Darkness has a way of revealing what matters most. In this profound exploration of Isaiah 21-23, we journey through some of Scripture's most haunting prophecies – cryptic oracles against "the desert by the sea," "Duma," and "the Valley of Vision." What makes these passages so striking isn't just their mysterious language but their universal message: darkness falls on those who deny God.

The watchman's enigmatic words – "morning has come, and also night" – capture the essence of divine judgment. For those who reject God, even when light should break through, darkness persists. This isn't just about ancient Babylon or Tyre; it speaks to anyone who lives as if God doesn't matter.

We see this guilt personified in Shebna, the palace steward who carved an elaborate tomb for himself. His pride becomes his downfall as God promises to hurl him away like a pebble. Similarly, Jerusalem's inhabitants trust in their engineering and defenses rather than looking "to the One who made it." Their sin isn't preparation but preparation without acknowledgment of God.

Yet even here, hope glimmers. Tyre's profits will eventually "be dedicated to the Lord." And most significantly, we find Christ foreshadowed in the "key of David" – words that Revelation applies directly to Jesus. While Eliakim is installed as a "firm peg" that eventually gives way, Christ is the peg that holds any weight.

During the crucifixion, darkness fell for three hours as judgment fell on Christ instead of us. Three days later came morning, an empty tomb, and the promise of eternal light for all who trust Him.

The Valley of Vision reminds us that sometimes we need to be in darkness to see our need for light. As the Puritan prayer beautifully expresses, "the valley is the place of vision" – where we discover that "the way down is the way up" and "the broken heart is the healed heart." Join us in finding God's light in our darkness, His life in our death, and His glory in our valley.