“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” -Psalm 119:105
While making preparations for a camping trip with my family, I realized that I had not packed a flashlight or lantern with all of the other equipment. Of course, I worked quickly to remedy that oversight for the camping trip, but in the process, my mind was turned to Psalm 119 and the clear necessity of light to prosper both naturally and spiritually.
The natural importance of light is plain to us. In fact, the sun, moon, and stars are among the most common objects of Pagan worship for the very reason that they give light. I do not have to stress the importance of light because we have all experienced both light and darkness. We know very well the dangers and frustrations of darkness, and we also know the joy, safety, and benefit of clear sight. On our camping trip in an unfamiliar area, a small lantern can make the difference between comfortable navigation and great, unknown danger.
It makes sense, then, that God would describe His word as “light.” Scripture serves the same purpose to us spiritually that a lantern does naturally. Spiritually speaking, God’s word can help us find a good path, avoid injury, locate the things like food and shelter that God has provided for our sustenance, and generally lift our spirits. Conversely, the absence of God’s word in our daily lives will result in a spiritual situation no different than a man without his lantern and stumbling in darkness, unaware of his surroundings, direction, danger, or the location of help.
A companion verse is found in II Peter 1:19-21: “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” Notice that Peter describes God’s word in our present circumstances as a light shining “in a dark place.” Surely, this world is a dark place in terms of spiritual truth. Throughout history and to the present, the Devil has worked to deceive God’s people. Today, the religious landscape is greatly confused, containing a host of every belief imaginable. In fact, while human knowledge of natural sciences has greatly advanced in the last century, clarity in spiritual matters is arguably more confused than it has been in many generations. There seems to be a desire of many people to replace religious truth with scientific understanding. This non-solution will only yield more confusion. The truth is: humans are not simply fleshly creatures. We have body, soul, and spirit (I Thessalonians 5:23). While science can provide a tremendous help in understanding the world around us, it is confined only to the material world (and has limits there, as well). As an engineer by trade, I do not intend to devalue science – I use it daily and appreciate the repeatability and predictability that it recognizes in the natural world. However, science does not have the capability to illuminate the matters that pertain to the soul and spirit, and therefore cannot by itself provide satisfaction to the child of God. We need the light of scripture to guide us in understanding spiritual matters. No substitute will do. Without a doubt, this is the idea that is contained in Jesus’s words, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4).
One of the most fundamental questions at the root of many controversies between denominations of Christians is this: “Is scripture the authority on spiritual truth, or is the church the authority on spiritual truth?” Primitive Baptists hold that scripture is the sole authority on spiritual truth. The church has a duty to uphold the truth (I Timothy 3:15), but the church is full of fallible individuals and can fall into disorder (examples are the churches Jesus addressed in Revelation 2-3). Has any man except the Lord Jesus lived for much time without changing his mind on a matter due to study or experience? On the other hand, God inspired His word (II Peter 1:21, II Timothy 3:16-17) and has preserved it to the present day (Psalm 12:6, Proverbs 30:5). Based on this confidence, we should not attempt to bend the meaning of God’s word to fit our ideas, but should form our ideas based on the plain teaching of God’s word.
The importance of God’s word to us as disciples is clear: if we desire guidance in navigating this world and understanding the important questions of life, we will find the illumination we seek in scripture. Scripture will teach us theological truth as well as instruct us in faithful conduct. How then should we approach God’s word? I would like to close these brief thoughts with a few suggestions:
- Read it reverentially and prayerfully (Psalm 119:128)
- Read it daily (Acts 17:11)
- Meditate on the contents (Psalm 1:2)
- Read it prepared to be corrected and repent (II Timothy 3:16)
- Interpret it in context and light of other portions of scripture (II Timothy 2:15)
- Speak to others, especially children and grandchildren, about the contents (Deuteronomy 4:9, Psalm 119:46)
- Attend a church with a pastoral ministry that is focused on studying and teaching God’s word (Acts 6:4)
May God give us the wisdom to use the bright light of His word so that the path before our feet is clear and we are enabled to walk before God in love, righteousness, and sincerity.