The example of Christ is always one which has profound practical implications for His people. Christ is the perfect example for His people and we are to follow in His steps, even in suffer-ing and hardship. See 1Pet 2:20-25. That example is seen here and applied to His people. Christ is seen in v7-9 and His experience is then applied to His people in v10.

He Himself is the speaker. He is described here, v4, as being equipped by the Father to speak words of comfort to the weary — to sinners in their distress, but equally to His people in their weariness. The text discusses dark days. The Saviour Himself knew such times — rejec-tion, abuse, even the death of the cross. Yet in these dark times He was sustained by His confidence in His Father, v7-9.
How good it is to remember that the Saviour sympathizes with us! He has walked the dark, wearisome road before you, and even now, walks it with you.

I. A SURPRISING TRUTH.

1. The situation described here is a bleak one indeed. It is of a case of utter darkness. The deep darkness of the circumstance is conveyed in several ways:

a. The word for darkness is actually plural. There are multiple kinds of darkness that the Christian has to contend with. Sometimes internal, sometimes external; some-times devilish, sometimes God testing His people. Sometimes it is just gloom, sometimes deep and intense, multiplied darkness.

b. No light. The repetition of the thought with emphasis and intensity. Here is dark-ness in which there is no relief it seems.

c. Lonely. The words are addressed to a single individual as if to emphasize the thought of loneliness. How much darker it seems for the child when alone! The passage envisages a time when the cause of God is small, to be measured in indi-viduals.

d. The context explains what this darkness is. It comes from God having withdrawn from the nation and set Israel aside for their sinful rejection of Christ. Cp 8:19-22, Ps 80:3 — when God turns away His face darkness prevails.

2. Surprising. It will no doubt come as a surprise to many to see the circumstances that are described in this text are the experience of the faithful people of God. The man who has this experience is described for us here. It is not what we might have expected!

a. Walketh. He is a man who is still going on for God despite the gloom that has settled on his way/around him — he is still walking. These verbs are all participles!

b. Feareth. He is specifically said to fear God. This is a reverent heart and attitude toward God and the things of God. He fears God more than the darkness! The Lord is more prominent in his thinking than the circumstances he must now walk in.

c. He is in submission to the words of Christ. The Saviour is the servant spoken of here. He hears and acts upon the voice of the Lord Jesus. His darkness does not extend to an ignorance of the will of God, or the sound of the Master’s voice! Cp Jn 10:27.

3. Often. The experience of darkness has often been the lot of the faithful. Cp Job 1:1, 19:8, 30:26, John 6:16-17. The child of God is not immune to such times of darkness and gloom. He is not immune to the consequences of sin in the nation! It is true that his darkness is not quite like that experienced by the ungodly in that he has the Lord to lean upon as we shall see, yet to a degree he enters into the anguish of soul that comes in the wake of God withdrawing the open evidences of His favour to the land. The last days will be days of darkness for the redeemed.

II. A SIMPLE EXHORTATION.

Is there a word from God in such a time? Yes! Cp v4.

1. Faith is to remain strong. In times of darkness we are to continue to trust in the name of the Lord. This striking phrase suggests that we are to particularly reflect upon the unchanging character of Jehovah. Circumstances have changed but God has not. He is still the “I am”. That name is a strong tower, Prov 18:10. The name Jehovah is particu-larly brought to our attention in the context, v7-9. This truth is to be the single focus of our faith in a day of trouble.

2. We are to lean upon Him as our God. As God (Elohim) He is sufficient to meet the needs of any who turn to Him. He is the Creator on Whom depends all of creation. As our God He can and will meet our needs. There is a covenant bond here! Here is solid support for the soul in a day of darkness. Ps 18:18, 48:14, 2Sam 22:9.

3. The clearly inferred instruction. We are to continue to fear God, obey Christ’s word and walk on! These are the external evidences of faith. This is the behaviour that the Lord endorses here. Let nothing induce us to stop going on with the Lord, or deflect us from obedience and faith.

III. A SOLEMN WARNING.

1. The wicked. The words of v11 are particularly addressed to the wicked of the nation engaged in false/counterfeit religion. They find themselves in darkness but turn to their own devices to make their own light and comforting warmth. The warning is that those who engage in such tactics will be given over to their own ways and are destined to end
in sorrow — in fact the Lord says here, I will see to it that that will be your end! His hand is against them.

2. The faithful. There is a warning, however, that is applicable to the godly man ad-dressed in v10. In days of darkness do not turn to your own devices to try and manu-facture light. Cp Prov 3:5-6. Many a believer has turned to their own wisdom, the wisdom of the world/worldly church, and the Lord has given them over to their own ways and allowed them to live by their own wisdom — a sorrowful end. 

Do not be deflected from trusting and unchanging God and continuing in His ways.