Darkness, natural

Scripture stresses that God is able to be present and known, even in the darkest aspects of the world.

Darkness as a symbol of the terrifying majesty of God

Exodus 20:18–21; Psalm 97:2 See also Deuteronomy 4:11–12, Deuteronomy 5:22–24; Hebrews 12:18–21

When all the people witnessed the thunder and lightning, the sounding of the ram’s horn, and the mountain enveloped in smoke, they trembled and stood at a distance. “Speak to us yourself and we will listen,” they said to Moses. “But do not let God speak to us, or we will die.” “Do not be afraid,” Moses replied. “For God has come to test you, so that the fear of Him may be before you, to keep you from sinning.” And the people stood at a distance as Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.

Clouds and darkness surround Him; righteousness and justice are His throne’s foundation.

God is the source of natural darkness

Isaiah 45:7 See also Genesis 1:2–5, Genesis 1:16–18; Job 26:10; Psalm 74:16, Psalm 104:19–20

I form the light and create the darkness; I bring prosperity and create calamity. I, the LORD, do all these things.

God's eye penetrates the darkness

Job 34:21–22; Psalm 139:11–12 See also Daniel 2:22; Amos 5:8–9; 2 Corinthians 4:6

For His eyes are on the ways of a man, and He sees his every step. There is no darkness or deep shadow where the workers of iniquity can hide.

If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me, and the light become night around me”— even the darkness is not dark to You, but the night shines like the day, for darkness is as light to You.

Miracles involving natural darkness

Matthew 27:45 parallels Mark 15:33, Luke 23:44–45 See also Exodus 10:21–23, Exodus 14:19–20; Joshua 24:6–7; Psalm 105:26–28; Isaiah 50:3; Acts 2:19–20; Joel 2:30–32; Acts 13:9–12

From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land.

Natural darkness used poetically

2 Samuel 22:10–12 parallel Psalm 18:9–11; Job 3:1–10