Where Darkness Dwells - Soul Choice Ministries

There is an interesting verse in the Old Testament that lets us know what darkness entails. There are dark places on the earth that attract evil and sin, such as dimly lit nightclubs, dark alleyways, underground tunnels, and caves where hostages are tortured. Criminals also commit more acts of violence at night.

Now, let’s look at the verse:

Psalm 74:20
“For the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty.”

The word cruelty in Strong’s Concordance, #2555, is the Hebrew word Hamas. It means: ruthlessness, violence, cruel hatred, destruction. In other words, many physically dark places are filled with ruthlessness, violence, cruel hatred, and destruction. These regions on the earth usually attract evil—and hell is one of those dark places. We will look at hell shortly.

We see in the next verses that evil or sin often operates in the darkness:

Job 24:15
“The eye of the adulterer waits for the twilight, saying, ‘No eye will see me’; and he disguises his face.”

Proverbs 7:8–10
“A young man devoid of understanding, Passing along the street near her corner; And he took the path to her house in the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night. And there a woman met him…”

Proverbs 4:19
“The way of the wicked is like darkness; They do not know what makes them stumble.”

In John 3:19, Jesus said,
“The light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.”

This is why so many people refuse to repent and come to God—they enjoy their sin. Even the animal kingdom preys on its victims at night.

Psalm 104:20
“You make darkness, and it is night, in which all the beasts of the forest creep about.”

Have you ever moved boxes and cleaned out a dark shed or garage? Ever find spiders and insects hiding in the dark places that the boxes and other clutter provided?

Look at prisons—some are more like dungeons in certain countries. They may have minimal light, no windows, and some are underground or located in caves.

Isaiah 42:7
“To bring out prisoners from the prison, those who sit in darkness from the prison house.”

Caves on earth often have bats, rats, snakes, and spiders. Dark alleys are where many crimes occur. Bars and nightclubs are almost always dark because sin likes to hide. Just turn on a bright light in a nightclub, and most people will quickly go home. They know they are doing evil and don’t like being exposed.

Psalm 90:8
“You have set our iniquities before You, our secret sins in the light of Your countenance.”

Now, the worst physical dark place on earth—by far—is hell. Here are just six verses that mention its darkness:

Matthew 25:30
“Cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Psalm 49:19
“He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light.”

Job 17:13
“If I wait for (hell) as my house, if I make my bed in the darkness…”

Lamentations 3:6
“He has set me in dark places, like the dead of long ago.”

Psalm 143:3
“He has made me dwell in darkness, like those who have long been dead.”

1 Samuel 2:9
“The wicked shall be silent in darkness.”

The darkness in hell is only one of its horrible aspects. To live in total and complete darkness for all eternity is truly horrifying—beyond what we can imagine.

Exodus 10:21 mentions a darkness that can be felt.

In addition, dark places can exist within the human soul. Unresolved hurts, trauma, anger, bitterness, and hatred can lead to sickness, disease, physical death, and even spiritual death. Jesus gave this insightful verse:

Matthew 6:22–23
“The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness.”

Notice: if we, as Christians, keep our eye focused on the Word of God—or make it our priority—our whole life will be full of light and reflect Christ. Rather than walk in darkness and be consumed with earthly things (as the world is), we will live focused on God’s Kingdom, bearing the evidence of love and good works. We will walk in light and in the understanding of God’s ways.

Believer’s Bible Commentary, p. 1226:
“The good eye belongs to the person whose motives are pure, who has a single desire for God’s interests, and who is willing to accept Christ’s teachings literally.”

God’s light—His Word—gives us the understanding we need to navigate through life.

Psalm 119:130
“The entrance of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.”

Proverbs 6:23
“For the commandment is a lamp, and the law a light…”

It is interesting that many diseases show up as dark spots on an X-ray. In some cases, laser light is used to remove disease. Those who harbor darkness in their soul to the point of even denying the Lord Jesus Christ are often blinded by the devil—or by their own pride.

As Christians, we are called to help rescue people from the broad road leading to destruction and hell. The Christian’s mission in this world remains the same as what the Lord Jesus told the apostle Paul:

Acts 26:18
“To open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.”

The Lord’s desire is to see as many people as possible receive salvation, avoid hell, and enjoy heaven—and His love—for all eternity.