkness(4), gloom(5), thick(1). Exod. 10:22; Deut. 28:29; Prov. 4:19; Prov. 7:9; Isa. 8:22; Isa. 58:10; Isa. 59:9; Jer. 23:12; Joel 2:2; Zeph. 1:15 Isaiah 8:22 Then they will look to the earth, and behold, distress and darkness, the gloom of anguish; and they will be driven away into darkness. Isaiah 58:10 And if you give yourself to the hungry And satisfy the desire of the afflicted, Then your light will rise in darkness And your gloom will become like midday. Isaiah 59:9 (Therefore justice is far from us, And righteousness does not overtake us; We hope for light, but behold, darkness, For brightness, but we walk in gloom. Jeremiah 23:12 Therefore their way will be like slippery paths to them, They will be driven away into the gloom and fall down in it; For I will bring calamity upon them, The year of their punishment,” declares the LORD. Joel 2:2+ A day of darkness and gloom, A day of clouds and thick darkness. As the dawn is spread over the mountains, So there is a great and mighty people; There has never been anything like it, Nor will there be again after it To the years of many generations. Zephaniah 1:15 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, They do not know over what they stumble - This is the result of the darkness. Why do they stumble? They are spiritually blind and they cannot see where they are going. This depicts the life of the wicked person as uncertain and perilous. Gilbrant - Since the wicked (foolish) have chosen to go their own way, rejecting wisdom (Pr 1:20-32), and not obeying whatever instruction they may receive, they are doomed to a life of difficulty (Pr 13:21; 22:5). Choosing to walk in darkness, they cannot see the real nature of their road, and so stumble, not realizing that it is their own folly that blinds them (Luke 11:33-36).(Complete Biblical Library) Jesus has an apt description of the wicked in Matthew 15:14 "Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit.” John wrote "But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes." (1 John 2:11+) UBS Handbook - The life of those who disregard God is like the darkness of night. They fall down and do not know what made them stumble. But the life of those who obey God is like the sunrise; it becomes brighter and brighter until it is broad daylight.