The Word of God Is a Lamp and a Light
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March 23, 2014 |
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 "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:105).
Senior Pastor Dr. Jaerock Lee
In the past, there were no streetlights. In the dark people could get hurt falling down or they could fall into puddles. They even risked death making a dark night's journey. They had to be careful all the time. But when the moonlight shone brightly, they could get to their destinations safely.
Sometimes in our lives it seems we spend days in desperation as though in a dark tunnel. But if a ray of bright light should shine and light the way we are going, then how boldly and courageously we are able to walk!
1. When we understand by having the Word as a lamp to our feet and a light to our path
Psalm 119:100 reads, "I understand more than the aged, because I have observed Your precepts." Here 'understanding' spiritually means to be clearly shown the way. In other words, if we observe the guidance of the Lord's laws and commandments, we will be clearly shown the way and understand more than the wisdom of the aged.
Here, 'the aged' refer to wise persons who discern every matter well based on much experience and wisdom. So, if we ask advice of them, we will know the shortcut to success. Then, what will happen when we commit our lives to God who is almighty?
The words in the Bible show answers to solve all problems. If we have the Word of God as 'a lamp to our feet and a light to our path', then we won't have anything to stop or trouble us. Then, what should we do to have the Word of God as a lamp to our feet and a light to our path and prosper with understanding?
2. How to be a man of understanding through the Word
1) We should restrain our feet from every evil way
Psalm 119:101 reads, "I have restrained my feet from every evil way, that I may keep Your word."
'Feet' spiritually symbolizes the flow of time and the general steps of one's life including what the person pursues. Hence, 'to restrain feet from every evil way' mean not to be a partaker in making an evil plan but to only devote oneself to good works in life.
Joseph restrained his feet from evil ways and walked only the right path in God's sight. Because of the jealousy of his brothers Joseph was sold in Egypt to Potiphar, a ranking officer of the Pharaoh and the captain of his bodyguard. He worked with integrity and diligence, so he became the overseer over Potiphar's house and managed all that he owned. Then, Potiphar's wife attempted to seduce him, but Joseph didn't compromise with sin and flatly rejected her (Genesis 39:9).
As a result he was falsely accused and imprisoned. But he ended up becoming the second ruler after the Pharaoh of Egypt that was a super power in those days by interpreting the Pharaoh's dream in God-given wisdom. If we restrain our feet from evil ways and act only in the Word of God like Joseph, wisdom and understanding come from heaven and we can be led in the ways that are prosperous.
2) We should not turn aside from the ordinances of God
Psalm 119:102 says, "I have not turned aside from Your ordinances, for You Yourself have taught me." Here, 'Your ordinances' refers to God's commands that God told people to keep throughout the generations and includes God-given rules, law, and institutions.
God commanded the sons of Israel to keep His ordinances from generation to generation. This is applied to all believers in God, today as well as the time of the Israelites. Of course, it doesn't mean that we should do everything and keep every ritual they did in the Old Testament time. The people in the times of the Old Testament were commanded to perform circumcision that was outward in the flesh. But it is more important to preserve and keep the spiritual meanings of the ordinance today in the time of the New Testament by carrying out circumcision of the heart spiritually.
Then, why must we keep the ordinances of God? By keeping what God commanded of us, we can remember the Word of God, keep it in our hearts, and avoid sins and unrighteousness. When we keep them, God the Almighty can be a shield in our life and a lamp and light so that we can anticipate our future and go the way of prosperity in all matters.
3) We should long for the Word that tastes sweeter than honey
Psalm 119:103 says, "How sweet are Your words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" The good example is Daniel who longed for the Word of God and considered it sweeter than honey.
Daniel was of royal family in the kingdom of Judah. He was taken captive to Babylon in 605 BC when King Nebuchadnezzar invaded Judah for the first time. The Babylonian Empire selected some boys who had ability for serving in the king's court among captives as a policy of harmony. Daniel was one of them.
One day, a test was given to Daniel and his three friends. They had to eat the king's choice food and the wine, but there was food that God had prohibited them from eating.
They made up their mind that they would not defile themselves. So they sought permission from the commander of the officials and sought to eat only vegetables and water for ten days. As a result, their appearance seemed better and they were healthier than all the youths who had been eating the king's choice food. So, they didn't have to eat the food and drink the wine that was provided any longer.
For Daniel, the Word of God was sweeter and more delicious than the king's choice food and wine. Therefore, he didn't defile himself with food that was detestable in the sight of God and he was able to keep himself clean by eating only vegetables and drinking water.
In this way, Daniel 'ate' the Word of God leading to eternal life as he felt it was sweeter than honey. So, his life had true value and was prosperous. Though he was a captive, he became a commissioner of the great empire. Instead of being harmed when he was thrown into the lions' den, he was protected by the angel.
4) We should hate every false way
Psalm 119:104 states, "From Your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way." Why will we come to hate every false way when we get understanding from God's guidance and instruction? This is because if we get able to discern between right and wrong, good and evil, and life and death based on the Word of God, we will naturally hate evil that perverts the way of the truth and leads to destruction.
Then, what is meant by 'every false way'?
First, it is the words from lips included in the false way. For instance, it includes evil words, corrupt words, lying, argumentative words, deceiving words, perverted words, grumbling, empty words, and blaming words.
Secondly, it refers to deceiving others, taking advantage in ways that are inappropriate, insisting that things that are right are wrong or vice versa, and breaking promises.
Thirdly, it also includes wanting to reap without sowing. In other words, some people want to gain more than their efforts yield, to become rich overnight, and to dream of something that is too fanciful. They are all false ways that ignore the justice of God.
To hate every false way doesn't mean to hate it with hard-feelings and anger. To 'hate evil' spiritually means to cast away evil and overcome evil with goodness. It is to commit everything to God, not repaying evil with evil toward an enemy.
Though we should hate the sin itself, we should forgive and have mercy on a person who committed sin, even as many as 'seventy times seven' times. And finally, we should help the neglected such as orphans and widows. This is the meaning of 'to hate evil'.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, Psalm 119:165 reads, "Those who love Your law have great peace, and nothing causes them to stumble." I pray in the name of the Lord that you will glorify God by receiving understanding by keeping the Word in the Bible as a lamp to your feet and a light to your path.
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