Psalm 40, Isaiah 10:5–19, Matthew 11:2–15, and 2 Peter 2:17–22 paint an unsettling picture. They speak of pits and prisons, of arrogant power and shattered illusions, of leaders who promise much and deliver nothing. These are not gentle texts. They do not flatter us or numb us. Instead, they confront us with a truth our age desperately needs: darkness becomes most dangerous when it disguises itself as light.
Psalm 40 begins in desperation. The psalmist is stuck in “the pit of destruction, the muddy bog,” waiting—patiently, painfully—for God. This is not triumphant faith; it is faith stripped down to survival. Yet the psalm insists that God hears. Deliverance does not come because the psalmist escapes on their own strength, but because God bends low and lifts them out. In our day of burnout, grief, and quiet despair, Psalm 40 reassures us that waiting is not failure and honesty is not unbelief.
Isaiah 10:5–19 exposes a different darkness—the arrogance of power. Assyria is used as an instrument, yet it mistakes its role and assumes it is self-made, self-justified, and untouchable. The warning is stark: when nations, leaders, or systems believe their success proves their righteousness, they are already on the path to collapse. Isaiah speaks directly to our modern obsession with dominance, control, and supremacy. God reminds us that no empire lasts forever, and no power escapes accountability.
Then Matthew 11:2–15 brings the darkness closer to home. John the Baptist, faithful and imprisoned, questions Jesus: “Are you the one who is to come, or should we wait for another?” This is not rebellion—it is disappointment. John expected fire and judgment; instead, Jesus points to healing, restoration, and good news for the poor. Jesus honors John, yet offers a sobering word: “Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.” In other words, God’s work may not look the way we expect, and faith is tested when God refuses to fit our assumptions.
2 Peter 2:17–22 sharpens the warning even further. Peter describes false teachers as “waterless springs” and “mists driven by a storm”—promising refreshment but delivering emptiness. They speak of freedom while remaining enslaved themselves. This passage is unsettling because it reminds us that not all religious language leads to life. Not all confident voices speak truth. In our age of loud opinions, spiritual influencers, political prophets, and moral certainty, Peter warns us that returning to destructive patterns after knowing the truth is not progress—it is bondage disguised as enlightenment.
Taken together, these Scriptures tell a unified story for our time:
- Psalm 40 speaks to those trapped and waiting.
- Isaiah 10 confronts unchecked power and pride.
- Matthew 11 acknowledges doubt and unmet expectations.
- 2 Peter 2 warns against hollow promises and false freedom.
The darkness they describe is real, but it is not hopeless. The danger is not simply suffering or doubt—it is arrogance, deception, and the refusal to be transformed. God is not absent in these texts; God is discerning, exposing, and inviting repentance.
The question for our day is not, “Why is everything so broken?”
It is, “Who are we trusting, and where are we being led?”
True hope does not come from loud promises or quick fixes. It comes from a God who lifts us from pits, humbles the proud, meets us in our doubts, and calls us to a deeper, truer freedom.
Closing Prayer
God of truth and mercy,
When the world feels dark and voices compete for our trust,
anchor us in your faithfulness.
Lift us from the pits that trap us,
strip away the pride that blinds us,
and guard us from empty promises that lead us astray.
Give us discernment to recognize your work,
patience to trust your timing,
and courage to follow your way of life.
Amen.
The Curious Pilgrims 