Home For Christmas: Bringing Light into our Homes
Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 4 viewsNotes
Transcript
We all have been in the dark.
We all have been in the dark.
What does darkness mean?
Darkness Symbolizes sin Jn 3:19-20, Pr 4:19
Darkness Symbolizes the ignorance of truth. 2Cor.4.4, Psalm 82:5, Ephesians 4:18
Darkness Symbolizes the inability to find the right way. Jn. 12:35
Darkness Symbolizes times of Trial. Job 3:3-6,
Darkness Symbolizes Death and the Grave. Job 10:20-22
Dawn
Synopsis
The time marked by the rising of the sun. It signals the end of night and relief from its attendant concerns, and the approach of daylight with the opportunity for renewed daily activity. The light of dawn following darkness is a symbol of hope and vindication, fulfilled especially in the coming of the Messiah through whom God’s new age dawns.
Dawn as the end of the night
It ends the darkness of the night
Am 5:8
Amos 5:8 (ESV) — 8 He who made the Pleiades and Orion, and turns deep darkness into the morning and darkens the day into night, who calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out on the surface of the earth, the Lord is his name;
See also 2 Sa 23:4; Job 41:18
2 Samuel 23:4 (ESV) — 4 he dawns on them like the morning light, like the sun shining forth on a cloudless morning, like rain that makes grass to sprout from the earth.
Job 41:18 (ESV) — 18 His sneezings flash forth light, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the dawn.
It signals the end of nightly activity
Ge 32:22–26; Jdg 19:25–26; 1 Sa 14:36; 1 Sa 25:36; 2 Sa 2:32; 2 Sa 17:22; So 2:16–17
Genesis 32:22–26 (ESV) — 22 The same night he arose and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 He took them and sent them across the stream, and everything else that he had. 24 And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. 25 When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. 26 Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”
Judges 19:25–26 (ESV) — 25 But the men would not listen to him. So the man seized his concubine and made her go out to them. And they knew her and abused her all night until the morning. And as the dawn began to break, they let her go. 26 And as morning appeared, the woman came and fell down at the door of the man’s house where her master was, until it was light.
1 Samuel 14:36 (ESV) — 36 Then Saul said, “Let us go down after the Philistines by night and plunder them until the morning light; let us not leave a man of them.” And they said, “Do whatever seems good to you.” But the priest said, “Let us draw near to God here.”
1 Samuel 25:36 (ESV) — 36 And Abigail came to Nabal, and behold, he was holding a feast in his house, like the feast of a king. And Nabal’s heart was merry within him, for he was very drunk. So she told him nothing at all until the morning light.
2 Samuel 2:32 (ESV) — 32 And they took up Asahel and buried him in the tomb of his father, which was at Bethlehem. And Joab and his men marched all night, and the day broke upon them at Hebron.
2 Samuel 17:22 (ESV) — 22 Then David arose, and all the people who were with him, and they crossed the Jordan. By daybreak not one was left who had not crossed the Jordan.
Song of Solomon 2:16–17 (ESV) — 16 My beloved is mine, and I am his; he grazes among the lilies. 17 Until the day breathes and the shadows flee, turn, my beloved, be like a gazelle or a young stag on cleft mountains.
Waiting for the dawn to bring relief
Ps 130:6
Psalm 130:6 (ESV) — 6 my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning.
See also Job 7:3–4; Ps 46:5; Is 21:12; Is 38:13; Ac 27:29
Job 7:3–4 (ESV) — 3 so I am allotted months of emptiness, and nights of misery are apportioned to me. 4 When I lie down I say, ‘When shall I arise?’ But the night is long, and I am full of tossing till the dawn.
Psalm 46:5 (ESV) — 5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns.
Isaiah 21:12 (ESV) — 12 The watchman says: “Morning comes, and also the night. If you will inquire, inquire; come back again.”
Isaiah 38:13 (ESV) — 13 I calmed myself until morning; like a lion he breaks all my bones; from day to night you bring me to an end.
Acts 27:29 (ESV) — 29 And fearing that we might run on the rocks, they let down four anchors from the stern and prayed for day to come.
Dawn as the beginning of a new day
It provides the earliest opportunity of the day
Da 6:19 First light provides the earliest opportunity for action and implies urgency.
Daniel 6:19 (ESV) — 19 Then, at break of day, the king arose and went in haste to the den of lions.
See also Ge 19:15; Jos 6:15 Dawn was a common time for military campaigns to begin; Jdg 9:33; Jdg 16:2; 1 Sa 19:11; Mt 28:1 Women visit Jesus Christ’s tomb at dawn; Mk 1:35 Jesus Christ prays at dawn; Lk 22:66; Jn 8:2; Ac 27:33
Genesis 19:15 (ESV) — 15 As morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, “Up! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be swept away in the punishment of the city.”
Joshua 6:15 (ESV) — 15 On the seventh day they rose early, at the dawn of day, and marched around the city in the same manner seven times. It was only on that day that they marched around the city seven times.
Judges 9:33 (ESV) — 33 Then in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, rise early and rush upon the city. And when he and the people who are with him come out against you, you may do to them as your hand finds to do.”
Judges 16:2 (ESV) — 2 The Gazites were told, “Samson has come here.” And they surrounded the place and set an ambush for him all night at the gate of the city. They kept quiet all night, saying, “Let us wait till the light of the morning; then we will kill him.”
1 Samuel 19:11 (ESV) — 11 Saul sent messengers to David’s house to watch him, that he might kill him in the morning. But Michal, David’s wife, told him, “If you do not escape with your life tonight, tomorrow you will be killed.”
Matthew 28:1 (ESV) — 1 Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb.
Mark 1:35 (ESV) — 35 And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.
Luke 22:66 (ESV) — 66 When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people gathered together, both chief priests and scribes. And they led him away to their council, and they said,
John 8:2 (ESV) — 2 Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them.
Acts 27:33 (ESV) — 33 As day was about to dawn, Paul urged them all to take some food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day that you have continued in suspense and without food, having taken nothing.
Important activity begins at dawn
Ne 4:21
Nehemiah 4:21 (ESV) — 21 So we labored at the work, and half of them held the spears from the break of dawn until the stars came out.
See also Ne 8:3
Nehemiah 8:3 (ESV) — 3 And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law.
Dawn as a symbol of blessings to come
The Messiah brings a new dawn
Is 9:2; Re 22:16
Isaiah 9:2 (ESV) — 2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.
Revelation 22:16 (ESV) — 16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”
See also Nu 24:17; Mt 4:16; Lk 1:78–79; Jn 1:4–5; Jn 8:12
Numbers 24:17 (ESV) — 17 I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel; it shall crush the forehead of Moab and break down all the sons of Sheth.
Matthew 4:16 (ESV) — 16 the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.”
Luke 1:78–79 (ESV) — 78 because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high 79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
John 1:4–5 (ESV) — 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
John 8:12 (ESV) — 12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
A symbol of hope and vindication
Ps 37:6; Ps 112:4
Psalm 37:6 (ESV) — 6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.
Psalm 112:4 (ESV) — 4 Light dawns in the darkness for the upright; he is gracious, merciful, and righteous.
See also Jdg 5:31; Ps 57:8; Pr 4:18; Is 58:8; Is 60:1–3; Is 62:1
Judges 5:31 (ESV) — 31 “So may all your enemies perish, O Lord! But your friends be like the sun as he rises in his might.” And the land had rest for forty years.
Psalm 57:8 (ESV) — 8 Awake, my glory! Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn!
Proverbs 4:18 (ESV) — 18 But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.
Isaiah 58:8 (ESV) — 8 Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.
Isaiah 60:1–3 (ESV) — 1 Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. 2 For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. 3 And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.
Isaiah 62:1 (ESV) — 1 For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not be quiet, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a burning torch.
A symbol of God’s coming in glory
Hab 3:3–4
Habakkuk 3:3–4 (ESV) — 3 God came from Teman, and the Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah His splendor covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise. 4 His brightness was like the light; rays flashed from his hand; and there he veiled his power.
See also Mal 4:2
Malachi 4:2 (ESV) — 2 But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall.
A symbol of renewal
Ps 110:3
Psalm 110:3 (ESV) — 3 Your people will offer themselves freely on the day of your power, in holy garments; from the womb of the morning, the dew of your youth will be yours.
Dawn as a symbol of God’s revelation
1 Jn 2:8
1 John 2:8 (ESV) — 8 At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining.
See also Is 8:20; 2 Pe 1:19
Isaiah 8:20 (ESV) — 20 To the teaching and to the testimony! If they will not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn.
2 Peter 1:19 (ESV) — 19 And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts,
Dawn as a time of reckoning
Darkness at dawn as a picture of judgment
Is 13:10–11
Isaiah 13:10–11 (ESV) — 10 For the stars of the heavens and their constellations will not give their light; the sun will be dark at its rising, and the moon will not shed its light. 11 I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; I will put an end to the pomp of the arrogant, and lay low the pompous pride of the ruthless.
See also Job 3:9; Am 4:13
Job 3:9 (ESV) — 9 Let the stars of its dawn be dark; let it hope for light, but have none, nor see the eyelids of the morning,
Amos 4:13 (ESV) — 13 For behold, he who forms the mountains and creates the wind, and declares to man what is his thought, who makes the morning darkness, and treads on the heights of the earth— the Lord, the God of hosts, is his name!
The light of dawn exposes the wicked
Job 38:12–13; Jn 3:19–20; Eph 5:11–13
Job 38:12–13 (ESV) — 12 “Have you commanded the morning since your days began, and caused the dawn to know its place, 13 that it might take hold of the skirts of the earth, and the wicked be shaken out of it?
John 3:19–20 (ESV) — 19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.
Ephesians 5:11–13 (ESV) — 11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible