The Lamp ~ Psalm 119

“Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105 ESV

The path was narrow, perilous, and most frighteningly, bathed in pure darkness.  It was etched into the side of the mountain, a jagged scar upon its sheer, stony face.  The mountaineer that dared to trespass upon it felt the weight and gravity of his every step.  Each footfall carried consequences beyond what he would like to consider, yet step by step, he proceeded down the precarious path.  In a few instances his foot neared the edge and loose rock gave way, his balance shifting in a start that he felt in the way his heart skipped in his chest.  But despite the danger, despite the unknown, and despite the uncertainty, the adventurer took untold confidence in the single item he held in his hand.  Yes, without it, his perilous, obscured passage would be all but impossible.  Nay, even insane.  And just what was the said item that ensured his passage and so greatly gained his trust?  Well, of course, his lamp. A light to illuminate his path and show him his way.

God’s Word describes the world in which we walk as a dark place.  Verses such as John 1:5, Psalm 18:28, and John 8:12 all readily tell us that as we trudge this weary way, we will do it in the dark.  But perhaps no verse sums this up better than Ephesians 6:12:

“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 the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 6:12 NIV

Yes, God is very clear in informing us of the darkness of this world.  But to truly consider the darkness, you must first consider its nemesis, the light.  For what is darkness but absence of light.  And when light is introduced into the darkness, the darkness ceases to exist.  And concerning the true light source of this world, you will find over 11 verses in which Jesus Christ either directly proclaims Himself the light of this world, or it is prophesied of Him.

“I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.” John 12:46 NIV

“For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” 2 Corinthians 4:6 NKJV

“Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness but have the light of life." John 8:12 NKJV

So, to quickly summarize, God tells us this current world is under the influence of satan (John 12:31) and as a result, it is a dark place.  The darkness is caused by sin which is the rejection of God, His law, ad His Son Jesus Christ. Sin can also be defined as the absence of light, being careful to recall that Jesus Christ is the light.  So, if I, Daniel Potter, read and believe in faith what God’s Word tells me, I am indeed walking in a very dark place as I walk this world.  Then, if I am not being completely obtuse to these facts, I would quickly seek a light or a lamp to help me navigate my way in this pitch dark madness.  And folks, our primary study verse of Psalm 119:105, finds the Psalmist coming to just that same conclusion almost 3,000 years ago.  Friends, God does not change, man’s sin nature does not change, and our need for God’s light does not change.

So, as we consider the Psalmist’s great Holy Spirit-inspired words, then we should thoroughly consider the lamp of God’s Words and how to become good at using them to light our way in this dark world.  And to do just that, we need to address three steps.

1) You need to know that you need a lamp.  How insane would our opening story be if our mountaineer glanced at his lamp before departing down that perilous dark trail but decided it just wasn’t worth the trouble to take it?  I know of no one that would attempt this dark, dangerous passage without a light, yet I witness people doing just that every day as they walk through this dark world without the lamp of God’s Word.  Folks, God’s Word is not just the roadmap for this life but the lamp that will illuminate the dark path into which it advises you to walk.  You have a choice today that God leaves completely up to you…will you reach for and utilize the light in which He has provided for you? Or will you instead attempt your journey in the dark?

2) You need to know how to use the lamp.  How crazy would it be if our mountaineer grabbed his gas lamp to only find that when upon the perils of the trail, he could not light it for lack of flame?  Or, if he grabbed his lamp but did not even know how to turn it on?  Folks, God’s Word can be read, studied, and understood by all that have called upon Christ as their personal Savior and thus received the gift of God’s Holy Spirit to indwell in them, guide them, instruct them, and make Christ’s Words real to them.  But God’s Word, being the tool that it is, needs to be used properly.  Are you using the Word of God as the lamp that it is each and every day?  Or are you winging it, that is, doing your personal best as you grope around in the darkness endeavoring to find your own right way?  You see, you need to use the Word to unleash the light in your life.  You need to pick it up, give it dedicated time, pray for help in processing it, commit to be obedient to what it commands, and then apply it properly to your life.

3) You need to use your lamp daily.  This is where I think most Christians get consumed by the darkness of this world.  They have had a genuine salvation encounter in Christ, the lamp of God’s Word sits at their feet, yet they simply don’t bend over, pick it up, and flip it on every day.  Folks, God tells us in James 1:22 that there is a big difference in just hearing His Words and actually doing what they say.  And yes, you can be a Christian, have 4 Bibles, read their Words, and still be walking around in utter darkness, blindly stumbling through this world.  Knowing where your lamp is, keeping it ready and operational at all times, using it to its full illumination potential, and then committing to never walk without it, are all essential if you hope to find the well-lit path God promises to you.  Yes, it seems rather obtuse to even mention, but if you hold your lamp and never turn it on, it will be of little use to you on your journey.

As we talk about the darkness of this world, we cannot dismiss the other darkness God readily speaks about in His Word…the darkness that lies within our own sin-tainted human hearts.  And folks, this darkness is the greatest evil we face in this world.  Yes, out of every single enemy we face upon this planet, the greatest one is the one we peer upon in our own mirrors each morning.  And to combat this type of darkness, we desperately need the personal, internal illumination of God’s Word every day.  Yes, it’s not enough to just have it stored in our memory banks, we need to be vividly reminded of what we believe each and every day.  For without the constant light of God’s Word in our lives, our internal darkness will overpower our desire for the light of God. It brings to mind a powerful quote from C.S. Lewis in his 1952 book, Mere Christianity:

“for the Christian, you must make sure that some of its main doctrines are deliberately held before your mind for some time every day.  We have to be continually reminded of what we believe…it must be fed daily.”

Whether you prefer the symbolism of God’s Word being a light to your path, the bread upon which you daily feed, a mirror in which you see your true self, or a sword, which when wielded, cuts to the core of who you truly are, all of them fail unless utilized in daily intervals.  Today, choose wisely.  Pick up the lamp of the Word of God that lies at your feet and faithfully and prayerfully utilize it to illuminate your dark path until your way shines as bright as the sun through the power of Jesus Christ.

Blessings ~ Dan

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:5 NIV

“He reveals deep and hidden things; He knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with Him.” Daniel 2:22 NIV

“The unfolding of your Words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.” Psalm 119:130 NIV

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