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It is written in our Scriptures: "God is light and in him is no darkness at all" (1 John 1:5). Our Savior is called "the Light of the world" (אוֹר הָעוֹלָם), the overarching Reality that gives light to every soul who is born (John 1:9). As the Source of all light, his power is irrepressible, invincible, and overcomes every shade of darkness. Yeshua is the primordial "Logos" (ΛΟΓΟΣ), the underlying "logic" of all of creation.
Unlike the transient radiance of the heavenly bodies, the Divine Light remains constant and supreme over all of creation, without any diminution or variation: God is the "Father of Lights" (אֲבִי הָאוֹרוֹת, James 1:17). And just as we know that the sun still shines even on the most overcast of days, so we understand that the Divine Presence is always there – always giving, always shining, always loving us... God is be'kol makom (בְּכָל מָקוֹם).
We can trust in the power of our God to help us, since His radiance and truth pervade the depths of darkness to enlighten our way (Psalm 112:4). As Yeshua said of his mission, "I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness" (John 12:46). O precious LORD our God, let your light shine upon us...
יְהֹוָה יְקָרֵב אֱלֹהֵינוּ, הָאֵר אוֹרְךָ עָלֵינוּ
"O precious LORD our God, let your light shine upon us..."
Allow the light of God's love shine within you brightly. As Yeshua our Savior said, "Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, such is the one who loves me. And the one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and will manifest myself to him" (John 14:21). Note that the Greek word for "manifest" means to "shine inside" (i.e., ἐμφανίζω, from ἐν, "in" and φαίνω, "shine"), indicating that the revelation would be inward light of the Divine Presence. Indeed, the Hebrew word for "praise" (i.e., tehillah: תהילה) comes from a verb that means "to shine" (i.e., halal: הלל), from which we derive the word "halo." Similarly, the word "aura" comes from the Hebrew word "ohr" (אוֹר) meaning "light." Let your inner light shine before others so that they may see your good works and give honor to your Father who is in heaven" (Matt. 5:16).
Hebrew Lesson
Psalm 67:1 Hebrew reading (click):
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