Treasures of Darkness
I recently started another passage through the Psalms. I was struck by the contrast of two Psalms being place next to each other. Psalm 9 is a joyful experience no matter how many times you have read it. But when I went on to Psalm 10 the whole atmosphere is as different from Psalm 9 as night is from day. I do not question one word in either Psalm but it reminds me of the song “You only built me up to let me down.”
Joy and I have used Oswald Chambers’ “My Utmost for His Highest” in our morning devotions for many years. On the very morning that I was reading and meditating on these Psalms, I opened the devotion book and the title I saw was Treasures of Darkness. What kind of darkness can bring in treasures? The first passage that came to mind was John 3:19 “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.”
The following is from Oswald Chambers that, though written more than a hundred years ago, takes on a position very applicable in the rapid development of nearly every part of our lives.
“It is the glory of God to conceal His treasures
in embarrassments, i.e., in things that involve us in difficulty.”
I will give thee the treasures of darkness. Isaiah 45:3
We would never have suspected that treasures were hidden there, and in order to get them we have to go through things that involve us in perplexity. There is nothing more wearying to the eye than perpetual sunshine, and the same is true spiritually. The valley of the shadow gives us time to reflect, and we learn to praise God for the valley because in it our soul is restored in its communion with God. God gives us a new revelation of His kindness in the valley of the shadow. What are the days and the experiences that have furthered us most? The days of green pastures, of absolute ease? No, they have their value; but the days that have furthered us most in character are the days of stress and cloud.