"If we were to go by the news that we are hearing or watching today, we would be excused for being discouraged and pessimistic. In fact, the media is full of all the economic bad news you can imagine.
Yet in the midst of all this, we have a prophetic and a proceeding Word that is absolutely contrary to what is happening around us. In fact, according to our proceeding Word, this is our greatest season in which to thrive.
What does the scriptures say about such situations?
In Isaiah 60:1-3, we read:
Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you.
For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; But the LORD will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you.
The Gentiles shall come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising.
In Isaiah 60, two Hebrew words for darkness are used, and they convey slightly different meanings. The two words are:
1. "CHOSHEK" (חֹשֶׁךְ): This word generally refers to darkness in a physical or literal sense. It represents the absence of light and is used to describe the natural state of darkness that covers the earth.
It can also symbolize ignorance, confusion, or the absence of understanding.
2. "ARAPHEL" (עֲרָפֶל): This word carries a deeper connotation and is often associated with thick or heavy darkness. It is a metaphorical darkness that signifies a sense of gloom, oppression, and spiritual or moral darkness.
It implies a state of moral or spiritual confusion, obscurity, or distress.
While both words convey the concept of darkness, "choshek" refers to the physical absence of light, while "araphel" carries a broader and metaphorical sense of darkness, encompassing moral, spiritual, and emotional dimensions.
