A Lamp to My Feet

One of the first roller coasters I rode was Space Mountain at Disneyland. Although it was not the craziest one that I’ve ever ridden, it was scary because it is in near-total darkness. This is Disneyland’s description on their website:

“Ascend slowly through a swirling solar field as your rocket powers up. Plunge through a spectacular spiral nebula and then, when the countdown ends—hang on tight! As you hurtle forward into infinite darkness, your rocket darts and twists in the void, speeding faster and faster. Feel the g-force as you careen into the unknown!”

Space Mountain is a thrilling roller coaster because you can’t see when the plunge is coming, when you will feel your stomach in your throat, or when you will veer to the right or left and be thrown to the side. This may be exciting in a roller coaster, but it is not what we want in life. We want to see where we are going. We want to know what is ahead. We want the control that seeing ahead can give us. We might go so far as to say, “We need to know what is ahead.”

Today we continue looking at the goodness of God’s Word as found in Psalm 119:105.

Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

God’s perspective on what we need is very different from ours. Look at this picture of an oil lamp similar to what would have been used around the time the Psalmist wrote Psalm 119.

Let’s look at three take-aways from Psalm 119:105. First, as you may notice above, these lamps did not put off much light. In homes, many were lit at one time in order to light a room. This lamp gives off just enough light to illuminate one or two steps at a time. God’s Word reveals where we are to step next. It lights the path we are to remain on. It leads us in one step of obedience at a time. God wants us to trust Him with our path not rely on our own sight and ability. We obey what God has revealed in His Word and take a step trusting Him to light the next step.

God does not leave us in darkness to fumble around hoping we don’t unexpectedly plunge off a cliff. He lights our way. He gives us everything we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3).

In the Old Testament when God directed Moses to build the tabernacle, He also gave instruction on the articles to be used in the tabernacle. One of those items was the Golden Lampstand or menorah. It provided light, but more than that, it reminded the Israelites that God was their ultimate light. In the Exodus from Egypt, God led the Israelites in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire at night to light the way (Exodus 13:21-22). God Himself led the way, made their path known. The Israelites needed only to trust God and follow. We too need only to trust God and follow the lamp and light of His Word.

Second, a lamp doesn’t shine on its own. It requires oil and a flame. Someone needs to light it. God’s Word doesn’t light a path for our feet sitting on the shelf. For God’s Word to be a lamp and light, we must read it, study it, meditate on it, memorize it, and share it, so we can walk in it.

Third, ancient lamps were not difficult to use. Their design was simple. Anyone could use them. Similarly, God’s Word is understandable. This is referred to as the clarity or perspicuity of Scripture.

“That the Bible is clear enough for even a child to understand is assumed in passages such as Deuteronomy 6:6-9. Moses instructs the people of Israel to teach the divinely revealed commandments of God to their children. This implies that the children are capable of understanding and applying the Word of God as their parents teach it to them. But note that it also implies that ordinary mothers and fathers are able to have a grasp of Scripture sufficient enough to teach it to their children.”[1]

This is not to say that there aren’t difficult passages to understand in Scripture. It does mean that someone who studies God’s Word can understand the basic message of salvation and how to live in a way that glorifies God. Not only has God given us His Word, but for those in Christ, He has given us His Spirit to help us understand and discern Scripture. (1 Corinthians 2:12). In addition, God has given various men and women throughout the ages wisdom and understanding that we can learn from.

Part of the false teaching the Apostle Paul spoke against was Gnosticism – a mystical knowledge available to an elite few. This opposes what Scripture teaches. God’s Word is not for an elite few like pastors, those who have gone to seminary, or those who know Hebrew and Greek. God’s Word was written so anyone seeking to understand it could understand the basic message of salvation and how to glorify God. We are also privileged that God’s Word is readily available to us in our own language. Not everyone in the world has that. Yet, we who have the most access to God’s Word are often the ones who least use it as a lamp to our feet and a light to our path.

Whether a direct command or a general principle, God’s Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path.

Reflection

1. How has God been a lamp to your feet and a light to your path? Take time to praise and thank God for how He has used His Word in your life.

2. In what ways are you trusting God and His Word one step at a time as He lights your path? In what ways are you plunging ahead on your own through darkness or sitting frozen in darkness because you aren’t trusting God to light your path one step at a time?

3. The past several weeks we have been studying the goodness and benefits of God’s Word. How have you been growing in using God’s Word – studying, meditating, memorizing, and sharing it? If you are still stuck, what can you do this week to begin studying God’s Word regularly? Don’t be afraid to ask for help. We’ve all had our stuck moments.

4. What is your response to the basic message of Scripture being clear enough for all to understand? What passages have you found difficult to understand? Have you tried to study them more on your own? Have you asked God to help you understand? Who can you talk to who can help you better understand?

[1] Ligonier Ministries. The Heart of the Reformation: A 90 Day Devotional on the Five Solas (Orlando Florida: Ligonier Ministries, 2021), pg 17.