Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
(Psa 119:105)
David's Psalm on the Word of God is penned out of a man's deep experience not merely an intellectual exercise. That is why we are taught to be doers and not just hearers (Jam 1:22), also warning that hearing without obedience will end up in a bad situation of deceiving ourselves. People say that the farthest distance for understanding is only about a feet away, i.e. between the brain and the heart. Unless the Word of God gets right down to the recesses of our heart, it avails little benefit to us.
Psalm 119 begins with the word ‘Blessed’ (meaning ‘happy’) as did Jesus on the Sermon on the Mount in Matt 6-7. The experience to taking God’s Word to heart has a happiness attached. Could it be that we lack true happiness and embark on the journey to search for it through ‘things’ and people that don’t have a lasting effect on us. Perhaps Jesus, through the Sermon on the Mount is telling us that we don’t have to look further. Rather it is found in His Word; only we have to be diligent in gleaning the gems through reading, meditation and obedience (Josh 1:8).
Why the lamp and light?
Our steps of faith can’t be taken blindly. In order to progress forward we need to see clearly thus needing a lamp, especially in these last days where there is much spiritual darkness. We keep asking God for His will for our lives to be revealed but don’t bother to have light shed to show us the next step in our pilgrim’s progress.
Firstly, there has to be the lamp, the Word of God. We need to carry it for ourselves. We need to handle God’s Word for ourselves to experience the warnings, the testimonies, the promises, the guidance, etc. We can’t be dependent on or family members or pastors to carry the Lamp on our behalf. Eventually we will have to take our own paths in steps toward maturity.
Secondly, the brighter the light, the farther the vision we see in the fulfillment of our spiritual destiny. Without which we will be living aimless lives or chasing after some rainbow that may end in misery and disillusionment. We can end up at the end of our days in regret. God never meant for us to live to regret the life He has given us. Can our lives live up to one such as Jacob in Gen 47:10 to bless the most powerful man of his time? It’s only the greater that will bless the lesser. What a spiritual destiny that Jacob fulfilled in his life to be a blessor. The brighter light comes with greater in filling of the Spirit of God whom Jesus promised to send as He returned to the Father in Heaven. We, the Temple of the Holy Spirit need to be holy for the Holy Spirit to be welcomed (1 Cor 3:16).
How much do we have of the Word in our lives to be living truth to set us free in the journey from Glory to Glory in Christ our Lord?
