- I Timothy 6:15-16 " ...the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach..."
- James 1:17 " ...the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."
- John 12:35 "Then Jesus saith unto them...he that walketh in darkness knoweth not wither he goeth."
- Job 18:18 "He [the wicked] shall be driven from light into darkness, and chased out of the world."
- Daniel 2:22 "He [God] knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him." See also Psalm 143:3, II Corinthians 6:14, and Hebrews 12:18-22.
vs.
- I Kings 8:12 "Then spake Solomon, The Lord said that he would dwell in the thick darkness." (Repeated in II Chronicles 6:1)
- II Samuel 22:12 "And he made darkness pavilions round about him, dark waters, and thick clouds of the skies."
- Psalm 18:11 "He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies."
- Psalm 97:1-2 "The Lord reigneth; let the earth rejoice...clouds and darkness are round about him."
- http://www.ffrf.org/books/lfif/?t=contra
Which is it?
< STRONG God dwells in light, and darkness conceals His glory. There is no contradiction when looking at each verse.
1 Kings 8:12: The "thick darkness" mentioned in this verse is referring to the cloud that filled the house of the LORD, which was there to conceal His glory (1 Kings 8:11). God concealed His glory in order for man to behold Him. This is evidenced in Ex 40:34, when a cloud covered the tabernacle, and in Deut 5:22, when a cloud and thick darkness was on Mt. Sinai. "God hides Himself in the cloud. He is too magnificent for mankind to behold. If the cloud did not screen out His countenance, all around Him would be consumed and immediately die." - John Bevere in “The Fear of the Lord” (from another argument)
II Sam 22:12, Psalm 18:11: These verses do not picture God on His heavenly throne, but instead as He appears coming down from heaven. As H.C. Leupold commented:
The picture is that of a violent storm—a figure so frequently used in the Scriptures to furnish the accompaniment of God’s approach, He Himself being as it were housed in the storm. From the time of Sinai onward these figures become standard (cf. Exod. 19:16-18; Judg. 5:4,5; Ps. 68:7;77:16-18; Is. 29:6; 30:27ff.; etc.). As the storm sweeps near, He is in it. The thick storm clouds are the material upon which He rides (1959, pp. 166-167).
- http://www.apologeticspress.org/article/2659
Psalm 97:1-2: This verse can be explained as the previous two. It describes God as He appeared to the Israelites, concealed in thick darkness. This depiction was used often (see above), yet it doesn't describe His heavenly dwelling, which is filled with light. "God is light and in Him is no darkness at all" (1 John 1:5) and "God is a consuming fire" (Hebrews 12:29).
< Psalm 18 and 97 use metaphors and symbolism. God isn't really dwelling in darkness.
The poetic literature in Psalm 18 and 97 uses metaphors and symbolism. God is described as being surrounded by clouds and darkness. This is an analogy to show the mystery of God's power as seen by His enemies. There is a lack of understanding of God and His ways, as though He were covered by a cloud of darkness. On the other hand, the righteous and their relationship with God is described in terms of light (Psalm 18:28, 97:11).
- http://www.lookinguntojesus.net/ata20060910.htm
< STRONG There is no contradiction; the words "light" and "darkness" are used in different ways.
The Bible uses the terms “light” and “darkness” in differing ways. "Light" is used to describe: God's dwelling place in the heavens (1 Tim 6:16); "Day" in the physical universe (Gen 1:5); the brightness of Jesus' clothes at the transfiguration (Matt 17:2); the Sun, Moon, and stars (James 1:17); God's symbolical holiness (1 John 1:5); and divine instruction or understanding (Psalm 119:130). "Darkness" is used to describe: a lack of understanding or revelation (Psalm 82:5); and symbolical sin (1 John 1:5).
Here is a practical example: God is described as the Creator/Father of lights in James 1:17, and in Psalm 18:11, He makes darkness His secret place. These aren't contradictory; "God being the Father of the Sun, Moon, and stars made on day four, has no bearing whatsoever on the question of whether God dwells in darkness or light. [For this case,] what God has created and where God dwells are two different things. One cannot fault Scripture when a critic compares apples and oranges. For there to be a legitimate contradiction, the same thing must be under consideration."
- http://www.apologeticspress.org/article/2659
>> STRONG There are verses which say where God dwells, directly contradicting one another.
These verses aren't dealing with two different things (a "what" and a "where"), but both with where God dwells: 1 Kings 8:12 and 1 Tim 6:15. They are contradictory.
< STRONG In 1 Kings 8:12, God is concealing His glory; He doesn't dwell in darkness.
The "thick darkness" mentioned in this verse refers to the cloud that filled the house of the LORD, which was there to conceal His glory (1 Kings 8:11). God concealed His glory in order for man to behold Him. This is evidenced in Ex 40:34, when a cloud covered the tabernacle, and in Deut 5:22, when a cloud and thick darkness was on Mt. Sinai. "God hides Himself in the cloud. He is too magnificent for mankind to behold. If the cloud did not screen out His countenance, all around Him would be consumed and immediately die." - John Bevere in “The Fear of the Lord” (from another argument)
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