Under Cover of Darkness

Who leave the paths of uprightness,
to walk in the ways of darkness;

Proverbs 2:14

To understand this verse we have to place it in its context. In the verses leading up to our proverb we learn that wisdom believed and applied preserves us from following in the footsteps of evil people.

The actions of evil people are then described to help us discern and then avoid their paths. They speak perverse things, behave wickedly and enjoy doing so. Their ways are called “ways of darkness.” Obviously this is a short read, but consider two things with me.

First, the destructive and violent ways of darkness have their foundation in Satan. The name “Satan” is more of a descriptive title than a name, it means “adversary.” An adversary initiates the conflict and directs the violence against his enemy. Satan has positioned himself as the adversary of God and His righteousness. He makes use of people who will yield to evil, and inflicts destruction and violence on anybody and anything.

Second, the “ways of darkness” are most commonly taking place in darkness. Those deeds are easily identifiable as evil because of the timing of activity. Jesus stated in John 3:19 that “men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” People who want to get away with their wickedness tend to do so under cover of darkness, people who try to do good deeds tend to choose the openness of light.

When understanding and discerning the times, understanding the nature of man (fully corrupted by sin and not “basically good”) and the nature of darkness help us understand the nature of things we’re seeing on the news.

-C.R.

There are a ton of scriptures to consider. I would highly recommend a word study on “darkness.”

Ephesians 5:11:
And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

Ephesians 6:12
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.