Psalm 119:105-112 105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.106 I have sworn an oath and confirmed it, to keep your righteous rules. 107 I am severely afflicted; give me life, O LORD, according to your word! 108 Accept my freewill offerings of praise, O LORD, and teach me your rules. 109 I hold my life in my hand continually, but I do not forget your law. 110 The wicked have laid a snare for me, but I do not stray from your precepts. 111 Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart. 112 I incline my heart to perform your statutes forever, to the end. (ESV)
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For the night time journeys of Israel through the wilderness, they were illumined by a pillar of fire that moved before them on their march. Most of the time the pillar stood in the center of their camp over the Most Holy Place of the tabernacle, where during the day it was a pillar of cloud; but when they marched, it went before them to lead the way, and at night it also illumined their path by becoming a flaming pillar of light (Exod. 40:36–38; Exodus 13:21–22; Numbers 9:15–23; 10:34–36). In a similar way our nighttime passage through the dark and dangerous journey of this life is illumined by God’s Word, the Bible, as stanza fourteen of Psalm 119 (the nun stanza) says when it begins in verse 5: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path”. Here we see how God’s Word is pictured both as a lamp and a light: “A lamp is for night; light shines in the day,” “The Word is both to the psalmist.” His antithesis may mean that the Law gives “light of every sort” or in all “the varying phases of experience.” It is a light for our darkness and for our brighter times as well (Alexander Maclaren, The Psalms, p.273.).
Psalm 119 is a massive psalm in honor of the law. It is in twenty-two eight-verse stanzas, which are organized in acrostic order. Each verse of each unit begins with the same letter. This made the psalm easier to memorize (Garrett, D. A. (1998). The Poetic and Wisdom Books. In D. S. Dockery (Ed.), Holman concise Bible commentary: Simple, straightforward commentary on every book of the Bible (D. S. Dockery, Ed.) (231). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.). It is one of the fifty anonymous psalms, the longest of the 150 psalms found in the book of psalms. It is 8 or 10 times as long as the average length of the other psalms (Gingrich, R. E. (1995). The Book of Psalms (Book Five) (20). Memphis, TN.: Riverside Printing.). Psalm 119 uses several different terms for God’s word: law, statutes, precepts, decrees and commands. By one term or another, God’s word and way are mentioned in every verse. The whole psalm is carefully constructed around the twenty-four letters of the Hebrew alphabet. Each letter introduces an eight-verse section or stanza. Each stanza extols a fresh aspect of God’s wonderful law, its beauty and benefits. It is like a great love poem. God’s law is His truth, His teaching. It has been revealed so that we may live fully, safely, wisely and well (Knowles, A. (2001). The Bible guide (1st Augsburg books ed.) (243). Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg.)
In Psalm 119:105-112 the word of God is shown as: 1)Light Points Our Direction (Psalm 119:105-108), 2) Light Presents Our Defence (Psalm 119:109-110), 3) Light Provides Our Delight (Psalm 119:111-112).
God’s words is a “Light for the Path” in that this:
1) Light Points Our Direction (Psalm 119:105-108)
Psalm 119:105-108 105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.106 I have sworn an oath and confirmed it, to keep your righteous rules. 107 I am severely afflicted; give me life, O LORD, according to your word! 108 Accept my freewill offerings of praise, O LORD, and teach me your rules. (ESV)
• “We will spend about half our time on this first point”.
God`s Word is not only clear itself, but it is also clarifying, which means that we see other things clearly by its light. Verse 105 shows us the Precept, the way we should go. The way we should live our lives is what the psalmist means when he calls God’s Word a lamp to his feet and a light to his path. We may not know how to live our lives, but Scripture shines on the path before us to expose the wrong, dangerous ways we might take and light up the right ones. Many Christians suppose the Bible exists to give them detailed instructions concerning what job they should take, whom they should marry, where they should live, how they should spend their vacations, and other such details of daily living. This is not how the Word of God functions. It does not offer special or mystical (moment by moment) leadings. It unfolds the kind of character a Christian should have and shows the priorities that should govern his or her thinking. This is true light on our path, and it is only Scripture that provides it. Nothing in the world gives the same illumination. On the contrary, the world always sets the wrong priorities and extols misguided results. Illustration: Think of walking in the woods at night. There in the woods at night it is difficult to see anything. Even if we have a flashlight, we may not see the whole trail, but we see where we are to place our next step. Likewise, God’s Word lights our path as we walk through the darkness of this world one step at a time (we may not know what is coming further on down the trail or where the trail will end, because our job is to stay on the path of obedience where we are now, and leave the rest of the trail to God) (Williams, D., & Ogilvie, L. J. (1989). Vol. 14: The Preacher's Commentary Series, Volume 14 : Psalms 73-150. The Preacher's Commentary series (368). Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson Inc.).
That is why in verse 106 the focus is on the Practice. This verse is not talking about the righteousness of God imputed to us through faith in Jesus Christ; it is concerned with righteous actions, which is why it speaks of following God’s “righteous rules/laws.” Such was the national covenant at Sinai and in the fields of Moab (Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., Fausset, A. R., Brown, D., & Brown, D. (1997). A commentary, critical and explanatory, on the Old and New Testaments (Ps 119:106). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.). The language of the Psalmist here is legal and emphatic. He will uphold the law of God as it applies to the situations of this life. His ethics are absolute rather than relative. They are not determined by the particular context within which he finds himself. At the same time, such a stance provokes persecution (Williams, D., & Ogilvie, L. J. (1989). Vol. 14: The Preacher's Commentary Series, Volume 14 : Psalms 73-150. The Preacher's Commentary series (368). Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson Inc.).
Why do we need the Bible to know what is right and wrong? Doesn’t the world have an intrinsic sense of right and wrong that enables it to enact good laws and convicts it by supplying a bad conscience? Yes, to a point. There is such a thing as natural law, which provides a moral foundation common to human beings almost everywhere. Generally people know that it is wrong to kill, steal, lie, and dishonour one’s parents, for instance. But these are not the areas in which we have our greatest problems. If a choice is black and white, we know what to do. Unfortunately, the problems we face are usually not usually black and white but grey. We suspect we should do one thing, but there is another side to it. If the situation does not seem grey to us immediately, if we talk to our friends it becomes grey soon enough, since everyone sees it from a different point of view. Only by studying, meditating upon, and seeking to apply the Bible can we find our way through the grey landscape of life. The Bible is not grey. There are things in it we may not fully understand, but when we do understand them, which is often enough, they are very clear. Thus, the Bible is a light on our moral path. The path is dark because the world is dark, but the Bible clarifies the issues and shows us how to walk through the darkness. The allusion here is to the lamps and torches carried at night before an Eastern caravan. Not only does the Word of God inform us of His will, but, as a light on a path in darkness, it shows us how to follow the right and avoid the wrong way. The lamp of the Word is not the sun. He would blind our eyes in our present fallen state; but we may bless God for the light shining as in a dark place, to guide us until the Sun of Righteousness shall come, and we shall be made capable of seeing Him (Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., Fausset, A. R., Brown, D., & Brown, D. (1997). A commentary, critical and explanatory, on the Old and New Testaments (Ps 119:105). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.).
We live in a dark, perplexing world that offers us many paths. If we are careless about the paths we choose, we invite misery and ruin. The Word of God provides the direction we need. It is like a light shining in a dark place (Ellsworth, R. (2006). Opening up Psalms (25). Leominster: Day One Publications.).
2 Peter 1:19 [19]And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, (ESV)
Quote: One author stated it like this: "There has been no age of the world since God’s revelation has been given, no period of life whether in youth or age, no rank of society from the lowest to the highest, no condition of life in which men have been placed, but what they have found this Word true. God’s Word has counsel for every difficulty, comfort in every trouble, guidance in all perplexity. Men go wrong, not from want of knowledge of the right, but from unwillingness to follow the right" (The Pulpit Commentary: Psalms Vol. III. 2004 (H. D. M. Spence-Jones, Ed.) (135). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.).
Together (verses 105-106), show what kind of light and path are in mind.... This is not convenient guidance for one’s career, but truth for moral choices (Kidner, D. (1975). Vol. 16: Psalms 73-150: An Introduction and Commentary. Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries (463). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.)
Quote: From verse 106 to 107 C.H Spurgeon said: In (verse 106) the psalmist had been sworn in as a soldier of the Lord, and in (verse 107) he is called to suffer hardness in that capacity. The service of the Lord does not screen us from trial, but rather secures it for us.” (Charles H. Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, VI:244.)
Please look back in Psalm 119 to verse 65
In Psalm 119:107 we see the Plea of the psalmist. The Bible can help by explaining the various reasons for suffering, which was the focus of Psalm 119:81–88.
Psalm 119:81–88 81 My soul longs for your salvation; I hope in your word. 82 My eyes long for your promise; I ask, “When will you comfort me?” 83 For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke, yet I have not forgotten your statutes. 84 How long must your servant endure? When will you judge those who persecute me? 85 The insolent have dug pitfalls for me; they do not live according to your law. 86 All your commandments are sure; they persecute me with falsehood; help me! 87 They have almost made an end of me on earth, but I have not forsaken your precepts. 88 In your steadfast love give me life, that I may keep the testimonies of your mouth. (ESV)
• The worst thing you can do in the midst of suffering is close off from other believers and God`s word. The Holy Spirit guides our minds and comforts our hears through God`s word. When other believers live out the precepts of Scripture, they provide that Godly human touch to comfort in distress.
Nothing but God’s Word can show us that some suffering is merely common to humanity, some corrective, still other suffering constructive, Christ-glorifying, or even cosmic. Yet reasons are not what the psalmist is talking about in Psalm 119:107, for what follows is the prayer, “Give me/Renew my life … according to your word.” In his suffering the writer turned to the Bible and found God present in its pages as well as finding promises for renewal of his life and spirit when he goes through hard times. It was God’s presence and God’s promises that kept him going. If ever there was a light on his dark path, it was then. If ever there was a light at the end of his dark tunnel, it was when he opened the Bible’s pages. This plea, what we say when we are praying (v. 107) should also be truthful. To talk to God piously without being willing to obey Him in the matters we are praying about is to bring hypocrisy into our fellowship with God. After we have prayed, are we available to be a part of the answer (Eph. 3:20–21)? (Wiersbe, W. W. (2004). Be exultant (1st ed., pp. 127–128). Colorado Springs, CO: Cook Communications Ministries.)
The "freewill offering of praise" in Psalm 119:108 speaks to the spontaneous expressions of his gratitude, as contrasted with the appointed “offerings” of the temple. Psalm 119:108-110 are in essence a summary of worship. Like Hebrews 13, they speak of things like the Praise of God with our mouth and being taught God’s laws. These two things belong together because they are what right worship and the practice of true godliness are all about. (Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., Fausset, A. R., Brown, D., & Brown, D. (1997). A commentary, critical and explanatory, on the Old and New Testaments (Ps 119:108). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.).
Poem: Willard Johnson said of Scripture: “Generations follow generations—yet it lives. Nations rise and fall—yet it lives. Kings, dictators, presidents come and go—yet it lives. Torn, condemned, burned—yet it lives. Doubted, suspected, criticized—yet it lives. Damned by atheists—yet it lives. Exaggerated by fanatics—yet it lives. Misconstrued and misstated—yet it lives. Its inspiration denied—yet it lives. Yet it lives—a lamp to our feet, a light to our paths, a standard for childhood, a guide for youth, a comfort for the aged, food for the hungry, water for the thirsty, rest for the weary, light for the heathen, salvation for the sinner, grace for the Christian. To know it is to love it; To love it is to accept it; To accept it means life eternal” (Hobbs, H. H. (1990). My favorite illustrations (20–21). Nashville, TN: Broadman Press.).
God’s words is a “Light for the Path” in that this:
2) Light Presents Our Defence (Psalm 119:109-110).
Psalm 119:109-110 [109] I hold my life in my hand continually, but I do not forget your law. [110] The wicked have laid a snare for me, but I do not stray from your precepts. (ESV)
Psalm 119:109 deals with the defence against our anxieties. It expresses the English idiom, “I am taking my life in my hands.” It means that the writer is in constant danger. Although, Psalm 119 is one of fifty anonymous psalms in scripture, the writer is in actual danger (Gingrich, R. E. (1995). The Book of Psalms (Book Five) (20). Memphis, TN.: Riverside Printing). Whenever we find the psalms talking about danger, we usually think of physical danger, and it is true that the psalmists, particularly David, did face physical danger. David’s enemies were always out to get him. But the psalms also speak of spiritual dangers like falling into sin or forgetting God. Verse 109 combines these two ideas. When the writer speaks of taking his life in his hands, he is expressing the idea of actually losing it. When he adds, nevertheless, “I do/will not forget your law,” he is confessing that the far greater danger would be for him to abandon God’s Word and begin to live a purely secular life. In other words, the Bible clarifies the nature of the danger and shows where his true peril lies. The verbs in 109, 110 express Determination: ‘I am determined not to forget … not to stray’. We must not expect to drift by accident into devotion to the word! (Carson, D. A. (1994). New Bible commentary : 21st century edition (4th ed.) (Ps 119:105–112). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, Ill., USA: Inter-Varsity Press.)
• Do we understand the danger of abandoning God’s Word? I do not think so, and the fact I would put into evidence is the nature of our prayers. The prayers we most often hear have to do almost exclusively with having good health (or getting better when we or someone else is sick), succeeding at our jobs, passing a test, or perhaps someone else’s salvation. Where are the prayers that we might be kept from sin, that we or those close to us might become more godly, that we might be able to live better for God or get to know God better? We need the Bible to clarify our true danger. We will never be aware of our danger without it.
Please turn to Ephesians 6
Verse 110 deals with the Defence against our adversaries. It teaches the same lessons as the one before it, making clear that the writer really was in danger of being killed by his enemies. They are “the wicked” who had set snares for him. If we are trying to live for Christ, we will have similar experiences. Ungodly people will also set snares for us, because they hate us and the Lord we are serving. They will try to make us look bad before our friends or fail at our jobs. If we are going to see our way through this problem and remain on the right path spiritually, we are going to have to carefully study God’s Word to get our priorities straight and be reminded that it is far more important to be approved by God than by other people. Those who are instructed in the Word are not ignorant of Satan’s designs. By simple obedience to the Bible, they avoid his booby-traps.( MacDonald, W. (1995). Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments. (A. Farstad, Ed.) (p. 744). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.)
We are in a war and there are snares or schemes for which we must beware. We have weapons to fight or wrestle in this war, but they are useless if not used to battle:
Ephesians 6:10-20 [10] Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. [11] Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. [12] 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. [13] Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. [14] Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, [15]and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. [16]In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; [17]and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, [18]praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, [19]and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, [20]for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak. (ESV)
• Scripture is a defence against our adversaries, it clarifies the nature of these struggles, showing that it is our spiritual battles, both internal and external rather than mere material or physical success, that really matter.
Quote: Daniel Webster, the author of Webster's dictionary said: “If we abide by the principles taught in the Bible, our country will go on prospering and to prosper, but if we and our posterity neglect its instruction and authority, no man can tell how sudden a catastrophe may overwhelm us and bury our glory in profound obscurity.” (Hobbs, H. H. (1990). My favorite illustrations (21). Nashville, TN: Broadman Press.)
Finally, God’s word is a “Light for the Path” in that this:
3) Light Provides Our Delight (Psalm 119:111-112)
Psalm 119:111-112 [111] Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart. [112] I incline my heart to perform your statutes forever, to the end. (ESV)
God's word provides a reason for Rejoicing. Psalm 119:111 shows the believer’s true heritage. What is the psalmist’s spiritual heritage, that is, what is he looking toward and working for? Some heavenly reward? A word of praise from God? Surprisingly, he says that his heritage is what he has been speaking about all along: God’s Word itself. This inheritance is more sure than the inheritance of the land of Canaan; for the word of the LORD is eternal and always dependable. The covenant is a delightful inheritance—it brings salvation and joy to the believer. Obedience to God’s word was never seen as a drudgery or fixed duty by the devout; to them it was a life of joy and blessing. (Ross, A. P. (2016). A Commentary on the Psalms (90–150): Commentary (Vol. 3, p. 553). Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Academic.)
Please turn to Matthew 24
Why does he say that all he desires for his inheritance is what he already possesses? Why should we say it? First, of all the many seemingly weighty and important things we know on this earth, the only thing that will last forever is God’s Word. Yet, the things we tend to concern ourselves with will pass away or are not something we have to worry about. What remains, is God’s word. Jesus said:
Matthew 24:32-36 32 “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 34 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. 36 “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. (ESV)
• Our houses will pass away. Our bank accounts will pass away. Our earthly achievements and reputations will pass away. Everything. Only the Word of God will not pass away. It makes sense that the psalmist would fix his mind on God’s Word and cherish it.
Because the law of God is the very Word of God, it is actually part of God himself, just as our words are part of what we are. In fact, it is what we possess of God here. So, when the writer says that God’s statutes are his heritage forever, what he is actually saying is that God himself is his heritage. He said it explicitly earlier: “You are my portion, O LORD” (v. 57). There is nothing better than God, so he does not look for anything better.
This also means that for the length of our lives, we look to be instructed and corrected by God's Word:
Proverbs 6:23 [23] For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life, (ESV)
The psalmist has found God’s statutes to be “the joy of [his] heart.” He is fully satisfied with God’s Law. Therefore, he wants nothing more than to go on enjoying God’s words forever. Joy without obedience is frivolity; obedience without joy is moralism (Carson, D. A. (1994). New Bible commentary : 21st century edition (4th ed.) (Ps 119:105–112). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, Ill., USA: Inter-Varsity Press.).
• Isn’t it true that the reason so many of us are dissatisfied with life is that we have not found the satisfaction in God and his Word that the psalmist has? He was spiritually rich. By contrast, we are rich in things but poor in soul.
Finally, verse 112 shows that God's word provides a reason for Reflection. The nun stanza ends (vv. 105–12), with a statement of fierce determination: “I incline my heart to perform your statutes forever, to the end”. (ESV). The Psalmist wants to keep God’s decrees because he will be able to live a God-pleasing life, he will understand the nature of true righteousness, he will possess a divine perspective on suffering and triumph in it, he will be able to worship God rightly, he will not be turned aside from obedience to God’s Law by any physical danger, nor be distracted by the snares of evil men, and he will have a heritage that will last forever. One of the ministries of the Holy Spirit is to bring God’s Word to our remembrance when we need it (John 14:25–26; 16:12–15), but we cannot remember what we have never heard and learned (v. 11; Heb. 5:12–14) (Wiersbe, W. W. (2004). Be exultant (1st ed., p. 128). Colorado Springs, CO: Cook Communications Ministries.).
Sometimes we talk about having a biblical world-and-life-view, as opposed to having a secular worldview. A secular worldview is bound by what we can see and by the here-and-now. A biblical worldview sees all things in the light of God and from the perspective of God’s revelation. This worldview can be expressed many ways, but there is probably no better statement of what is involved in it than these eight verses as they deal with God, life, righteousness, suffering, worship, danger, enemies, and our heritage in the light of the Word. They are what life is about. The only way the psalmist attained this perspective is because the Word of God articulates it clearly.
(Format Note: Outline from Tim Byrd. Some base commentary from Boice, J. M. (2005). Psalms (Pbk. ed.) (1024–1030). Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Books).
