Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. – Psalm 119:105
The other half of conversation with God is listening to what He has to say. Prayer allows you to turn your cares over to God and to talk to him. While the Spirit can and does move in the life of believers when we are praying and listening for His answers, the primary method God has given for knowing his will is the revealed Word. The Bible is a remarkable book unlike any other, God’s word. It provides wisdom for life’s situations, comfort in times of trouble, and peace during life’s storms.
To ancient people, the verse above would have had great meaning. In our modern society, we live in a world with the convenience of electric lights. If you want to get up in the middle of the night and read a book, you can do so as easily as flipping the switch on your wall. When you go outside, your street is lit so brightly that you could take a stroll and not worry about tripping over anything. Unless you live far out in the country to intentionally get away from the lights and other aspects of the city, your world is lit more brightly than would have been imaginable to people at the time this verse was written.
Nighttime travel was dangerous in ancient times. A light to a traveler’s path in those times meant safety from several things. It could keep wild animals at bay. It lit the path so that the traveler didn’t stumble over hazards in the way. It could even keep the traveler from missing the path entirely and making a wrong turn, becoming lost. A light also meant comfort...beyond the practical applications of making the trip safer, a light meant that the traveler wasn’t constantly confronted with darkness on every side of them with no way to tell direction.
God’s word is like that lamp for us. It can keep us safe, guide us on the right path, and steer us clear of many of life’s hazards that we would otherwise walk into. The guidelines, law, and precepts in God’s word provide a clear map to navigate through the hazards of life, and it provides comfort along the journey.
One other aspect of nighttime travel in ancient times was the wisdom that safety could be found in numbers. Travel with a friend was safer than travel alone. When we read God’s word, follow His laws, and speak with him daily in prayer, doing so is like having a friend along for the journey. God wants to be that friend for you and have a personal relationship with you. He wants to share your everyday life with you, so that you are not traveling alone, stumbling in the dark through everything life throws at you.
ACTIONS
Learn a new verse about God’s word. It may be Psalms 119:105, if you do not have that one memorized already. Other possibilities are: Hebrews 4:12, Matthew 24:35, Colossians 3:16. There are many others.
POINTS FOR DISCUSSION
Share the verse you chose to memorize about God’s Word?
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