February 2023

The following is a possible framework for the Witnessing of the Word.  It can be personalised or altered:  its purpose is to serve as an example of how this Saying might be used primarily in the context of a Prayer Group, but it may be used by individuals too.  It is not intended to be definitive.  In the context of a group:  the periods of silence should be appropriate for your group – probably not less than 5 minutes, or more than 15 minutes.

Saying for the month: ‘I form the light and create darkness’ Isaiah 45. 7 (NIV)

To begin the exercise, first spend a short while in relaxation and preparing to be still; you may want to relax your way through your muscles or you may find it helpful to become aware of the sounds around you and then put them aside as you offer this time of prayer to God.

Say this introductory invitation to prayer, then keep a further minute or two of silence:  ‘Come to Me, all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest’ (Matthew 11.28).

Introduction to the first silence – a preparation for listening with the mind:

‘I form the light and create darkness’. 

It would appear that the Book of Isaiah covers various periods in Israel’s history, including when the Assyrians had devastated Palestine, and later, in King Cyrus the Persian’s day, when the Israelites were in exile in Babylon, which itself was under threat, and eventually fell to Cyrus.  Their sinfulness and neglect of God has resulted in their captivity.  But God has plans to rescue them, and in this Section of Isaiah, He uses a foreigner, King Cyrus.   The Prophet says that God’s support of Cyrus has as its purpose that he might know that Israel’s God is the Lord.   Yet it is suggested that Cyrus denies Him; in verse 5 God says ‘I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged Me’.  However, Chapter 44, verse 6 states that ‘God is Israel’s King and Redeemer, the Lord Almighty’, and He may use whomever He wishes to accomplish His plan.   He enables this foreigner, Cyrus, to round up His children of Israel, and return them to their true home in Judah. 

In the verses surrounding our Saying, God assures His people that He plans to rebuild Judah, Jerusalem and His Temple.  By using Cyrus, God vindicates Israel as His people in the eyes of the pagan peoples subdued by this king.   This points to a final challenge to paganism, the offer of salvation to people everywhere, and the ultimate submission of the whole world to God’s sovereign rule.

In verse 7 from which our Saying comes, and apparently speaking to Cyrus directly, God states that He is the Creator of our world: ‘I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster, I, the Lord, do all these things’.  God states here that as Creator of the Universe, He reigns supreme.  

As we try to understand these words from the Prophet Isaiah in their Biblical context, we now still our minds, and repeat these words in this first Silence.  We take this Saying into our minds, allowing the Saying to speak to us:  ‘I form the light and create darkness’.

A time is now kept for silence of the mind – perhaps between 5 and 15 minutes.  The silence concludes with a short thanksgiving, and/or feel free to repeat the Saying.

The first silence ends with the words:  ‘Father, we thank You for the gift of Your Word’.

Introduction to the second silence – a preparation for listening with the heart:

‘I form the light, and create darkness’.

In Genesis it is implied that God fashions both light and darkness.   Whilst the light is called ‘good’, there is no suggestion that the darkness is evil, for it also has its purpose, its function.  Sleeping at night, in the darkness, is most people’s preferred choice.  On the subject of ‘befriending the darkness’, I once heard a Theologian speak of the time we spend in our mother’s womb as a happy time, one in which we had no fear of the dark.  Or, as Isaiah puts it so beautifully in verse 3, although in a different context: ‘I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places’.  What a wonderful description for a baby! 

At Creation, God created both light and darkness.  However, as all bereaved people know, the light of God’s Peace, of acceptance, takes a long time to arrive, amid the darkness of grief and loss.  This Saying, ‘I form the light, and create darkness’, whilst referring to God’s Creation in Genesis, may have a very personal and deep meaning for those who’ve experienced great loss, perhaps the death of a loved one, or personal illness.  At these times, when we are at our most vulnerable, struggling in our own strength, Jesus’ words of Peace from St. John 14.27 are so comforting and healing: ‘Peace I leave with you, My Peace I give you’ and also  ‘Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid’.  During our times of contemplative prayer, we can practise breathing into our deepest being, that most precious of God’s gifts - His Peace, His Light - and breathing out our pain and darkness.  Of course, it is not easy; we all know the enormous truth of that.  But if we pray for, and allow the Spirit of God to work within us, the miracle of His Peace will seep into our troubled hearts.  Whilst in captivity, the Israelites had to trust in the Word of God, that He would rescue them, and return them to their homeland.   So too we must trust that God wants to, and will shine His Light into the dark places in our hearts.

Now we take this Word into our hearts, as we allow Jesus’ words to speak in us, to let it touch us and let it work more deeply upon our lives.

A time is now kept for silence of the heart – perhaps between 5 and 15 minutes.

The second silence ends with the words: ‘Father, we thank You that your Word is alive and within us’.

Introduction to the time of Intercession – taking God’s Word outwards into the world.

‘I form the light, and create darkness’.

Say the name of a person or a group of people, and after a short pause, repeat the Saying.   For example: ‘Alison and your family … “I form the light, and create darkness” ’.

As we allow the Word to speak through us we might direct Jesus’ Word towards those people and situations where there is suffering, hurt and an absence of joy and where abiding in Christ would bring comfort.  Conclude this time of Intercession with words of thanksgiving:  Father, we thank You that Your Word has gone out through us to those for whom we pray.

The Conclusion

Feel free to use the Fellowship Prayer (below) or another closing prayer to conclude your time of contemplative prayer:

Loving Heavenly Father, we thank You for all Your unsearchable riches which pour forth from You as light from the sun, in boundless profusion and generosity, whether received, ignored or rejected.  And now we offer to You, in so far as we are able, as an emptiness to be filled with Your Divine fullness, ourselves, our souls and bodies; all that we are, all that we have and all that we do.   Amen.

You may wish to say the Grace together before departing.