Facing the Darkness 面对黑暗
Dexu Xia
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light. Isaiah 9:2
In the mid-1960s, two people participated in research on the effects of darkness on the human psyche. They entered separate caves, while researchers tracked their eating and sleeping habits. One remained in total darkness for 88 days, the other 126 days. Each guessed how long they could remain in darkness and were off by months. One took what he thought was a short nap only to discover he’d slept for 30 hours. Darkness is disorienting.
The people of God found themselves in the darkness of impending exile. They waited, unsure of what would take place. The prophet Isaiah used darkness as a metaphor for their disorientation and as a way of speaking about God’s judgment (Isaiah 8:22). Previously, the Egyptians had been visited with darkness as a plague (Exodus 10:21–29). Now Israel found herself in darkness.
But a light would come. “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned” (Isaiah 9:2). Oppression would be broken, disorientation would end. A Child would come to change everything and bring about a new day—a day of forgiveness and freedom (v. 6).
Jesus did come! And although the darkness of the world can be disorienting, may we experience the comfort of the forgiveness, freedom, and light found in Christ.
What would it look like to embrace a new day of freedom and forgiveness? How can you welcome the light of Christ today?
Dear Jesus, shine Your light into my life. Bring forgiveness and freedom. Help me to live in the light of Your arrival.
在黑暗中行走的百姓看见了大光。—以赛亚书9章2节
在1960年代中期，有两个人参与了一项关于黑暗对人类心理影响的研究。他们进入不同的洞穴，由研究人员追踪他们的饮食和睡眠习惯。其中一人在完全的黑暗中待了88天，另一人则待了126天。这两个人起初猜测自己能在黑暗中待多久，结果他们的推测竟与事实有好几个月的差别。其中一人以为自己只是打了个盹，其实自己竟睡了30个小时。显然地，黑暗使人迷惘。
以赛亚书8章记载，上帝的子民身处即将被掳的黑暗中，他们等候，不确定会发生什么事。先知以赛亚以黑暗来比喻他们的迷惘，并以黑暗来讲述上帝将施行的审判（8章22节）。在更早的时候，埃及人曾遭黑暗之灾（出埃及记10章21-29节），但这个时候，以色列百姓自己也陷入黑暗之中。
但光将会来到，以赛亚书9章2节说：“在黑暗中行走的百姓看见了大光；住在死荫之地的人有光照耀他们。”压迫会终止，迷惘会结束。有一婴孩要来改变一切，带来新的开始，赐下宽恕与自由（6节）。
耶稣的确来到世上！尽管世界的黑暗会使人迷惘，但期盼你我都能经历到在基督里的饶恕、自由和光明所带来的安慰。
拥抱充满自由与宽恕的崭新开始会是何种景况？
今天你要如何欢迎基督的光呢？
亲爱的耶稣，求祢将祢的光照亮我的生命，
赐我宽恕和自由。帮助我活在祢的临到所带来的光中