INTRO
Let me ask you a couple of silly questions. Have you ever walked down a darkened hallway in the middle of the night, and then stubbed your toe, or bumped into a wall or something else? How about this one: have you ever walked outside at night without the use of artificial light and tripped on something you didn’t know was beneath your feet? I have — lots of times —in both respects; and ya know, it always hurts.
A couple of years ago, I went outside after dark to look at the stars in ways we couldn’t while back in Minnesota. I stepped from the porch, with the lights of course, and then I tripped on the water-hose. Down I went, taking Danielle and Hallie with me. Truth be known — they kinda cushioned my fall. However, I still managed to take a chunk out of my big toe.
The lesson I learned is that little light above the porch is there to light the path below so we can see our feet and not trip. Maybe that’s why someone — at least far wiser than me— invented things like nightlights, porch lights, sidewalk lights and other such gadgets that light the paths beneath of feet.
Let’s hear more about the lights God gives to us to light the path beneath our feet. Please turn in your bibles to Psalm 119:105–112.
LAMPS LIGHT THE WAY (V105)
Let’s start out our time by looking at V.105. The psalmist wrote, READ PSALM 119:105. You know, the interesting thing about man-made lights, we only need them to walk safely during the darkened hours. When the sun is shining brightly, we don’t need artificial light to be lamps onto our feet. But, when can’t see the sun shine, or it’s around the other side of the earth, things like artificial lights help light the paths beneath our feet.
Now, could you imagine living without with sun? Okay, we truly can’t live without the sun. Without its radiant heat and light, the earth would freeze rather quickly, and life would cease within days, weeks or months. Still, in reality, there are folks — like those in Alaska, Scandinavia, and Northern Canada, who — for at least half the year — endure seasons with very little sunlight. It is said that many people succumb to depression during these periods of prolonged darkness.
We need the sun to shine brightly upon our lives, not just light the paths to beneath our feet, but to keep us sane, happy, and on an even-keel. As it is physical, the same works in the spiritual. God gave us his son to be the light of the world. He gave us his son to shine his light in the darkness, and to be the light that illuminates the path beneath of feet.
The Apostle John wrote: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it” (Jn 1:1–5).
Just like the sun at the center of our solar system shines upon planet, warms us, and sustains our physical lives; the son of God — who is the Word of God, —shines upon our lives, gives us life and sustains us in all ways: spiritually, physically and emotionally. Without him, we’d cease to be — even those who fail to pay him tribute.
Through the light that shined upon him, the Apostle John revealed a new truth to humanity. That truth was that God had in fact come to this earth, as the bright and shining Son, to light the paths beneath our feet, so that we no longer have to walk in darkness. Even if it seems like we can’t feel the warmth of God’s sunlight, we always have the son with us, just as the sun in the heavens is always with us, whether we can feel it’s heat or see its bright light.
Still, there are times when it does seem as though God is distant —maybe like he’s shining on another side of the world, or in those times when we’re travelling through dark valleys. It’s in those times —especially in those times — when God says, “I’m here to be your nightlight, sidewalk lights, and your flashlight, so that you can safely walk the path I’ve chosen for you. God is saying, “My word is a nightlight and flashlight unto your feet. Plug me in and turn me on so that you don’t tip and fall in the darkness of the world.”
The Apostle Peter exhorts us to read and heed God’s words so that we keep from tipping and falling off the path, and towards the dangers of the dark. 2 Peter 1:19 says “And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.”
You know, we have to plug in a nightlight or turn on a flashlight in order for them to work. In much the same way, we have to plug into the bible so that it can illuminate our lives and guide us through the darkness of life. Paraphrasing the psalmist, he says to us, “Turn on God’s light, and ride down the path God’s given for you.” Let’s turn to VV 106-108.
FOLLOWING THE LIGHTED PATH (VV.106-108)
The second line of verse 107 sums-up this section nicely. God is saying to us that our lives are preserved when we follow the lighted path. Still, how to stay on this lighted path? The answer resides in the question. We abide and go where the light shines. We do this through our worship and praise, and especially by devoting ourselves to the daily reading, studying, and meditating upon God’s daily.
You know, it is not enough for any of us — both me and you — to hear God’s Holy Word only on Sundays, through song, liturgy, and sermon. Sunday worship is good for us, and it sustains us for a while. Truthfully, we get out of worship, what we put into it. When we worship with truth and spirit; and joy and praise and celebration; and with attentive hearing and then diligently doing, then we’ll get those things back too. However, if we only come and mildly participate, then we’re already in danger straying from the path, where danger lurks.
Sunday worship keeps us alive, but alone, it’s not enough to help us thrive. To move beyond a state of normal, American life, and towards thriving, God says, “Travel in the brightness of my light, by daily staying in Word. Let’s go back to this section and look at V106.
Notice how V106 says, “I have taken an oath and confirmed it, that I will follow your righteous laws.” As Lutherans, many of us took this oath on our confirmation day. No matter if Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Baptist or some other Christian persuasion, when we say to God that we’re going to live according to his ways, then we need to be true to our word, and do so accordingly, and not according the ways of our comfort.
James 5:12 says, “above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but your yes is to be yes, and your no, no, so that you may not fall under judgment.” Martin Luther would implore us — dare I even say, command us — to daily read, study, and meditate God’s word, and worship him in song, psalm, and praise through music, poetry and other avenues.
Let me encourage you, as those privileged enough to worship in the tradition in the mold of the first reformer, be like Martin Luther. Give God your all by daily traveling in the light of God. Luther walked boldly down the path God laid out form him by shining the light of Jesus in front of him at all times. Darkness was all around him, and tried to its hardest to coerce him off from the path.
But it didn’t get Luther —not in the long-run anyway — because he allowed God to illuminate the path beneath his feet. Sure, he fell from the path at times; we all fall from time-to-time. Still, even though we do, we need to try the best we can to stay on the lighted path, and keep our eyes in front of us at all times. Because the darkness loves to entice us to swerve away from the safety of God’s level and lighted path.
DANGER LURKS OFF THE LIGHTED PATH (VV 109-110)
Let’s look at VV 109-110. READ VV 109-110. Ya know, it’s easy to take our lives into our own hands, especially as Americans. We’ve got it pretty good. Sometimes, because we do have it so good, it’s easy to wander away from the safety of the well-lit path God’s put beneath our feet. It’s easy for us to relax our brain. Sometimes when we do, we swerve and fall off the path, where danger is waiting to snare us into its trap. Let me tell ya a story to show what I mean. I can laugh at this now; but at the time, it wasn’t so funny.
Last October, on a late, misty Sunday afternoon, I went for a bike ride — not one I indented to be filled with danger or excitement. Now, know that I left the house a bit, well let me just say upset and agitated, and I needed to ride in order to see things from God’s perspective. So, I headed out and rode along the CDA trail.
Anyway, after a long while, it started to rain, and I knew I need to head for home. So I turned around, headed back towards town, and kept my eyes directly ahead. I tried the best I could to keep my gaze fixed ahead. But somehow, I managed to daydream, sway, and meander dangerously near the path’s edge — a number of times.
As I peddled along, I heard in my spirit: “That’s twice Jason. Keep your eyes strait!” What I was hearing was a paraphrase from the words of Solomon. Proverbs 4:26 says, “Watch the path of your feet; and all your ways will be established.” Ironically, as I cited this very verse; both tires slid off the path into the gravel.
I squeezed my brakes - making sure both were depressed with equal force. As my momentum ceased, my bike hurled slightly forward and to the left. Then — in slow motion (everything always happens in slow motion, ya know) — it happened. I fell into the trail fence —badly, I might add! My body, my bike, and the fence all became tangled into a pretzel like shape. My bike’s frame and handlebars sandwiched my left leg; and the more I tried to get loose, they squeezed and crushed my ankle with increasing force. I eventually pulled myself free, but not until I realized I’d been hurt.
Anyway, I gathered my composure, and with bruised ego and an injured left ankle, I straddled my bike and finished my ride home. Along the route, I contemplated how easy it is to meander off the path — even if our eyes are fixed straight ahead, and even if the path is well lit. Maybe that’s why Solomon said, “Watch the path of your feet…”
And that’s also probably why God urges us to stay on the lighted path, because it’s dangerous enough when it’s light outside. Imagine what would have happened if I had made the ride in the darkness. I might not have just gone off into the fence, I might have gone off the bank, onto the rocks, and into the river and drown. The light is there to keep us alive and to help us see the dangers that lie ahead. Let’s wrap up by looking at VV111-112.
ENCOURAGING WORDS OF JOY (V111)
The Psalmist said God’s word is the joy of his heart. You know, he’s absolutely right. If I’m in a mood, I can always turn to God’s word to brighten my day. If I’m in a place of confusion and wandering, God’s word has always steered me back into the light and in the center of his path. The how to is really easy; we let God’s light shine upon us day. As we need the sun the above to shine into our wellbeing, so too do we need God’s son to shine upon us to keep us on level ground.
Ad lib for close…… Close with prayer.
