Light – “Or” in Hebrew represents the presence of G-d. It represents His Sh’kenah Glory (The visible presence of G-d). Our Messiah is the Sh’kenah of G-d, His visible presence given to the world to show us the way to live and the way to Him. Just as humans need sunlight for physical and mental health, we need G-d’s light for physical, mental and spiritual health.
Most people know that sunlight allows the body to create certain critical vitamins and those without enough light can become ill. Similarly, people in Northern climates during winter, when there is little daylight, suffer often from depression. Likewise, we need G-d’s light and without it our well being is affected.
Light is central in so many passages of scripture, from Genesis to Revelation. Indeed. light is noted over 200 times.
Here are some key groupings, passages and some key meanings on light:
Light in creation Genesis 1:3-4: “And G-d said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light. G-d saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness.”
Light is introduced at the beginning of creation, first with G-d’s light. G-d calls light good! Here begins the greater unfolding of Light in reference to God that will be woven throughout scripture. We will see that Light represents G-d, Righteousness and Messiah.
Light in the tabernacle (now remember the Eternal Light over the Torah Ark in all Traditional Synagogues) Exodus 39:37: “The pure gold lampstand with its row of lamps and all its accessories, and the oil for the light.”
The Light always burned to represent G-d’s presence. The Menorah (7 branch candle or oil lamp) was commanded in great detail in scripture. They were to burn shining forth light. The Jewish Holy Day of Chanukah (Feast of Light) is a commemoration of G-d’s light being rekindled in the Temple after the forces of darkness were defeated in the Macabbean revolt. Many Christians think of Chanukah being not of G-d. But that is exactly the opposite of the truth.
Chanukah is about G-d’s people being delivered. For if the forces of darkness had prevailed, the Messiah could not have come into the world.
G-d being Light
o 2Samuel 22:29- You are my lamp, O LORD; the LORD turns my darkness into light.
o Job 29:3- when His lamp shone upon my head and by His light I walked through darkness!
o Psalm 4:6- Many are asking, “Who can show us any good?” Let the light of your face shine upon us, O LORD.
o Psalm 27:1- Of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation–whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life–of whom shall I be afraid?
o Psalm 36:9- For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.
o Psalm 76:4- You are resplendent with light, more majestic than mountains rich with game.
o Psalm 89:15- Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O LORD.
o Isaiah 58:8- Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.
o Isaiah 60:3- Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
o Micah 7:8- Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light.
o Rev 21:23-24- The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it.
o Rev 22:5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.
Scripture says G-d is light (righteousness) and there is no shadow of turning. Above we see G-d’s righteousness lights our path to walking in righteousness. We cannot claim to belong to Him, or be like Him if we do not strive to live in His righteousness. Righteousness is one on G-d’s key attributes. Many times in modern times people stress G-d’s Love, Mercy and Grace; but not His Holiness, His Justice, His Righteousness. To only see Love Mercy and Grace is not to embrace the true G-d, but only part of Him. It is like saying to your spouse or child, I love your arm, but not the rest of you. It is up to us to embrace all of Him.
Light being righteousness / G-d’s commandments being light
o Proverbs 6:23- For these commands are a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the corrections of discipline are the way to life.
o Proverbs 13:9- The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.
o John 3:21- But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.”
o 2Corinthians 6:14- Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?
o Ephesians 5:8- For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.
o Ephesians 5:9- (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth)
o 2Peter 1:19- And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
o 1John 1:5- This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.
o 1John 1:7- But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Yeshua (Jesus), his Son, purifies us from all sin.
Many today, even who call themselves believers do not live righteous lives. They are convinced that Messiah’s sacrifice covers their sin and they do not have to be righteous. This is so far from the truth – we often wonder how we got there. It is not speaking in tongues that shows we belong to G-d (though tongues are a valid gift in scripture) but living in righteousness and being Holy. G-d says, “Be Holy for I am Holy”! Messiah says, “If you love me keep my commandments”. Yochanan (John) the beloved Emissary wrote: “Sin is a violation of Torah (the law or commandments) and anyone who keeps sinning has not part in G-d”.
Do we really believe we can live in unrighteousness (open rebellion to G-d) and G-d will just pat us on the head and say “it’s ok”. That is not what my Bible says.
Shining the light
o Matthew 5:15- Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
o 1Peter 2:9- But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
Light is G-d’s presence; it is righteousness, and it is His Glory. We, as His followers, are commanded to let that light shine. We are priests of righteousness, with a responsibility to live in a way that brings glory to G-d.
Light as resurrection
Isaiah 53:11- After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.
Light is seen in scripture for resurrection, Life from the Dead. In the famous passage in Isaiah 53: 10 where it says of Messiah, “He will see His seed prosper”, and an alternate source in the Dead Sea Scrolls actually says, “He will see a great light: the light of G-d’s resurrection of Messiah.”
Absence of light being wickedness or sin
o Isaiah 5:20- Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.
o John 3:19- This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.
o John 3:20- Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.
Sin and unrighteousness are like a cancer infecting our body. And just like cancer, they must be treated if we are to survive and thrive. The cure for sin is righteousness; the cure for a peaceful life in G-d is walking as He would have us walk. We know what is bad for our body; likewise, we should know what is bad for our soul.
Light in/of Messiah
o Luke 2:32- a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.
o John 1:9- the true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.
o John 8:12- When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
o John 9:5-While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
o John 12:35- Then Yeshua (Jesus) told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going.
o John 12:36- Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light.” When he had finished speaking, Yeshua (Jesus) left and hid himself from them.
o John 12:46 -I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.
o 2 Corinthians 4:6- For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Messiah.
In Messiah G-d’s Glory dwells. Through the Messiah that Glory can dwell in us.
As the times grow darker, that light in us shines brighter. If we want that light to shine brightly then it is incumbent on us the live as Holy vessels, full of G-d’s righteousness, reflecting His Light.
G-d’s nature
Our Rabbi’s speak of G-d presenting Himself to mankind in 3 ways:
1. G-d (HaShem, the Father) who is infinite,
2. The Sh’kinah (Glory, visible presence, Brightness/Light, the part of Messiah that is from G-d) that is visible and man can see and interact with: seen in the burning bush, the Pillar of Fire in Exodus, the Glory of G-d on the Ark dwelling between the Cherubim, and lastly in Messiah.
3. The Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Breath or Spirit) which while not seen is a presence that we can feel.
These references to light are in some ways analogous to is referred to as the Trinity. The primary difference being that HaShem (The Father) is all and the Ruach and Sh’kinah reside within G-d (are a part of G-d), taking direction from G-d.
Once we become part of G-d’s family, He puts His light in us. He puts His nature in us. He puts His Ruach (Spirit) in us. His Glory, seen in Messiah, is now part of us. Just as sunlight is necessary for life, G-d’s light is necessary for Life, Eternal and while we dwell on this earth. Without that light we are anemic, sickly, not reaching our potential in G-d. For eternity we will be forever in darkness without the light of G-d.
Sons of Light
In ancient Israel, at the time of the Messiah, there were a group of people called the Essenes (they are believed to have produced the Dead Sea Scrolls). The Essenes separated themselves from the Temple believing it to have been corrupted. They were called Sons of Light and opposed all forces not from G-d (called the Sons of Darkness). They believed that an approaching battle would occur with the Forces of G-d (The Light) would stand against the forces of Darkness (Satan and the Worldly system). Today in Jerusalem you can visit the Shrine of the Book and see a carving representing this struggle.
This struggle represents Armageddon (the final battle) but also represents a personal battle we all face. Do we want to be part of G-d’s Sons and resist the darkness in our daily lives as Messiah commanded? Or do we want to live like the world and be Sons of Darkness?
If we want to be Sons of Light (Sons and Daughters of G-d), we must walk in the light. The light is His presence and righteousness. In each of us, who belong to Him, a little of that divine light dwells. So we should not “put it under a bowl (Matt 5:15)” but place it on a lamp stand so it shines through us for all to see!
