14 This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet:
15 “THE LAND OF ZEBULUN AND THE LAND OF NAPHTALI,
BY THE WAY OF THE SEA, BEYOND THE JORDAN, GALILEE OF THE [b]GENTILES–
16 “THE PEOPLE WHO WERE SITTING IN DARKNESS SAW A GREAT LIGHT,
AND THOSE WHO WERE SITTING IN THE LAND AND SHADOW OF DEATH,
UPON THEM A LIGHT DAWNED.”
17 From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 4:12-17.
There have been times when we too were sitting in darkness. Although there are all kinds of examples, I think most readily of sitting in darkness watching television. Although I am not making a blanket condemnation of television, some of us may think of times when our view of life was so warped by television that such a description is appropriate. Whatever “sitting in darkness” may mean to us, Paul includes all of us and pinpoints the true gloom and doom of our condition when he states: “And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.” Ephesians 2:1-3.
But then, upon us, a light dawned. Maybe, someone opened the curtains, and the light rushed in and we looked outside and saw a beautiful day. We turned off the television. We stood up. We walked outside. We played outside in the light with much joy. We then wondered why we were ever so foolish to waste so much time inside sitting in darkness.
“But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2:4-7.
Isaiah 60:1-2 provides the fitting conclusion.
“Arise, shine; for your light has come,
And the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.
“For behold, darkness will cover the earth
And deep darkness the peoples;
But the LORD will rise upon you
And His glory will appear upon you.” Isaiah 60:1-2.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 