An Advent Devotional: Psalm 18:28
The Lord Lights My Darkness
“It is you who light my lamp; the LORD, my God, lights up my darkness.”
Devotional
The Hebrew word for “light” in the first clause, tā-ʾîr, comes from the root ʾwr, meaning to dawn, shine, or ignite. This imagery is rich and transformative, evoking the power of God’s light to pierce the deepest darkness. The psalmist’s words reflect a profound truth: God’s presence brings not only clarity and direction but also the strength to endure and overcome life’s challenges. The theologian Karl Barth describes Psalm 18:28 as a vivid expression of God’s empowering work in the life of the believer (see Barth, CD IV.1, pp. 605–608). For Barth, the image of God lighting the psalmist’s lamp is not merely poetic—it’s a declaration of divine grace breaking into human frailty. The “lamp” represents hope, vitality, and renewal, illuminated by God’s redemptive and restorative presence. The darkness that the psalmist describes encompasses the weight of Sin, despair, and external threats, but God’s light transforms this reality, offering new strength and a future filled with promise.
This turning point in the psalmist’s journey—from despair to confidence—reflects the heart of the gospel message. God’s grace intervenes decisively, lifting us out of darkness and equipping us with the power of the Holy Spirit to face life with renewed courage—a courage to simply exist as the beloved creature of God. Following this verse, the psalmist declares, “By you I can outrun a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall” (Ps. 18:29). These words reveal the vitality and agency that flow from God’s intervention—a surge of confidence rooted not in human ability but in the assurance of God’s strength. For Barth, this movement from darkness to light exemplifies justification, the transformative work of God’s grace in the believer’s life. This light is both a present reality and a foretaste of the ultimate hope we have in God’s justice and mercy. Even as we wrestle with sin and struggle in the here and now, the psalmist’s declaration reminds us that God’s light dispels every shadow, guiding us toward redemption and restoration.
At its heart, Psalm 18:28 reflects what Barth calls the “nevertheless” of faith—a defiant trust in God’s faithfulness even in the midst of darkness. To say, “It is you who light my lamp,” is to proclaim the certainty of God’s transformative grace, which not only illuminates our immediate circumstances but also casts its light into the future. This grace enables us to live with hope, even when the path ahead feels uncertain. Barth connects the psalmist’s testimony to the broader witness of the Psalms as a whole. The Psalter often reflects the tension between human sinfulness and divine mercy, portraying the lived experience of a community seeking God’s pardon and renewal. Many psalms recount Israel’s failures but juxtapose them with God’s steadfast love, reminding us that God’s mercy endures beyond our shortcomings.
This movement—from despair to thanksgiving, from darkness to light—characterizes the life of faith. Even in moments of confession and struggle, the psalms declare the assurance of God’s grace. As Barth observes, this is not just individual testimony but a cosmic proclamation: God’s light ultimately triumphs over sin, suffering, and death. Psalm 18:28 invites us into this proclamation. It reminds us that, no matter how deep the shadows in our lives may feel, God’s light is with us, illuminating our path, renewing our strength, and pointing us toward the ultimate hope of redemption. Trust in the One who lights your lamp and transforms your darkness, for God’s grace is sufficient to guide you through today and into the promise of tomorrow.
Prayer
“Lord, our God and Father, give to many, to all, and to us as well, that we may celebrate Christmas like this: that in complete thankfulness, utter humility, and then complete joy and confidence we may come to the one whom you have sent, and in whom you yourself have come to us. Clean out the many things in us that, now that the hour has come, have become impossible for us, can no longer belong to us, may, must, and will fall away from us, by virtue of your beloved Son, our Lord and Savior, entering into our midst and creating order.
Have mercy also on all of those who either do not yet or do not fully know you and your kingdom, who perhaps once knew everything and have either forgotten, misunderstood, or even denied it! Have mercy on all of humankind, who today are once again especially plagued, threatened, and haunted by so much foolishness! Enlighten the thoughts of those in both the East and the West who are in power and who, as appears to be the case, are today in complete confusion and despair! Give the rulers and representatives of the people, the judges, teachers, and bureaucrats, give even the newspaper reporters in our homeland, the insight and sobriety that are necessary for their responsible work! Place the right, necessary, and helpful words on the lips of those who have to preach during this Christmas season, and open then also the ears and hearts of those who hear them! Comfort and encourage those who are sick, both in body and spirit, in the hospitals, as well as the prisoners, and those who are distressed, abandoned, or despairing! Help them with what alone can truly help them and all of us: the clarity of your Word and the quiet work of your Holy Spirit.
We thank you that we are permitted to know that we do not pray and will never pray to you in vain. We thank you that you have let your light rise, that it shines in the darkness, and that the darkness will not overcome it. We thank you that you are our God, and that we may be your people. Amen.”
