Verses
Genesis 1:14-19 (CSB)
Then God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night. … They will be lights in the expanse of the sky to provide light on the earth.” And it was so. God made the two great lights — the greater light to rule over [”govern”] the day and the lesser light to rule over [”govern”] the night — as well as the stars. God placed them in the expanse of the sky to provide light on the earth, to rule [”govern”] the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. Evening came and then morning: the fourth day.
John 17:5,20-24 (CSB)
[Jesus prayed…] “Now, Father, glorify me in your presence with that glory I had with you before the world existed.” … “I pray not only for these, but also for those who believe in me through their word. May they all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us, so that the world may believe you sent me. I have given them the glory you have given me, so that they may be one as we are one. I am in them and you are in me, so that they may be made completely one, that the world may know you have sent me and have loved them as you have loved me. Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, so that they will see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the world’s foundation.”
Deuteronomy 20:1-4, 10-11 (NKJV)
When you go out to battle against your enemies, and see horses and chariots and people more numerous than you, do not be afraid of them; for the Lord your God is with you, who brought you up from the land of Egypt. So it shall be, when you are on the verge of battle, that the priest shall approach and speak to the people. And he shall say to them, ‘Hear, O Israel: Today you are on the verge of battle with your enemies. Do not let your heart faint, do not be afraid, and do not tremble or be terrified because of them; for the Lord your God is He who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.’ … When you go near a city to fight against it, then proclaim an offer of peace to it. [”proclaim to it peace”] And it shall be that if they accept your offer of peace, [”witness/testify to (receiving) that peace”] and open to you, then…
Luke 10:1,6,9,17-20 (CSB)
After this, the Lord appointed seventy-two others, and he sent them ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself was about to go. … Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household.’ If a person of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; … Heal the sick who are there, and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near you.’ … The seventy-two returned with joy… He said to them, “I … have given you the authority… over all the power of the enemy; nothing at all will harm you. However, don’t rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
Comments
We must recognise from earlier in Genesis 1 that darkness was created, and is a part of the created realm. It was not then, is not now, nor ever will be, in any sense comparable to the Creator. In fact, even created light governs over darkness and separates light from it. Furthermore, the eternal light of God’s glory manifest in the united trinity of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, is superior to even the created light, let alone the created darkness. So in prayer, then, let us always first position ourselves in the eternal light of the glory of the kingdom of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
That positions us in a context of God’s purpose of witness to those around us. When we dwell in the eternal light of the glory of the united trinity, it does place us in a visible location and context, by God’s intention. If we wish the world to know the love of God, it will be made manifest through his people united in the glory given to Jesus Christ by the Father (and Creator) of light through the communion of the Holy Spirit.
Our witness to those around us will be contested: numerically, technologically, strategically, emotionally and spiritually. However, even in the Hebrew Scriptures, in the face of the temptation to be overwhelmed by this darkness, the command not to be afraid was accompanied by the promise of God’s presence and his capacity to battle. From that place of the sure experience of God’s presence and his peace, the command was as simple as it is unexpected: “Proclaim peace!”
We must find peace, as in many ways, that is the essence of the battle. To walk through the valley of the shadow (of death itself) and fear no evil, is victory and overcoming. That is a manifestation of the nearness and comforting presence of the Prince of Peace, and of his Kingdom. From that place, the proclamation of peace will be witnessed, experienced and testified to by some.
Prayer
In the face of the darkness, then, we address the Father of Light, the Creator of all things: “Lord, in mercy grant to us the eternal light of your governing glory.” And then, having found and experienced the light and peace of being united with the glory of the united Father, Son and Holy Spirit, we proclaim: “In peace, Lord, we declare peace to…[fill the blank]!”
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