Thy Word is a Lamp Unto My Feet

(Read Psalm 119:57-112)

“If you want to make God laugh, tell him about your plans.” This might be the only time I quote Woody Allen, but this one is a keeper. Whether he wrote it or borrowed it from a Yiddish proverb is irrelevant. God has a plan, God’s in charge, and we can’t do anything about it. The good news is that God’s plan is better than any plan we could ever develop. We second guess Him all the time, but when bad things are happening to us we might end up making the same choices He does for us if we had all the information He does.

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Psalm 19:105 (KJV)

In Psalm 119 King David recounts a beautiful promise and an eternal truth. Yes, in fact God’s Word is a bright halogen headlight to our feet that is meant to guide us through the darkness of our fallen world. This shining light brightens every single pathway in life we take. Psalm 119 also points to God’s Word as a sure foundation for us to stand upon. God’s written truth provides Christian believers with all the spiritual nourishment we need.

We need light for life. Our marriage, our jobs, relationships, parenting, everything. We especially need light to see a way to navigate through our struggles and temptations. If we have sinned, light shows it. Light makes the unclear – clear. Light makes the unknown – known.

If there’s anyone I’ve run across who is tough enough to handle the worst that life throws at you, it’s a friend of mine (D). He is a house painter, a devout friend, and a steadfast believer of Jesus Christ. If there’s anyone I’ve known who is equally as faithful and as supportive, it’s his wife (S). (S) is the worship director at our previous church and has pretty much been the glue to hold it together for what a long long time. She picks the music, leads the choir, handles the arrangements and service materials, and deals with virtually all other logistics each week. (D) was equally active, singing in the choir, played the church handyman for TBD tasks and plays the most amazing trumpet you will ever hear. Lauren Daigle’s voice, Kenny G’s sax, Yo-Yo Ma’s cello, Duane Allman’s guitar, all rank up there with (D)’s trumpet.

Almost 2 years ago to this day, (D) experienced a life-shattering illness. After not being able to talk or move suddenly, he was rushed to a shock trauma facility. (D) suffered from damage in his brain caused by tumors. Emails, phone calls, and texts went out to the congregation and friends. Prayers were flying — prayer warriors were in crisis mode.

(D) became obsessed with running a few years ago. He was tracking his runs and his progress, and happily sharing it online. (D) is not a prideful man, but he likes to share his excitement with people he loves. Running was secondary to getting healthy again after his diagnosis. Since we had moved away prior to this illness, we weren’t in daily conversations about his status. We followed as closely as possible and provided encouragement the best we could.

His healing came from within and (S). She was with him every single moment. She was there through the hardships he was feeling, got him to every appointment, and was the motivation behind every single step forward. Keep in mind, for two different people there would have been no steps forward. People without their faith, might have seen the path ahead as too steep. They would have run out of gas. Not (D) and (S). They are such strong believers, the word of God not only kept them on the path, but it lit their way.

In verse 105, the Hebrew word David used for “light” is translated as “to be resplendent,” meaning shining brilliantly, glowing, or to shine back. I particularly like that one. The path is literally glowing for us. God wants us to find our way.

Steadfast love and faithfulness meet;
righteousness and peace kiss each other.
Faithfulness springs up from the ground,
and righteousness looks down from the sky.
Psalm 85:9-11 (ESV)

I saw a FaceBook post from (D) the other day showing a picture of the last house he painted before this illness occurred. Before I had a chance to comment, I read a reply (S) had written. A light (excuse the pun) went off in my head — I have to write about this because it’s so powerful. Later that day, I texted (D) to see if he would mind if I shared this general story with people.

(S) wrote…
“I know you don’t remember a lot of those first 10 days but I do. I was scared, in shock and it felt unreal because I wasn’t with you.(This being due to covid restrictions.) But here we are 4 days short of 2 years later!!!! Look how far you’ve [we’ve] come!”

Psalm 119 is the longest Psalm in the Bible. It’s also the longest chapter. It’s a love poem but not by today’s standards because it’s not a rom-com or trashy summer novel about sex. It’s about God’s word — the Bible.

When I allow God’s word to penetrate my shell, it moves me. It syncs me with God’s will. God’s word gives us the ability to see and respond to life with a balcony view, the way God sees things. My friends have endured this incredibly difficult path because they are open to the light God’s shining for them. Their attitude is not just from being determined people, it’s shaped by their faith in God through the Holy Spirit. Their attitude is more important to God than every physical step they’ve taken.

(D) did not ask for this hardship to come into his life. Given the choice, he would have passed. (D)’s troubles were not his plan, but he is winning. The difference between (D) and other people is that he is equipped with the tools to guide him. No one is prepared for life altering happenings, but with enough light a believer can take the next step. “I tell people one day at a time!!” (D) texted me back.

If we want to know who God is, what’s He like, what He feels, how He loves, we need to spend time with the word of God. It is God’s revelation to us.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:35-39

Key Applications:

• Are there similarities comparing light and darkness and Jesus and the world. It’s kind of the same thing; light vs. dark. I use Jesus’ goodness and majesty to light my way through stress and trials in my life. When I recognize He’s with me, that He’s gone to the cross for me, things seem lighter, less heavy AND brighter. Pray to Jesus when you’re going through trouble. He’ll listen and act.
• Is there anything you are afraid of right now? Based on what you know about God lighting your way, is this fear legit?
• Read vs 105 from Psalm 119 and pray about it each night this week. Allow God to show you how to take the next step.

Where else in your life can you live out the teachings of Christ? Look for next week’s Devotion.