The WORD lights our footsteps
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Illustration
An old sailor repeatedly got lost at sea, so his friends gave him a compass and urged him to use it. The next time he went out in his boat, he followed their advice and took the compass with him. But as usual he became hopelessly confused and was unable to find land. Finally he was rescued by his friends.
Disgusted and impatient with him, they asked, “Why didn’t you use that compass we gave you? You could have saved us a lot of trouble!” The sailor responded, “I didn’t dare to! I wanted to go north, but as hard as I tried to make the needle aim in that direction, it just kept on pointing southeast.”
That old sailor was so certain he knew which way was north that he stubbornly tired to force his own personal persuasion on his compass. Unable to do so, he tossed it aside as worthless and failed to benefit from the guidance it offered.
Introduction
Many Christians today are like this sailor. We have the word of God that can help us in our way, but we don't use it. Sometimes we read it but we don’t really give attention to its teaching. We still follow our own way, our old fashion. We always tend to know the direction but at the end we fall astray.
But contrary to that, the word of God reminds us through Peter in "As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy."
When we declared that we have a personal relationship with Christ, we should live a holy life and leave our former passions, our sinful life.
To do this, let us learn from the life of the Psalmist as He declares in "Your word is a lamp to my feet; and a light to my path"
Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path.
Let us pray...
According to the ancient history, the lamp at the time of the writing of Psalm is not the same as our lamp today. In their time, there is no electricity like we have today. So, their night time if we can imagine is a total darkness. The lamp is a need in the night and without the lamp, their life will be put in danger especially for travelers and sojourners. That’s how important the lamp in every life at that time. The light of the lamp is just enough for every footsteps of a person.
Now, as the Psalmist declared "Your word is a lamp to my feet", we have this idea that the word is a need for the Psalmist. This idea was seen in his declaration in verse 92 "If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction"
If your law had not been my delight,
I would have perished in my affliction.
Psalm
Without the guidance of the word in our every footstep in life, we are in perish. And we are lost. Like a sheep without its Shepherd, we are all astray ( All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; ...)
But thank you, for the word reminds us that we can have its guidance, that in our every step we have the word of God that keeps reminding us about His love, about His grace, His compassion, forgiveness, and righteousness.
We are living in the dark world full of sin and evil ways. As the bible declares “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. ()”.
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
The word of God is the light that can shine our way. As the psalmist declared that the “the WORD is a lamp to my feet”, we can reflect about “How does the Psalmist keep the WORD of God in his daily walk?"
The lamp without the holder is useless for the man. The man cannot benefit from the light that the lamp can give. The holder should keep the lamp shines by putting oil into the lamp. To keep us from the persuasion of the world we need to keep our lamp burning.
In , the Psalmist shows us the three (3) important principles of keeping the lamp burning.
1 Blessed are those whose way is blameless,
who walk in the law of the Lord!
2 Blessed are those who keep his testimonies,
who seek him with their whole heart,
3 who also do no wrong,
but walk in his ways!
In verse 1,
Our first principle is in verse 1, “Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD”
Walking in the law of the LORD
Walking in the law of the LORD
1 Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
Like in as bible declares "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,…, but his delight is in the law of the LORD and in his law he meditates day and night" The true blessedness is in the one who walks daily in the LORD, the one who delights in meditating his word.
1 Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
When I think on my ways,
I turn my feet to your testimonies;
In verse 59, the Psalmist declares "When I think on my ways, I turn my feet to your testimonies". Oh how amazing this psalmist regard the word of God in his daily walk.
I remember your name in the night, O Lord,
and keep your law.
He declares in verse 55 "I remember your name in the night, O LORD, and keep your law"
97 Oh how I love your law!
It is my meditation all the day.
Psalm
At midnight I rise to praise you,
because of your righteous rules.
97 Oh how I love your law!
It is my meditation all the day.
and in verse 62, he declares "At midnight I rise to praise you of those who keep your precepts".
Psalm 119:
Oh how I love your law!
It is my meditation all the day.
In verse 97 "Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day."
and in verse 62, he declares "At midnight I rise to praise you of those who keep your precepts". verse 97 "Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day."
Seven times a day I praise you
for your righteous rules.
Verse 164 "Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous rules."
Walking in the law of the LORD is a lifestyle and way of life for the Psalmist. It is a habit he has enjoyed in every moment of his life.
26 When I told of my ways, you answered me;
teach me your statutes!
27 Make me understand the way of your precepts,
and I will meditate on your wondrous works.
I have chosen the way of faithfulness;
I set your rules before me.
In verse 26-27&30, "When I told of my ways, you answered me; teach me your statues! Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wondrous works. (30) I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I set your rules before me."
So here we can see that Walking in the law of the LORD is a daily and habitual meditation with the LORD through his word. It is daily personal encounter with God with a humble and teachable heart to know the way and will of our LORD.
The second principles is in verse 2a
Keeping His Testimonies
Keeping His Testimonies
Blessed are those who keep his testimonies,
who seek him with their whole heart,
"Blessed are those who keep his testimonies"
The word "keep" has been mentioned repeatedly in . It has been mentioned 28 times. This shows us the importance of keeping the word of God.
4 The Lord is in His holy temple,
The Lord’s throne is in heaven;
His eyes behold,
His eyelids test the sons of men.
5 The Lord tests the righteous,
But the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates.
4 You have commanded your precepts
to be kept diligently.
5 Oh that my ways may be steadfast
in keeping your statutes!
In verse 4-5, the Psalmist declared "You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently. Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes!"
By studying the word of God diligently, we keep ourselves from sinning.
15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
In "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth."
It is important that we keep the word of God with highest regard, rightly handling the word of truth.
23 I know, O Lord, that the way of man is not in himself,
that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps.
In , “I know, O LORD, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps.”
The word of God declares the need of every man to be guided by the counsel of the LORD through his word. His WORD keeps us from sinning. Without the guidance of the WORD we are lost, without its guidance our life will be in danger.
8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
In , the word of God declares “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour”. Without keeping the word diligently, we give our enemies an opportunity to devour your life. But by keeping the word of God diligently, we keep ourselves from sinning.
23 The steps of a man are established by the Lord,
when he delights in his way;
As declares “The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in His way”
The third principles is in verse 2b and verse 3
2 Blessed are those who keep his testimonies,
who seek him with their whole heart,
3 who also do no wrong,
but walk in his ways!
Seeking Him with our whole heart
Seeking Him with our whole heart
"Blessed are those who... who seek him with their whole heart, who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways"
10 With my whole heart I seek you;
let me not wander from your commandments!
11 I have stored up your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.
To have a better understanding, in verse 10-11 the psalmist declares "With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you."
9 How can a young man keep his way pure?
By guarding it according to your word.
Psalm 119:
And this is his answer to his question in verse 9 about "How can a young man keep his way pure?"
2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.
John the beloved gives more wisdom about this, in
"Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.”
4 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.
4 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin.
4 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. 6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.
In verse
In verse 4 it follows “Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.”
In verse 4-6 it follows “Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.”
So how can we keep our purity?
6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.
In verse 6 says “No one who abides in him keeps on sinning”. It is important to know that abiding in Jesus is an important element to keep our purity.
5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
In , Jesus said “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”
7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
And in verse 7 “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” We can see that the word of God makes us pure and holy. Without God, without our personal relationship with Jesus, our true vine, we are nothing and lost.
Let us seek him with our whole heart without any reservation like the psalmist. God wants your whole heart not just the part of it.
The WORD lights our footsteps that we may not be stumbled in our way. The WORD is our lamp for our daily step that we may know the will of God in every step. God wants you to experience His guidance and power through his WORD.
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
In John chapter 1:1,4, 9
"In the beginning was the WORD, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." (verse 4)"In him was life, and the life was the light of men.", (verse 9) "The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world." And in verse 14, "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth."
Yes, Jesus is the light. Without Him, we are doomed and destined to eternal death and hell.
Jesus wants you to experience his light like the lamp of the psalmist. And you can only experience this light when you accept the lamp. Hold and embrace the true light that you may experience the true meaning of life.
12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
Jesus said in "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life"