Dreadful and Great Darkness: A Lesson in Suffering and Hope

The Dreadful and Great Darkness in the Old Testament

The phrase 'dreadful and great darkness' first appears in Job 3:8, where it vividly captures the depth of human anguish and the perceived absence of divine presence.

In Job 3:8, the speaker implores the day of his birth to be shrouded in 'darkness and shadow of death,' expressing a deep sense of hopelessness and alienation from God. This imagery reflects not only personal despair but also a cosmic struggle, where darkness becomes a metaphor for the absence of divine favor. The phrase encapsulates the human experience of suffering without clear cause, resonating with the ancient Israelite understanding of God’s sovereignty over both creation and human fate.

This symbolism aligns with broader Old Testament motifs, such as the judgment of Pharaoh’s Egypt through 'thick darkness' in Exodus 10:21-23, where darkness serves as a tool of divine retribution. Such imagery underscores the tension between God’s holiness and human sinfulness, framing darkness as both a consequence of moral failure and a prelude to potential redemption through divine intervention.

The Dreadful Darkness in the New Testament and Jesus' Role

The New Testament reinterprets 'dreadful and great darkness' through the crucifixion, where Jesus transforms it into a symbol of redemptive suffering.

In Mark 15:33-34, darkness envelops the land for three hours as Jesus dies, echoing OT motifs but recontextualizing them: this darkness signifies not divine abandonment but the bearing of humanity’s sin. Jesus’ cry, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?' (Psalm 22:1), links his experience to ancient laments while revealing God’s solidarity with human anguish. Unlike the judgment in Exodus 10 or Job’s despair, this darkness becomes a moment of atonement, where divine presence confronts sin rather than withdrawing from it. Theologically, it marks the climax of God’s plan to reconcile creation through Christ’s sacrifice.

This darkness at Calvary underscores Jesus as the fulfillment of OT symbols - he absorbs the judgment that separates humans from God, making a 'new covenant' possible (Jeremiah 31:31). The torn temple veil (Matthew 27:51) further signals restored access to divine presence, even in the midst of suffering.

Jesus’ resurrection reframes the 'great darkness' as a prelude to hope, directly addressing Job’s cry for deliverance. Job longed for an end to darkness (Job 14:21-22). However, Christ’s victory over death demonstrates that God’s redemptive work transcends even the deepest despair, offering a future where darkness is overcome by light (Revelation 21:4).

What the Dreadful Darkness Means for Us Today

The biblical imagery of 'dreadful and great darkness' is deeply relevant to today’s struggles with existential despair and spiritual disorientation. It bridges ancient cries of anguish to modern longings for meaning.

In a world where suffering often feels senseless, this symbol reminds us that darkness is not the end of God’s story. Job’s lament (Job 3:8) echoes modern experiences of grief and abandonment, yet the New Testament recontextualizes such darkness through Christ’s crucifixion. Mark 15:33-34 describes the three-hour eclipse at Calvary as a moment where Jesus bore the weight of sin, transforming divine judgment into redemptive sacrifice. This contrast teaches that God does not abandon us in darkness but walks through it, offering hope that even our deepest despair can be met with His reconciling presence and ultimate triumph over death.

Going Deeper

To deepen your understanding of 'dreadful and great darkness,' explore how light and darkness contrast in John’s Gospel, particularly in John 1:5 and 3:19-20.

John’s portrayal of darkness as resistance to truth (John 3:19-20) offers a lens to interpret the symbolic weight of darkness in Scripture. For further study on Job’s theology of suffering, consider scholarly commentaries such as *Job* by Gordon D. Fee or *The Theology of the Book of Job* by John A. McLaughlin, which examine how darkness and divine silence intersect with human longing for justice and redemption.