The Word Is a Lamp to Guide Me in the Darkness
Scripture Passage: Psalm 119:105-120 (NASB)
Nun
105 Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path.
106 I have sworn and I will confirm it,
That I will keep Your righteous judgments.
107 I am exceedingly afflicted;
Revive me, Lord, according to Your word.
108 Be pleased to accept the voluntary offerings of my mouth, Lord,
And teach me Your judgments.
109 My life is continually in my hand,
Yet I do not forget Your Law.
110 The wicked have set a trap for me,
Yet I have not wandered from Your precepts.
111 I have inherited Your testimonies forever,
For they are the joy of my heart.
112 I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes
Forever, even to the end.
Samekh
113 I hate those who are double-minded,
But I love Your Law.
114 You are my hiding place and my shield;
I wait for Your word.
115 Leave me, you evildoers,
So that I may comply with the commandments of my God.
116 Sustain me according to Your word, that I may live;
And do not let me be ashamed of my hope.
117 Sustain me so that I may be safe,
That I may have regard for Your statutes continually.
118 You have rejected all those who stray from Your statutes,
For their deceitfulness is useless.
119 You have removed all the wicked of the earth like impurities;
Therefore I love Your testimonies.
120 My flesh trembles from the fear of You,
And I am afraid of Your judgments.
SUMMARY
The Psalmist professes that God’s Word is the guidance that lights up the path in the darkness. God is the hiding place and the shield. The wicked may set traps, yet, the psalmist promises not to wander from God’s Word. I pray for God to revive and sustain life according to His Word. With an inclined heart and trembling flesh, the psalmist confesses love for God’s Word and fear of God’s judgment.
REFLECTION
The opening verse of today’s quiet time has been constantly in my prayer for the past few years. Whenever I felt lost or was in need of God’s guidance, I sought God to help me gain understanding through Scripture reading, prayers, or sermons. Walking with Jesus in life is just like how the psalmist described, following light while walking in the pitch-dark night. There are so many traps in this world that can cause me to stumble or fall. Also, in v.109, my life is continually in my hands. I frequently put myself or my family in dangerous situations. However, God is our refuge. God is our shield. God holds the power to revive me and sustain my life.
What is happening right now in Ukraine breaks my heart and makes me reflect on how the psalmist prayed to God must be a similar prayer our brothers and sisters in Ukraine need. In the pitch-dark nights, they rely on God as a lamp to their feet. When fleeing from their homes, they must be in need of God as their hiding place and their shield. The size of my battles in life are no comparison with theirs. Yet, our need for more of Jesus is the same. Just like how the psalmist exemplified, I want to keep my promise to God that I would incline my heart to His word, for they are the joy of my heart.
APPLICATION
These beautiful Psalms we are reading together in March and April are such perfect scriptures to pray over in this season for myself, my family, our church, our city, United States, and nations. The riches in adoration for God, confession of need for our Lord, and commitments as followers of Jesus are so perfectly written in these Psalms. My own words are so limited. I often found it so hard to articulate my love and gratitude toward God. My application is to use this chance when meditating on Psalms, I will make them into my prayers to pray over daily and to memorize verses that God highlighted for me.
PRAYER
Abba Father, thank you for Your Word. Thank you Jesus for walking with me in the darkness. I pray once again that Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. I wait for Your Word. How sweet are Your words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Forever, Lord, Your word stands in heaven. Your faithfulness continues throughout generations; You established the earth, and it stands. Teach me good discernment and knowledge, for I believe in Your commandments. At midnight I will rise to give thanks to You because of Your righteous judgments. Turn my eyes away from looking at what is worthless, and revive me in Your ways. Open my eyes, that I may behold Wonderful things from Your Law. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
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