Read Psalm 119:105-112

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105)

David is masterful in his imagery throughout the Psalms, but none is as great as his picture of God’s Word! He declares the Scriptures to be both a lamp and a light. How wonderful, Christian, that whenever you are being swallowed by the darkness, you may flee to the Word and find light!

Upon this principle, allow me to draw out several truths for you today.

First, the light of God’s Word ought to be deeply personal to you. Notice that David does not simply say “the Scriptures” or “the Book.” While it would be no less truthful, it would be far less personal. The Scriptures were not a neutral light to David, like some flashlight forgotten in the back cupboard and found on a whim during a stormy night. No, the Scriptures to David were God’s very Word! “Your Word,” David cries out. The light of God’s Word was deeply personal to David, and oh! — how it ought to be deeply personal to us, Beloved! Do not view the Bible so negligently as to think it’s just words on a page. It is, collectively, the personal Word of God to you, which sheds its light for you to see!

“The entrance of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.” (Psalm 119:130)

Second, the light of God’s Word allows you to walk properly. David calls it a lamp for his feet. The word lamp is a rare and religious term in the Hebrew text. In all of the Old Testament, it’s only used 44 times, and with the exception of a handful of instances, it’s always used of the lampstand which lit the Holy Place within the tabernacle. This allowed the priests to perform their worshipful duty. Likely, this is what David has in mind. God’s Word is a holy lamp that lights the way for his worshipful duty to God! No doubt, Beloved, it must be the same for us. God’s Word is not meant to be a light for passivity, so that we may lounge and be leisurely. God’s Word is a light to get our feet moving toward holy service unto Him!

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” (James 1:22)

Third, the light of God’s Word shows the path you should take! We take for granted that we have safe roadways with little bumps to travel on in the dark. But in David’s day, dark paths were full of danger. The ancient pathway had embedded rocks and roots to stumble over, deep potholes to fall into, and wild animals always watching you. But the light eliminates all need to worry about what is on the pathway and scares off creatures beyond it. In this way, David sees God’s Word as the most powerful dispeller of darkness in the journey of life. Dear friend, are you properly lighting your path with your Savior’s Word? You do not need to shuffle your feet and flail in the darkness if you have God’s Word lighting the way! Instead, you can walk with confidence and assurance in every step.

Oh, that we would light every part of our lives with our Redeemer’s promises so that not a shadow or a dim corner remains in the recesses of our souls! Will you join me in lighting up your life with God’s Word?

“I will bring the blind by a way they did not know; I will lead them in paths they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, and crooked places straight. These things I will do for them, and not forsake them.” (Isaiah 42:16)