I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their
covering.--Isaiah l. 3.
Isaiah, or, as he is generally called, the Evangelical Prophet,
(from his writings referring more frequently to the person and
offices of Christ, than those of the other prophets,) when speaking
of his sufferings declares, that "The heavens shall become black
as sackcloth of hair." This figurative description was realised at
the crucifixion of Jesus. The sun at mid-day was eclipsed, darkness
covered the land, from the sixth to the ninth hour, which, by our
mode of computing time, was from twelve to three o'clock in the
afternoon. The Jews begin their day at six o'clock in the morning.
Perhaps it may be thought superstitious weakness, to imagine an
eclipse portended some great event? We reply, _this_ was not the
result of natural causes. It took place on the day the Jews killed
the Passover, which festival they were commanded, and always did
observe at the full of the moon;[99] therefore, it is evident, the
moon's shadow could not _then_ fall on the sun, for then they were
in opposition, or one hundred and eighty degrees apart; besides, a
total eclipse of the sun never lasts ten minutes, yet, this was a
total eclipse from the sixth to the ninth hour, so that darkness
covered, at least the whole land of Judea, for three hours, which
is contrary to the laws given by heaven's great architect, to these
his works. This extraordinary eclipse is noticed in profane history;
Dionysius, at Heliopolis, in Egypt, said of this darkness, "Aut
Deus naturæ patitur, aut mundi machina dissolvitur."--Either the
God of nature is suffering, or the machine of the world tumbling
into ruin. It was a supernatural event, and designed to show, that
when Jesus stood forth as the surety of his people, he felt all the
dread punishment due to them. Man, by his rebellion, has not only
forfeited all spiritual blessings; but to temporal mercies also
he has no claim. When Jesus, as our Head and Representative, bore
the curse due to our sins, he was deprived of the cheering rays of
heaven's great luminary, which was but a faint resemblance of the
withdrawing of the light of God's countenance.[100] Behold the awful
effects of sin, although it was only _sin imputed_ to the Son of
God. Yet, the lamp of day withdraws his shining, as if sickening
at the sight. Unable to behold the astonishing event, he hides his
head, and shrinks back, as if unwilling to shed his beams over a
scene so tremendously awful. The event might also be designed to
show the darkness of the Mosaic dispensation, which was then for
ever to be done away. It was but a shadow of good things to come;
but light and immortality are brought to light by the gospel. Jesus,
the Son of Righteousness is arisen, with healing in his wings; and
darkness, and its attendant superstition, shall flee away as the
shadows upon the mountain's brow, on the appearance of the majesty
of day in the rosy east. As the sun in the natural world is the
source of light and heat, such is Jesus to the spiritual world; he
is the Light of Life, and there is not a ray of hope or light to
cheer the rugged path of sorrow, but what must emanate from this
Fountain of Light; even amidst seasons of health and prosperity, all
is darkness and gloom within, unless the soul is enlightened by his
all-gladdening beams.
[99] Exodus xii. 2. 6. 18.
[100] Mark xv. 34.