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The sacred writers often use strange metaphors; as here, light is said to be "sown for the righteous." Milton uses the same figure of the dew -

"Now Morn, her rosy steps in th' eastern clime Advancing, sowed the earth with Orient pearl." But let us get beneath the strange figure, and ask -

I. WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

1. What is meant by light? It is a constant symbol for joy, gladness (Esther 8:16; Psalm 27:1, etc.). And, on the other hand, sorrow is likened to darkness.

2. What does the word "sown mean? It is a very suggestive word. It teaches that the seed of joy is:

(1) Scattered abroad. And so it is for God's people; they find it everywhere, and often in most unlikely places. As Paul and Silas in their dungeon at Philippi.

(2) For a time out of sight. The seed, when sown, is so. See this in our coal beds. Light is sown there. Let there be the application of a due amount of heat, and the light will flash forth that was sown by the sun long ages ago. And in like manner, the grace of God has stored up joy and gladness in places where you would never have looked for them. Light is sown in them, and, though now out of sight, will in due time break forth (Psalm 126:5). Then

(3) certainly not lost. Sometimes it seems as if our light had gone from us forever. But it is not so; the losses, bereavements, trials of all kinds which darkened our life, they are but the furrows of the field into which the seed has been cast, and by which it is for the time buried. But as the farmer does not count his seed sown as seed lost, but quite otherwise, so should our thought be.

(4) But is in the care and keeping of God.

(5) Will come back multiplied.

(6) And glorified (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:42-44). We are wont to speak of God's acre," the old and beautiful name for our churchyards, and they are full of sown light. But all our life is a field thus sown. And there are many harvests, the resurrection morn chief of them all. Yet other fields are the Holy Scriptures, God's providence, the Holy Spirit's work. Light is sown for the righteous in all these. But the question will arise -

II. IS IT ALL TRUE? And we reply:

1. The order of nature seems to affirm it. How often has the righteous career been trampled upon and apparently destroyed, but it has sprung up again!

2. The Scriptures assert it unhesitatingly, and furnish perpetual proof, that the light of the righteous is never lost, but only sown preparatory to a blessed harvest.

3. And our heart's deepest convictions confirm it. We could not live without this faith.

III. WHAT THEN?

1. The instincts of our nature are not mocked. We were made for the light, for blessedness, and the righteous shall realize it.

2. What a terrible thing that any should be self-excluded - as the ungodly are - from the number of those for whom this word is spoken!

3. Be patient when some of your light is taken from you. It is wanted for seed.

4. Yield your hearts to Christ, that by his blessed Spirit he may make them righteous.

5. Look on to the harvest. - S.C.

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Parallel Verses

KJV: Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.

WEB: Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.