The term "darkest" in the Bible often symbolizes a state of profound spiritual or moral obscurity, representing the absence of God's light and truth. It is frequently used to describe periods of intense trial, sin, or divine judgment. The imagery of darkness is contrasted with light, which symbolizes God's presence, righteousness, and revelation.

Biblical References:

1. Spiritual Darkness: In the New Testament, spiritual darkness is associated with ignorance of God's truth and separation from His presence. The Apostle Paul writes in Ephesians 5:8, "For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light." This passage highlights the transformation from a state of spiritual darkness to one of enlightenment through Christ.

2. Moral Darkness: The Bible often uses darkness to describe moral corruption and evil. In John 3:19, Jesus states, "And this is the verdict: The Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness rather than the Light, because their deeds were evil." Here, darkness is equated with the rejection of Christ and the persistence in sinful behavior.

3. Divine Judgment: Darkness is also a metaphor for divine judgment. In the Old Testament, the Day of the Lord is depicted as a time of darkness and gloom. The prophet Joel declares, "The Day of the LORD is indeed great and very awesome, and who can endure it?" (Joel 2:11). This imagery underscores the severity and inescapability of God's judgment upon sin.

4. Trials and Suffering: The Psalms frequently use darkness to describe times of personal distress and suffering. Psalm 23:4 offers comfort in such times: "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me." Here, the "valley of the shadow of death" represents the darkest moments of life, yet the presence of God provides assurance and guidance.

5. Cosmic Darkness: In apocalyptic literature, darkness is a sign of cosmic upheaval and the end times. Jesus speaks of such events in Matthew 24:29, "Immediately after the tribulation of those days: ‘The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.’" This cosmic darkness signifies the dramatic changes that will accompany the return of Christ.

Theological Implications:

The concept of darkness in the Bible serves as a powerful reminder of the consequences of sin and the absence of God's presence. It calls believers to seek the light of Christ, who declares, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8:12). This promise assures Christians that through faith in Jesus, they can overcome the darkest aspects of life and live in the light of God's truth and love.

O Darkest Night that ever Fell!
... CHRISTMAS O darkest night that ever fell! tr., John Brownlie 8,6,8,6. I.
O darkest night that ever fell! Before the sun had set,. ...
/.../brownlie/hymns from the morningland/o darkest night that ever.htm

In the Darkest Ages of Romish Superstition, a Martial Spirit of ...
... Address 179: In the darkest ages of Romish superstition, a martial spirit
of zeal and glory for? In the darkest ages of Romish ...
/.../address 179 0 0 in the darkest.htm

O Darkest Night that ever Fell!
... PASSIONTIDE VIII O darkest night that ever fell! 8,6,8,6. O darkest night that ever
fell! Before the sun had set,. The light was blotted from the heavens,. ...
/.../brownlie/hymns of the russian church/viii o darkest night that.htm

God in Sore Straits.
... The Transfiguration: An Emergency Measure God in Sore Straits. The darkest
hour save only one has now come in Jesus' life. And that ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks about jesus/god in sore straits.htm

In Short, the New Education is as Harsh as the Old...
... and thwarted existences in all our ugly corners should merely be permitted to perceive
and expand; in short, enlightenment should be shed over darkest London. ...
/.../chesterton/whats wrong with the world/chapter 34 in short the.htm

O Woeful Hour! when from the Night
... IV. O woeful hour! O darkest day! The God-Man, still, entombed lay,. ... the Christ hath
risen; Hail Victor from the darkest prison! Up, up, my soul! ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/brownlie/hymns from the east/o woeful hour when from.htm

But Let us Agree, as You Wish, that There are Both Infernal ...
... by no means favourable to men, and presiding over misfortunes; and what cause, what
reason is there, that black victims, even [4859] of the darkest hue, should ...
/.../the seven books of arnobius against the heathen/20 but let us agree.htm

Visions of Future Glory
... In the darkest days of her long conflict with evil, the church of God has
been given revelations of the eternal purpose of Jehovah. ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 60 visions of future.htm

Light at Evening Time
... The world's darkest hour had come, when there was born in Bethlehem, of the house
of David, Jesus, the Kin, of the Jews, and the Saviour of men. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 62 1916/light at evening time.htm

The Festal Life
... Brethren, if we thought of life, and all its incidents, even when these are darkest
and most threatening, as being what it and they indeed are, His training of ...
/.../maclaren/romans corinthians to ii corinthians chap v/the festal life.htm

Darkest (3 Occurrences)
...Darkest (3 Occurrences). Jude 1:13 Violent waves of the sea, streaming with their
shame, wandering stars for whom the darkest night is kept in store for ever. ...
/d/darkest.htm - 7k

Black (52 Occurrences)
... 1. (a.) Destitute of light, or incapable of reflecting it; of the color of soot
or coal; of the darkest or a very dark color, the opposite of white ...
/b/black.htm - 24k

Lowest (28 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT). Psalms 88:6 You have laid me in the lowest pit,
in the darkest depths. (WEB KJV ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV). ...
/l/lowest.htm - 15k

Regions (22 Occurrences)
... regions of the sea. ... (DBY). Psalms 88:6 You have laid me in the lowest
pit, in the darkest depths. (See RSV). Isaiah 7:20 In that ...
/r/regions.htm - 12k

Darker (1 Occurrence)

/d/darker.htm - 6k

Darkish (1 Occurrence)

/d/darkish.htm - 6k

Slander (34 Occurrences)
... Slanderers and backbiters are mentioned in some of Paul's darkest catalogues of
evildoers (Romans 1:29, 30 2 Corinthians 12:20 2 Timothy 3:3). To refrain from ...
/s/slander.htm - 21k

Streaming (16 Occurrences)
... (WEY). Jude 1:13 Violent waves of the sea, streaming with their shame, wandering
stars for whom the darkest night is kept in store for ever. (BBE). ...
/s/streaming.htm - 11k

Strange (234 Occurrences)
... The greatest calamity of all befell them in that they were cut off childless,
which for every true Israelite was the darkest fate imaginable. ...
/s/strange.htm - 45k

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