Gen.15:12. And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo an horror of great darkness fell upon him.
Ex.20:21 And the People stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.
1 Kings 8:12 Then spake Solomon, "The Lord said that He would dwell in the thick darkness.
Ps. 97:2 clouds and darkness are round about Him: Righteousness And judgment Are the habitation of His throne.
When I think of darkness I think of Satan. What does all this darkness mean?
.........Ping
I haven't forgotten you.....I have been thinking about this and I see that [Genesis 15:12] is the only scripture that defines darkness as 2825. chashekah (khash-ay-kaw') darkness; figuratively, misery. In other words.....a state of mind. The other scriptures show it to be 6205. araphel (ar-aw-fel')gloom (as of a lowering sky. In other words....actual dimming of light.
"Chashekah" is also used four more times in Hebrew scripture: [Psalm 82:5] They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course.
[Psalm 139:12] Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.
[Isaiah 8:22] And they shall look unto the earth; and behold trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish; and they shall be driven to darkness.
And.....[Isaiah 50:10] Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God.
I think we would both agree that the darkness written about here would be "spiritual" in nature.....as in....not following truth (light).
On the other hand the places in scripture where "araphel" is used show it describing actual cloudy, gloomy conditions .....sometimes even speaking of the cloud where God had hidden himself from the Israelites [Deuteronomy 4:11/5:22].
When I think of darkness I think of Satan. What does all this darkness mean?
There is no doubt that Satan would love to keep humanity in the dark as he has been doing....very successfully....for some time now. Satan was once described as the "Morning Star" [Isaiah 14:12]....hardly an example of darkness, but now he is the "Prince of Darkness"....so to speak and his cohorts certainly dwell in darkness today [2 Peter 2:4] For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment.
[1 John 1:5] This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
There indeed appears to be a stark difference in the road we will ultimately choose.....and separation from God will be eternal darkness.