Well might the sun in darkness hide
And shut His glories in
When Christ the mighty Maker died
For man the creature’s sin
Alas And Did My Savior Bleed 1707
By: Isaac Watts (1674-1748)
ref. by Ralph E. Hudson, 1885
Listen to this modern version of this penitent hymn as you prepare to ponder the lyrics. Please make certain to enjoy the video below.
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Everyone, enjoy this video, and the transcript below.
Transcript may be found below, at the end of the blog.
As we continue our journey through this penitent text and hymn, make each stanza your own by praying through it. Let’s tune our hearts.
Was It An Eclipse?
Though there has been much speculation over whether this was an actual eclipse, a partial eclipse or something else, one thing seems certain, something happened to the sun in the middle of the day. Some translations go so far as to particularly mention the sun, but many do not. This leads me to believe there was a darkening happening, and it certainly had a physical dimension, but it seems to have been much more.
Well might the sun in darkness hide
Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. Matthew 27:45 ESV
As Jesus hung on the cross a darkness covered the whole land. Though we do not know exactly what the gospel writers mean by this, it seems more than just poetic. A heaviness undoubtedly permeated those three hours while Jesus suffered on the cross. Think about that.
From noon until 3 in the afternoon the sun hid, as Jesus hung on the cross and became sin for us. Imagine what that must have been like for those first disciples. So catastrophic was Jesus’ suffering and death even the celestial orbs took note. Thank Him for enduring that darkness.
RESONATE!
If Jesus had not surrendered to the Father’s will this darkness would not have come. If it had not, we would still be in darkness with no hope of ever reaching God’s light. Jesus changed that. Thank Jesus for enduring that darkness.
Or A Much Deeper Darkness
Though it seems there was a physical darkness that occurred during those last hours on the cross for Jesus, it may have been the expression of a much deeper and more sinister darkness. A spiritual one. Good swallowing up evil, but evil was not going down without a fight.
And shut His glories in
For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. Hebrews 2:10 ESV
It was fitting that this darkness would be paralleled by that which Jesus was battling. He was about to experience separation from the Father as He became sin for us. The suffering of the One who made all things would bring many to glory. Thank Him if you are one of them.
His glory somehow became shut up as He bore our curse upon that tree. Since the opening of the skies at His baptism, on through His transfiguration there had been a glory which rested on Jesus throughout His ministry. Something happened to it during this period so significant was these moments on the cross.
RESONATE!
Take a few moments to ponder the weightiness of these hours. Eternity hung in the balance and Jesus was open wide the gates of heaven through the work He was doing. Bless the Father for allowing it.
Jesus, thank You for enduring the darkness of the cross. Your sacrifice allows You to bring me to glory, along with everyone else who believes. May I never grow weary of giving You praise. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
Grateful Tuning!
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Video 49.3 Transcript, 26.3 Reframed
Welcome to Tuesday Tunings at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let’s tune our hearts.
Well might the sun in darkness hide
And shut His glories in
When Christ the mighty Maker died
For man the creature’s sin
And hide it did from noon until 3 in the afternoon, as Jesus hung on the cross and became sin for us. Imagine what that must have been like for those first disciples. So catastrophic was Jesus’ suffering and death even the celestial orbs took note. Thank Him for enduring that darkness.
Jesus, thank You for enduring that darkness.
But even worse than the darkening of the land would have been the spiritual darkness that must have settled in with it as Jesus suffered. His glory somehow became shut up as He bore our curse upon that tree. Separation from the Father had to be the worst. Bless the Father for allowing it.
Father, thank You for allowing this agony.
Scripture clearly tells us that Christ made all things and in Him all things hold together. To think that the One who made it all would die for His creation is almost more than our feeble minds can comprehend, yet we know it is true. Thank Jesus for dying.
Jesus, thank You for dying.
If the Spirit did not reveal to us the significance of Christ’s work in our redemption we would not believe it, would not even realize our need for a Savior. But thanks be to God, He has revealed it to us. Thank the Spirit for doing His work of revealing our sin and Christ’s salvation.
Spirit, thank You for revealing my sin and Christ’s salvation.
Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has surfaced in your heart, or just listen to what He is saying to you, then we will sing once more.
Sing
Take the awareness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond. Until next time, Be Resonant.
The post That Time the Middle of the Day Was Dark appeared first on Resonant 7.
Image Attributions
Well Might the Sun in Darkness Hide – https://pixabay.com/photos/eclipses-solar-sun-astronomy-434338/
And Shut His Glories In – https://pixabay.com/photos/solar-eclipse-sun-clouds-astronomy-2667048/
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