Mensa Otabil - The Word of the Lord is Our Light
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God works with His Word; its spirit and life, and He sends His Word to heal. However, the Word of God does more than that; the Word of God is also our light. In Psalm 119:105, we read these words: «Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.» Psalm 119 is a longer psalm, and each verse celebrates an aspect of the Word of God and what it does in our lives. Each verse tells us about the importance of the Word of God.
Here in verse 105, it states that the Word of God is a lamp and light. This refers to the Word of God leading and guiding us, which is a very important aspect because each one of us makes many decisions every day. We make decisions for our personal lives, our families, our workplaces, and for people who depend on us. Many of us are in serious decision-making roles where one decision can impact many other people. For that purpose, the Word of God doesn’t just heal us and deliver us; the Word of God also guides us.
The psalmist uses a word picture to illustrate the benefit of the Word of God and depicts darkness and the Word of God coming to dispel that darkness. Many times when we have to make a decision, there is darkness. The reason is that we don’t know the outcome; we don’t know the future or how things will work out, and we aren’t sure if the decision we’re making is the right one. The Word of God takes us from the darkness because of the light it brings. There are two aspects of that light expressed in Psalm 119:105. The first is that the Word of God is a lamp to our feet. This lamp is closer to our understanding of a candle; it does not provide broad light but narrow light that gives us specific direction or shines on a specific area of our lives. This passage speaks of our feet, meaning the next step we are about to take. God’s Word is able to shine light on that area.
Many times in our lives, we must make decisions regarding relationships, finances, careers, or schools, and we are not quite sure what to do. These are specific areas where we need guidance. The Word of God can grant us the light to see the next step to take; it can provide specific direction. But that’s not all—the Word of God is also light for our path. The path is a broader area, and the word translated as light here refers to daylight. While a candle gives us specific guidance, daylight offers broad guidance. If we only see the Word of God as a candle and do not perceive it as light, we might think that everything revolves around us. However, God’s Word extends beyond our personal needs and preferences.
It is vital for us to view the Word of God in the context of God’s counsel, purposes, wisdom, and His actions on a larger scale. Sometimes, something may not help us physically or immediately, but it is the will of God for our lives. I pray the Word of God will be a lamp and light to you. Pastor Mensa Otabil, Shalom, peace, and life to you.