Thy Word Is a Lamp Unto My Feet

In Psalm 119 we read, “Thy word is a lamp to my feet, and a light unto my path.”

If you read the entire Psalm, all 176 verses, you would find over and over and over again it’s praising God for the gift of scripture. Throughout this psalm, there are also sections of prayer asking God for ongoing guidance and change of heart. The prayers are repetitive:

Teach me.
Give me understanding.
Lead me in your paths.
Give me life in your ways.

The psalmist believes that our faith offers us a path, a way of life that is lived in harmony, or in tune with the Creator of the Universe. And, our scriptures teach us how to live that path.

Years ago, a retired pastor was helping part-time in our church. I remember he would come into the office some days so excited about something he’d read that morning in the Bible – some new insight he had gleaned. Inevitably, he’d want to share it with all of us. I thought it was beautiful that God still spoke to him in new ways through the Bible – even after 50 years of preaching and teaching and studying it. What a treasure.

I pray that in your own life, it would be a gift as well – more than just a book that sits on your shelf or in a church pew. I pray that you would open it, read it, soak it in, and be comfortable in it. And may you find that as you do, God will lead you, equip you, change you, and speak to you through it.

Let us pray: O Ancient of Days, God of this very moment. We have set this time set aside for you. We’ve put our lives on pause because we know that you created us to be in communion with you. We ask your Spirit to rest on us. Grant us open our hearts and a desire to meet you in your ancient – yet living word. Amen.