When thou goest, it shall lead thee; (direction)
When thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; (protection)
And when thou wakest, it shall talk with thee. (instruction)
For the commandment is a Lamp: And the law is Light;
And reproofs of instruction are the [Path] way of life.
Pro. 6:22,23
Notice, if you will, the similarity and the order of these verses:
“Thy Word is a Lamp;” “For the Commandment is a Lamp.”
[Thy Word is a] Light;” “And the law is Light”
“Unto my Path” “Are the [path] way of life”
We are justified in adding (path) into the scripture: Way: derek, Heb. a road (as trodden) fig. a course of life or mode of action; (high)way, (path)way.
And this, we heartily agree, addresses the Christian walk!
But let us examine again Psalm 119:105: “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet. . .a light unto my path.”Question. Is the Spirit being repetitious here; are both being addressed to the Christian walk; or is there something else. . .?
Certainly there is an abundance of scripture to teach us to walk in the Light.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. In Him was life; and the life was the Light of men. And the Light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehendeth it not.” John chapter 1:1,4-5.
Again, notice the comparison of scripture between Psalm119:105, Proverbs 6:22-23 and John 1:1,4-5 -Word. . . Life. . . Light. . .!
“For God, who commanded the Light to shine out of darkness (ref. John 1:5), hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the Glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” II Cor .4:6.
Are there any so void of discernment as not to realize that we speak of more than the written Word; it is of He, the Living Word, the Life, the Light!
“Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the Light with you. Walk while ye have the Light. . .While ye have the Light, believe in the Light, that ye may be children of the Light” John 12:35,36.
Can there be any doubt that Jesus was directing their attention to Himself?
“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I AM the Light of the world: he that followeth me shall notwalk in darkness, but shall have the Light of Life.” John 8:12.
Compare! “Thy Word (Christ) is the Lamp. He is not only the Light, but the Eternal Source. He came as a chosen vessel from God, full of the Oil of the Spirit: He is the Lamp unto my feet; the Light unto my path!
“For ye were sometimes [at one time] darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children ofLight.” Eph. 5:8. Notice: Ye were darkness, not just in darkness. John 1:5 “And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.” How can space or inanimate objects comprehendanything! Man is identified not only with, but as darkness.
“But now are ye [made] light! Even as Christ, (the object of our faith) has made us Righteous! His Righteousness! His Life! His Light! Accounted unto us! Glorious Truth!
Behold the charge: “Now are ye light in the Lord; walk like it! That is, what God has declared and made to be, lawfully and judicially; let it become so in our daily walk with Him.
“Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet.”Are we to assume that this phrase speaks of, and only of, the Christian walk? What other purpose is there for having feet anyway? Well, they are good to stand on!
“For Thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not Thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the Light of the Living?” Psalm 56:13
“Jesus answered. . .If any man walk in the Day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the Light of this world” John 11:9
I fear that many newborn babes are quickly thrust out into the world and charged to “walk the Christian walk!” Surely they are destined to “stumble and fall.” What infant is there who has not attempted to stand on legs that wobble, and hold on to the fingers of a parent who is there to give support. He will walk; but not until he gains strength and assurance to be able to first: Stand!
Yes! Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet; feet that must needs, stand. And just how are we to learn to stand? “The night is far spent, the Day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of Light. . .Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh” Rom. 13:12,14.
The child of God is found to differ somewhat from the natural child, in that his standing is fiercelyopposed: “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness of this world. . .Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able towithstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand” Eph.6:11,12.
The believer is to “hold his ground” when the evil one would think to rob him of his hope and faith; to cause him to stumble and fall. He is not told to advance, to be the aggressor; only to dig in, to stand surefooted.
“Stand, therefore, having your loins girt about with Truth.” In the orient, the clothing worn was very long, reaching almost to the ground. When one “girted” or lifted the outer garment and secured it around his waist, it was an indication that he was “ready for action.” But what is the spiritual application? In I Peter 1:13 we are admonished to “Gird up the loins of your mind;” that is, allow the Truth of the Word to garrison itself about your mind, let it be your protection, your stronghold when that Wicked comes as a roaring lion, desiring to devour you!
“And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.” Peace; peace? Can a believer find Peace in the midst of the storm? Can he know Peace, even if he must spend the night in the lion’s den?! He can - if he knows the Prince of Peace!
“And your feet shod” As I recall hearing, horses were, and are yet, I suppose, shod with different horseshoes, depending on the horse and the terrain over which he might be traveling. In an informative old Bible dictionary, I found that the oriental soldier/warrior was “shod” with special shoes or sandals; perhaps not unlike many sport shoes in our day. They apparently had nails or cleats in the bottom which enabled them to “dig in” to stand fast if you will! If we would likewise be enabled to “dig in,” then let us “dig in” to the scriptures; let us stand fast!
“And the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.” This is last to be mentioned. For what length of time might any swordsman, (however skilled he may aspire himself to be) last in battle if he had not been taught first, the art of defense?
One last thought: if one would walk, it is imperative that he do it with bended knee. Actually, the steeper the climb, the more the knee must bend. “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching with all perseverance and supplication for all saints” Eph. 6:18.
Thy Word is a Lamp unto my feet, that I may be able to stand; and a Light unto my path, that I may be able to walk!
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