Wednesday, July 3

Out Of The Shadows

 

Psa. 30:4        Sing praises to the LORD, O you his saints,

          and give thanks to his holy name.

5      For his anger is but for a moment,

          and his favor is for a lifetime.

      Weeping may tarry for the night,

          but joy comes with the morning.

 

     Rembrandt mastered the technique of using light and shadow in his paintings. One of Rembrandt’s most famous paintings is The Return of the Prodigal Son completed in 1669. To the right stands the older brother with his hands folded in judgment unable to understand and accept the compassion of the father toward his younger son. He cannot comprehend what’s going on. A little to the right of the older son sits a man darkened a bit more in the shadows. He could represent the wisdom of the culture judging the situation. Culturally, a son who would have disowned his father should in no way be welcomed back. Further back and darkened more by the shadows are two figures representing the crowd that was gathered. “What is this father doing? Why would he welcome back this reprobate?”

     Though the shadows and figures within the shadows are a part of the painting, the light is cast on the father and the prodigal son. In the light we see the father’s hands—one larger than the other. The right hand represents the nurturing hand of a mother, and the left represents that of a protective, loving father.

     In the light is also the prodigal son; his clothes worn and ragged, his sandals barely held together. Whatever else is going on in the shadows, it’s the father welcoming back his son that’s in the light. No judgment. No condemnation. Simply forgiveness, love, and compassion.

     God indeed disciplines His people. He doesn’t like sin because it separates Him from His creatures. It wasn’t God’s fault. It was our fault. We created the shadows in which we find ourselves in this world. In God’s anger He needed to pronounce judgment, and because of this there are times we find ourselves in situations where all we can do is lament and repent.

     The final shadow of this world is death and grave. No one can escape this. Even with all the modern medicine and technology available, we will all be engulfed in Death’s shadow.

     As real as this is it’s still merely in the shadow. The night always gives way to the light of the morning. It has to because light is stronger than darkness. From the shadows of suffering and tragedy God shines the Light of Jesus. In the shadow of the cross is the certain life of Christ’s resurrection. Shadow and light come together in Christ Jesus your Lord and Savior. Indeed, this world including you and me, must live under God’s judgment and discipline because of sin and death. Yet as King David proclaims in prayer:

For his anger is but for a moment,

          and his favor is for a lifetime.

      Weeping may tarry for the night,

          but joy comes with the morning.