This scene is of Gandalf going into an old, abandoned tower. It looks empty and normal. But actually, there are hundreds of evil creatures hiding in the shadow. When he unveils the truth, he is faced and attacked by the darkness. He uses light to fight it.
On a spiritual level, this is what it feels like to be a missionary. In any country, I imagine. You go about your days and everything seems ordinary. But you're aware of an emptiness and an unseen darkness. When you pray and actively live in the light and try to bring that light to others, you're met with spiritual attack. And often it feels like you're one small person facing something much bigger than yourself. But seeing the light come from Gandalf, it's a reminder that God's light is inside of us. And how great is that light! I mean, He did create the sun.
The clip also reveals the character of the enemy. Evil is not brave, but cowardly. It hides and does not want to be exposed. It deceives and cheats. Gandalf goes into the darkness knowing he will be outnumbered, but he believes that good and light and truth have more authority.
In the end Gandalf is overpowered by the darkness, but in reality, darkness always flees from the light. It's physics. The yin-yang is bogus. Light and dark are not equal. God's light and power and goodness is ALWAYS stronger than evil and darkness. Sometimes we may get a little bruised up or fall on our face, but God will always win. And good will win in the end of this movie trilogy. Hooray for the little guys!
Don't see a connection between my geeky obsession with The Hobbit and the spiritual battles we face? Here are some of many Bible references to prove it:
"This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God." -- John 3:19-21
"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." -- John 1:5
"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." -- Ephesians 6:12
"Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them." -- Ephesians 5:11
"I saw that wisdom is better than folly, just as light is better than darkness." -- Ecclesiastes 2:13
"You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness." -- 1 Thessalonians 5:5
"The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble." -- Proverbs 4:19-20
'When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."' -- John 8:12
