The alphabet has always been foundational to learning. If you’ve ever watched The Sound of Music, you probably remember the scene where Maria is teaching the children to sing. She tells them, “Let’s start at the very beginning, a very good place to start. When you read, you begin with A B C.”
One of the first things we learn in school is the alphabet. I have vague memories of the Kindergarten class having groups of pictures of things that began with each letter. In youth groups, there’s a common ice breaker game to help get to know names in a new setting. You say your name, and then name a couple of things that start with the same letter. For example, my name is Scott, a food is spaghetti, and an animal is snake. Churches and ministries often use acronyms to help people remember the event name. Here at the Church of Christ, we have JAM Club- Jesus And Me and LOL Youth- Live Out Loud. Some preachers like to use alliteration to outline their sermon. I began to look for a funny example, but came across this instead- Alliterations are almost always absolutely atrocious- and decided to stop looking.
But when David wrote Psalm 119, he built it around the Hebrew alphabet- all 22 letters. This resulted in a psalm that is 176 verses divided into 22 stanzas with 8 verses, each verse in the stanza starting with the same letter. Our passage today is the 14th stanza, based on the letter nun- creating a psalm full of non-atrocious alliteration.
Read Psalm 119:105-112 and pray.
I’m going to stay focused on David’s use of language to communicate just a bit longer. You see, not only were all these verses in alliteration, David chose his words to draw a picture illustrating what God’s word is for us.
For years, when I read verse 105, I pictured someone who was struggling in the dark of night. Looking at the Hebrew, I realized I was only partly right. The first line is “Your word is a LAMP to my feet.” The Hebrew word for lamp is Ner. It’s a word that describes the oil burning lamp that someone holds in their hand as they move around at night, like a predecessor to a flashlight. It lights up the area around one’s feet, so they can see well enough to know where they’re going.
The second line is “And a LIGHT to my path.” The Hebrew word for light is Or. This describes a much brighter source of light, more like sunshine lighting up the day and revealing the way much more clearly.
As I got thinking about this, I realized that David is reminding us that God’s word is needed in all circumstances. Whether it’s the darkness of night- the struggles we may be going through- turn to God’s word to cast light on the situation. When it’s the light of day and life seems to be going well, remain in God’s word to remain on the path. Dark or light, God’s word lights the way, He is our guide.
During my study, I noticed a few other passages that used the same type of metaphor of light to describe God’s word. Read Proverbs 6:23. This verse is written from the viewpoint of parents who are teaching God’s word to their children. God’s commandment is a lamp, His teaching is a light, their purpose is to protect the children from the temptations of the world, adultery being the example used in this passage.
In 2 Samuel 22:29, as David is celebrating that God has delivered him from Saul, he refers to God Himself as the lamp that lightens the darkness. And in 2 Peter 1:19, Peter, who was an eye witness to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, tells us to pay attention to God’s word- it is the light shining in the darkness that will get you through until the dawn comes and the Son returns.
If God’s word is a lamp by night and a light by day, how do we put it to use in our lives? First, David tells us that God’s word is given for guidance. Read vss 105-6. How does light guide us? Well, for centuries sailors have looked to the skies for navigational purposes. They keep track of the north star at night, knowing it’s in a steady location. They know the sun rises in the east, midday is more overhead but to the south, and then sets in the west. (When I’m indoors I become very directionally challenged, so I may very well have pointed in the wrong direction for all of that.)
Drivers today know how important it is to have good headlights to light the way. I grew up in the country and worked at a Pizza Hut my senior year. There was more than one occasion after working to close, that I would wonder why it seemed so dark that night before realizing that I hadn’t switched on my headlights, the streetlights were bright enough at the beginning of the drive that I hadn’t noticed until I got out of town.
As Christians, we need to make sure that we are using God’s word as a lamp, to help us focus on what’s happening immediately around us. We also need to use God’s word as the light to help us see the bigger picture. Both perspectives are needed.
In 2 Kings 6, we’re told of a time when the Syrian army was on the attack. Multiple times, God warned Israel through His prophet Elisha of the Syrian plans and what they needed to do to stop the enemy. When the king of Syria realized what was happening, he sent a massive army to capture Elisha. Elisha had a servant that assisted him with travels. One morning, the servant woke up, looked out the window, and saw the massive Syrian army surrounding the town where they stayed. I liken this to seeing with the lamp- he recognizes the immediate situation and he knows to turn to Elisha because Elisha will turn to God.
I liken the next part of the event to seeing with the light. The servant points out all the troops lined up to capture Elisha and cries out, “What are we going to do?” Check out Elisha’s response- read 2 Kings 6:16-17. Elisha reassures him they’re not outnumbered then prays to God to open the young man’s eyes, revealing that the mountains were full of horses and chariots of fire- the army of God. Sometimes, God reveals just a little, other times He makes things quite clear. Let Him be your guide.
David also tells us that God’s word is what gets us through the times of affliction. Read vss 107-8. In difficult times, it can feel like we’re lost in the darkness. In youth group this summer, we’re learning about the miracles of Jesus. This last week we looked at two of them- the first is in Mark 4. After teaching to the crowds all day, Jesus and the disciples get in a boat to cross the sea. A severe storm blows in and the disciples panic that they’re going to sink. Where’s Jesus? Fast asleep. I picture the disciples waking Jesus up, how could you sleep at a time like this? I imagine Jesus tiredly stretching with a yawn, standing up to look at the storm, then reprimanding the wind and telling the waves, “Peace! Be Still!” The wind and the waves immediately come to a stop. They’re reminded of who they are with.
In Matthew 14, the disciples get in a boat to cross the sea, but Jesus stays behind to pray. As a storm rages, they see Jesus walking to them on the water. In their panic, they think they’re seeing a ghost until Jesus reassures them. Then good ol’ Peter tells Jesus to call him out to the water if it’s really Him and Jesus does. Peter gets out of the boat and begins to walk on the water. But then he takes his eyes off Jesus, looks at the wind and waves around him, gets scared and begins to sink. Jesus rescues him and they get on the boat. Peter was fine until he took his eyes off Jesus.
A lot of us have had struggles lately- cancer, illness, injury, financial struggles, the list goes on. I want to encourage you today, these are the times we need to keep our eyes on Jesus. He is right there with you and will get you to the other side. May our attitudes reflect the words of Job 1:21 (read).
David then describes how God’s word preserves us in the presence of our enemies. Read vss 109-10. David is quite familiar with dealing with enemies. As a young man, he trusted God as he faced Goliath and the Philistines. He had to find a way to honor his king, despite Saul’s efforts to take his life. And then, because of all the war he had to wage to establish Israel’s borders, God didn’t allow David to build the temple. Through it all, David was known to be a man after God’s own heart.
On a global basis today, persecution continues to run rampant. Some of my missions friends in India have been sharing through facebook posts that the government has filed charges against church leaders. Mobs have attacked church gatherings. The price is high to be a Christian in India today.
Persecution in the US seems to be more of a mental attack than a physical one. Young people especially are being pulled away from God’s truth.
The world says, “There are many paths to God.” Read John 14:6. There is only one way to God- believe in Jesus, repent of your sins, confess that Jesus is Lord/Master, be baptized to join Him, then live for Christ.
The world says, “There’s no such thing as absolute truth.” Read John 17:17. In addition to what Jesus says in this prayer, look at their statement. They’re stating an absolute truth in declaring such a thing doesn’t exist, negating their point.
The world says, “Just do what feels right to you.” Read 1 Corinthians 10:23. Yes, we can do as we please, but must understand there are consequences, be they good or bad. I’ve seen this meme on facebook recently that I believe represents this discussion well:
Person: I want to do "X."
Biblical Church: You are free to do it.
Person: But you think "X" is wrong.
Biblical Church: Yes.
Person: Because you want to control me?
Biblical Church: No. You are free to do what you want.
Person: But you think "X" is wrong.
Biblical Church: Yes. But only because I want your ultimate good.
Person: But I want to do "X."
Biblical Church: You are free to do it.
Person: But I want you to say that "X" is good.
Biblical Church: I cannot say that.
Person: Why do you hate me?
We need the word of God to stand in these times. We need to be praying for our young people especially, that they can stand for God’s truth in a world that seems to want to accept anything but that truth.
David finishes this stanza by declaring that God’s word is the source for the joy we express from our hearts. Read vss 111-112. He says something similar in his first psalm. Read Psalm 1:1-2. It is a joy to follow God’s word. Back in the 80s, Michael W. Smith wrote a song performed by Amy Grant based on this psalm called Thy Word. Listen to these words:
Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path
When I feel afraid, Think I've lost my way, Still you're there right beside me
Nothing will I fear, As long as you are near, Please be near me to the end
Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path
I will not forget, Your love for me and yet, My heart forever is wandering
Jesus be my guide, And hold me to your side, I will love you to the end
Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path
God's word is our guide, God's word helps us through affliction, God's word helps us face our enemies, God's word is our source of joy. Read it, meditate upon it, memorize it, live it, apply it. Pray
I want to close with one more thought about the Word of God. Psalm 119 tells us it’s the lamp to my feet and the light to my path. John 1 reveals a deeper identity for the Word. Read John 1:1,14. Jesus is the Word. He is our guide. He is the one we need to follow. We want to give you that opportunity today. We’re going to sing Thy Word for our invitation. If you need to make the commitment to follow the lamp and the light provided by God and be baptized, we ask you to come forward. If that makes you nervous or you have questions or simply need to talk with someone, an elder will be in the first classroom you pass on your way out for you to have that conversation. Let’s stand as we sing.
