Who fear: This is the fear which is called "the beginning of wisdom" (Prov. ix. 10); and is said to be "the fountain of life," "the strong confidence" (Prov. xiv. 26, 27), and "the treasure" (Isa. xxxiii. 6) of a child of God, and that which "endures for ever" in his heart (Psa. xix. 9).

Those that fear Him seek to obey Him.

This darkness is not because of sin or devils. St. John of the Cross called it, "the dark night of the soul." Tozer called it, "the ministry of the night." Spurgeon preached about "the child of light walking in darkness." What you are going through is not new. It came to every major man or woman of God in Scripture. It came to Abraham when he stood waiting for God to accept his sacrifice. (Gen. 15:12) It came to Moses on the mountain waiting to receive the Commandments in the "thick darkness" where God was. (Duet. 5:22) It came to Job when he "looked for good" and "evil came." (Job 30:26) It came to David when the bottom seemed to drop out of his world.

Even in nature you know it's true. Nothing can live in unbroken sunshine. There must be the cycles of the night, and days of clouds and rain. Light and darkness are both essential for plant growth. Non-stop sunshine only creates a desert.

Yet what is this person in Isaiah 50:10 doing? Look carefully: he is walking. What God told you in the light do not doubt in the darkness.

Stephen Merritt said, "Cease meddling with God’s plans and will. You touch anything of His, and you mar the work. You may move the hands of a clock to suit you, but you do not change the time; so you may hurry the unfolding of God’s will, but you harm and do not help the work. You can open a rosebud but you spoil the flower. Leave all to Him. Hands down. Thy will, not mine."

Not all expressions are to be taken in the same way. Eg of Dog in Bible, yet hymn that speaks of "hound of heaven". The word then translated "light" in the text means something more than mere light, and signifies rather "brightness" or "shining". It is thus translated: "The shining of a flaming fire" (Isa. iv. 5);

Thus, "he is led, and brought into darkness, but not into light" (Lam. iii. 2)

Some lessons of darkness: And those lessons are basically:

• Will you obey Him whether you feel like it or not?
• Will you do what He asks you to do?
• Will you hold onto the truth He's given you, whether you feel He's there or not?

God is the One who dwells in thick darkness. (Duet. 5:22) The darkness and the light are alike to Him. (Ps. 139:12) There are treasures that can be found only in such darkness, for there He will show you things about Himself and about yourself that you will never learn any other way.

But don’t take matters into your own hands and try to create your own light! "For the bed is too short to stretch out on, and the covering so narrow that one cannot wrap himself in it" (Isaiah 28:20).

It would be a crime if the forgers of money were to coin gold and silver into sovereigns and shillings. It would be "an iniquity to be punished by the judge," to be guilty of such daring presumption as to stamp the king's head and superscription on coin that never came out of his mint.

The distinguishing mark of all false religion is, that it commences with man and not with God. "Behold, all ye that kindle a fire," etc. So Aaron made the golden calf, so Nadab and Abihu offered false fire, so Korah, Dathan and Abiram took each man his censer...

Consequence, lie down in torment.

Worst punishment is to "walk in own light and own sparks".