February 4, 2020 -- Psalm 119:105 -- Walking in the Light

Your word is a lamp to my feet

and a light to my path.

Psalm 119:105 English Standard Version

Arguably, this is the best known verse of Psalm 119. I remember memorizing it as a child in Sunday School. It is the source text for a familiar praise song sung in many churches. The imagery is striking and clear. In the deepest darkness even a single candle can give enough light to dispel darkness and guide a pilgrim.

The word of God is a lamp to guide believers in every age. No matter the governmental structure—theodicy, dictatorship, kingdom, democracy or any other—the word of God is relevant and light giving. It is the truth that guides the believer and shapes his behavior so that he is both a citizen of the heavenly kingdom and a faithful citizen under any other government structure.

The Spirit of God gives the light of understanding to the reader of the word. Unless the Spirit makes the message plain, it is incomprehensible. Once the Spirit illuminates the heart and mind of the reader, the message is incandescent and beautiful. Devotions become something we are drawn to—we long to read the word and speak with God for He is our life and joy.

The Son of God calls Himself “the Light of the World” (John 8:12). Apart from Him, nothing makes sense. Without the work of Jesus Christ we cannot understand history nor salvation. The darkness is our sin. The deep night is our devotion to all that is wrong. Our motives and our thoughts, our actions and our words, even our actions which we think are self-less are all covered in sin. Until the Father takes us from the kingdom of darkness and brings us into the Kingdom of Light, the Kingdom of the Son He loves—we are in gloomy dungeons of unbelief.

Even when we have been Christians for a long time we daily examine our thoughts and actions, our words and what we have left undone. We realize there are still patterns of sin that could cause us to drift away from God or compromise our witness to the Light of Christ. We recognize our salvation is based completely on Jesus and His powerful Spirit working out all things for good in us. Thanks be to God through our Lord Jesus Christ that He has rescued us from darkness and put us into the brilliance of the Kingdom of the Son.

Oh God, the bible teaches us that You alone live in unapproachable light. You are all-together lovely and wonderful, majestic in splendour and perfect in all Your attributes. Thank You, Spirit of All-Power that You make the radiance of Jesus Christ known. You, Spirit prompt us to seek Him, Who first has been seeking us. You Spirit, take the Word and make its truth plain and beautiful to us. Triune God, let the light of Your word ever lead us closer to You and in dearer companionship with fellow Christians until that great and glorious day when we shall all see You face to face. Amen.