Introduction
As followers of Christ, you and I don’t belong here.
Psalm 119:105 says:
105 Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path.
That verse tells me that in this life, I’m on a journey on a path and that path is not well lit.
The Bible often refers to believers as sojourners or as travelers. Peter says in 1 Peter 2:11, “11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.” When Peter calls us sojourners, he means that we don’t belong to this world. We are visitors here but we are not on vacation. It is not time to relax.
Verses like this one help us to understand that we are in the world, but we aren’t members of this world. Followers of Christ are first and foremost members of the kingdom of God and our citizenship to any other nation is secondary to our primary citizenship in God’s Kingdom.
Did you hear Peter’s tone? Listen to that verse again: “11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.” The Bible often talks about this world being enemy territory for the disciple of Christ. When faced with an enemy, you have two choices. You can stand and fight or you can retreat and hide. The Bible instructs us to be very aware of our enemy. When faced with temptation, verses like 2 Timothy 2:22 tell us to “… flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.”
God instructs us to stay far away from temptation but He never tells us to retreat away into a holy huddle and to only hang around other Christians. In Matthew 5, as Jesus is talking about his disciples being salt and light to the world, he says, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.” It would be hard to be light in the world if you are in hiding (if you are in a holy huddle…if you are under a basket).
So taking the full counsel of scripture into consideration, God’s word is challenging us to live in the world as visitors, keeping our guard up because it is a battlefield and to shine the light of the gospel for both believers and non-believers to see.
This world is a dark place. When people enter dark places, they are prone to stumble around in the dark. In the darkness, it is easy for a predator to hide in the shadows. On a few occasions, I have been out camping in a remote location away from a campground. It is a little unnerving for me to be isolated in the woods, because once darkness begins to fall, you never know what is lurking in the shadows. When it is dark in the woods, it is difficult to see if there is a wolf or bear or a mountain lion that has made its way into the campsite. Predators thrive in the shadows and wait to bounce on unsuspecting prey. In order to make sure the way is safe, the camper needs a flashlight.
Satan also operates in the shadows. He traffics in darkness. Without God’s Word, not only would we be lost, but we would be wide open to Satan’s attacks. God’s Word is like a flashlight that lights up the darkness and reveals the schemes and threats of our adversaries. The scripture often uses the word picture of “light” to describe not only God’s Word but to describe God himself. 1 John 1:5 says, “5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.”
God is Light
Here we have this picture of what God is like…God is light. Of all the things you can say about who God is, none of them would encompass more truth about God’s nature than the statement “God is Light.” Here are some reasons why “Light” is such a good description of God nature:
God is light in that He is perfect. Light symbolizes perfection in scripture. God is perfect, but He’s not just perfect…He’s infinitely perfect. He always has been perfect. He always will be perfect. The passage says, “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” Or in other words, in God, there is no darkness and no imperfection.
- He has always existed in absolute perfection.
- He is perfectly good.
- He is perfectly holy.
- He is the essence of purity, holiness and perfection.
- He is not able to do something that is not good or that is not perfect.
God is like light in that He penetrates darkness. If you are in a totally dark room, even the smallest amount of light begins to penetrate every dark corner. We just read that God doesn’t just want to light up dark rooms, but His desire is to be lit up on a hill so that all men might see him and worship him and find total satisfaction in giving Him glory. We were made to freely worship God and worshipping God is what gives all people total fulfillment. God desires to be known and to reveal himself and to show us His glory so that we might worship Him.
God is light and it is Hard to Hide Light. It’s hard not to see God.
We began studying through Romans as a family this week and I was explaining to my kids a theological term called “general revelation.” General revelation is the fact that nature itself reveals truth about its creator. I explained it this way to our Kids: I pointed to a painting on our wall and I asked my kids if that painting painted itself. Of course they said, “No.” I asked them if the canvas was given millions and millions of years if it would ever spontaneously paint itself. Again, they said “No.” I explained to them that a painting reveals the creative mind of the painter. Paintings point to the existence of a painter. Paintings are an expression of what is in the painters mind.
As far as God is concerned, nature reveals the truth that a creator exists:
- When we see the brilliant design of the universe, it points to a brilliant designer.
- When we see the incredible structures of nature, it points to a master engineer.
- When we see the genius in how organisms are put together, it points to a supernatural scientist.
God reveals Himself. He shows himself all the time in nature in what we call general revelation. It is so common to see God’s hand in creation that Paul says these words about non-believers in Romans 1:19-20, “19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.”
God is light & it is hard to hide God. When you bring the light of God’s Word into the dark recesses of this fallen world, His Word is both penetrating and revealing. Nature, the heavens, history and experience all make it possible for us to know that He exists. That’s all “General Revelation.”
BUT God has also told us some very specific things about Himself and His expectations for us.
Truth About God is Seen Most Clearly in His Word. The purpose of light is to reveal truth. God reveals specific truth about Himself in the Bible. The specific truths that God tells us or reveals to us about Himself, theologians call, “Special Revelation.” Where do we find special revelation? We find it plainly and clearly in God’s Word. In His Word, we find specific details about who God is and about how He interacts with us, His creatures. God is not just a distant creator, but He is closely and personally involved in the lives of His people.
One of the main ways that He is involved in our lives is to guide us in His truth. (Jn 16:13) Let’s look at our scripture for this morning. Psalm 119:105 is talking about God’s guidance and His special revelation as it is revealed in His Word.
God is able to see all the dangers that surround us. He is constantly pulling His children away from our own sufficiency and independence and calling us to depend on Him and trust in Him as our personal guide. Without God’s word, we would lose our directions and we would our light and would be hopelessly lost as a result.
We are lost without God’s Word – v. 105
Why? Because God’s word is our light – just like God Himself is light. He just gives enough light for us to see the dangers, know our immediate enemies and to take the next step. Look at our text in Ps 119:105
105 Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path.
In the ancient Middle east, there were no lamp posts, so each person who travelled at night needed to bring with them their own oil lamp. These lamps by their nature, gave the traveler just enough light to stay on the path. Without the lamp, the traveler would be in danger of walking off the road into a pit or walking into an open sewer or tripping over a pile of manure (which littered their roads in those days). People who walk in darkness (both literally and spiritually) will sooner or later begin to stumble and fall over nasty things along the way.
To the ancient Hebrew, this was a highly relevant word picture of the spiritual path they were on in a dark world. The hope we can hold on to is that in the darkness, scripture points the way, lights up the path and keeps us from stepping into things that we might later regret.
The purpose of the light of God’s Word is not for us to be impressed with its brilliance but to be guided by its instruction one step at a time. I often ask people who are going through a difficult trial, “what is the next step?” You might not know every step you need to take for the whole rest of the journey, but God’s word shines brightly enough to reveal the next step. God’s indwelling Spirit gives us enough courage to take that next step and then to depend on Him for additional instructions from there.
There is an old saying that says “Ignorance is bliss.” How many times has that statement failed me?! Just this week, I was storing all my data on an external hard drive. I didn’t know this particular hard drive was prone to crash and exceptionally difficult to recover when it does crash. Ignorance wasn’t bliss. Ignorance was painful! It was time-consuming. It was frustrating.
Spiritual ignorance is painful, time-consuming and frustrating. Spiritual ignorance can breed indecision and uncertainty. However, God’s Word brings about clarity and assurance. When we know the path and are reassured of God’s will, then we can continue travelling through dark places in peace – resting assured that when we follow God’s commands, He always blesses us.
The definition of a righteous person is someone who is determined to do the right thing and follow God’s commands no matter what.
Righteous People are Resolved to Follow God’s Commands – v 106, 112
God’s word gives us clear directions. It’s like a map and a light. The righteous man makes it his resolve to stay only on the path God’s Word is shining upon – even if a smoother, wider, easier path opens up in front of him during the journey.
106 I have sworn an oath and confirmed it,
to keep your righteous rules.
Righteous people commit themselves to keeping God’s righteous rules. I have heard people say, “I know what the Bible says, but in my case, let me tell you why it doesn’t apply to me…” Some people think that they need to revise the Bible because God’s word doesn’t really know what it’s talking about. How accurate can it really be? It was written a few years ago…. Certainly those truths only apply to those people, and not to modern people. Let’s help it out and rewrite it a little bit.
Here at Canyon, we believe God’s Word is timeless and inerrant. We want to stand with those who went before us and proclaim that God’s word stands forever.
- A perfect God could only produce a prefect revelation.
- A timeless God could only produce a timeless testimony.
- An eternal God would only produce a text that is everlasting.
Listen to what some of these old theologians said about God’s Word:
- “God’s Word is my rock and my anchor. On it I rely and it remains for God cannot lie” – Martin Luther
- “I hold not only that the Bible contains the words of God, but that every jot of it was written by divine inspiration and is the perfect Word of God” – JC Ryle
Righteous people are people with a resolve to follow God’s commands. A Soldier who is resolved to fight is not easily defeated, and a man who has committed to follow God’s commands will not be easily led astray. Look at verse 112
112 I incline my heart to perform your statutes
forever, to the end.
When we consider the weakness of our flesh, the pull of temptation and the persistence of Satan, it is clear that we need strong resolutions
It should come as no surprise to us that the road will be difficult. Jesus, in John 17, was praying to the Father about his disciples and he said in verse 14, “14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.” The disciple of Christ should be ready for and should expect affliction.
Affliction Should Come as No Surprise to a Disciple of Christ – v 107, 109, 110
107 I am severely afflicted;
give me life, O Lord, according to your word!
It is not strange or unusual that godly people often endure difficult trials. Followers of Christ often face both physical and spiritual trials. Earlier in Psalm 119, the psalmist points to the fact that remaining steadfast in trials develops godliness. Turn back a page and look at Psalm 119: 71
71 It is good for me that I was afflicted,
that I might learn your statutes.
The in verse 75 it says,
75 I know, O Lord, that your rules are righteous,
and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.
Peter told us that we should not be surprised by our trials. Consider what is says in 1 Peter 4:12 “12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.”
God declared war on Satan after the fall of man and Satan has been attacking God’s people ever since. Satan is the prince of this world. This is his domain. If you are a follower of Christ, Satan has waged a war against you. The things that glorify God make Satan angry. He’s not going to put up with it. He will go to extreme measures to derail your good works. He will make every attempt to keep you from bringing glory to Jesus with your life. Psalm 119:110 says:
110 The wicked have laid a snare for me,
but I do not stray from your precepts.
The snare is referencing trapping an animal. A hunter traps an animal by placing a trap in the path where the animal often travels. Our adversary will often lay traps for God’s people in the midst of the areas where they travel the most:
- He sets a trap in our meal times by enticing us to turn eating into gluttony
- He sets a trap in our relationship by enticing us to turn love into lust.
- He sets a trap at the jobsite by enticing us to turn labor into laziness
- He sets a trap in our relationship with God by enticing us to turn our holiness into proud self-righteousness.
Jesus made it very clear to his disciples that they should expect snares and opposition and persecution from our adversary the devil and from this fallen world. AND THEN, He gave his disciples this incredible promise, “…In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
God has a purpose for your trials, so we can trust Him during our trials: 1 Peter 4:19: “19 Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.” Humble servants trust God’s sovereignty in their affliction and willingly hand their lives over to his control
God’s Word is Our Guide in Desperate Times – v 107, 109, 110
109 I hold my life in my hand continually,
but I do not forget your law.
The psalmist is saying this: he had his life in his hand and he was willing to give it up to the Lord, whenever the Lord saw fit to take it and use it for His purposes (no matter how difficult). It is expressed in the song we sang this morning “Take my life and let it be consecrated Lord to thee…” Here am I, take all of me… Jerome (an ancient theologian) said that the phrase in Hebrew was a saying that means the psalmist is living in a state of extreme danger. It is a verse of total surrender in the midst of extreme danger. This psalmist is living in such a way that he is ready to give his life in God’s service at any time. How can he be so willing to give his life away?
If we are trying to guard our own lives, we don’t have strength sufficient enough to ward off the attacks of the enemy. BUT…If we hand our lives over to the Lord, His strength is sufficient. His hand is strengthened with unlimited power. Doesn’t it sound better to be guarded by God’s unlimited power than by our own feeble and limited power?!
Verse 107 says that although the psalmist is severely afflicted, the Lord gives him life according to the promises written in the word. Even more compelling is verse 111 that says:
111 Your testimonies are my heritage forever,
for they are the joy of my heart.
This is an unfair trade. We give up our feeble lives to an all-powerful God and He in return gives us His presence, His guidance, his deliverance, his salvation and an inheritance in His kingdom. When we begin to comprehend all that we have in Christ, our natural reaction always results in praise.
Praise Flows Freely from Those Who Delight in God’s Word – v 108, 111
108 Accept my freewill offerings of praise, O Lord,
and teach me your rules.
People who delight in God’s Word are ready at a moment’s notice to offer up praise, because they are blown away by who God is and by what He does in their lives all the time. Remember the pattern I spoke about last week:
- Read God’s Word
- Know His Commands
- Obey His Commands
- Receive God’s Blessing
- Enjoy God’s Blessing
- Testify to others
When a disciple experiences the freedom and joy and protection that springs from following God’s commands, getting that person to praise the Lord is easy. It isn’t like trying to squeeze out the last bit of juice from a dried up orange, but the praises freely flow.
Spurgeon says that “God’s revenues are not derived from forced taxation, but from freewill offerings.” In other words, sincere worship doesn’t happen when we are just mouthing the words of a song or when we are forced to say something about God. Sincere worship happens when we freely and openly express our praise and thanksgiving and delight in a God who is so very good to us.
Life Application
Are you trusting in the promises of God’s Word?
Is your trust in the Lord evident in your life? …in your schedule?… in your decisions? …in your Bible study habits?
People who are making it up as they go along will eventually stumble and fall. God’s word makes the path clear. God gives us the power to obey through His indwelling Holy Spirit. BUT… we are called to make the conscious choice whether or not we are going to follow His way.
Are you spending time in the word on a regular basis? You’ll never follow God’s word if you don’t know God’s word. Ignorance is not bliss… it is painful and ignorance about God’s commands can lead us down a dangerous path of sin – tripping over nasty things along the way.
When we delight in and obey God’s commands, His promises NEVER fail!
Teaching Outline
Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.” 1 Peter 2:11
“5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” 1 John 1:5
God is Light 1 John 1:5
God is light in that He is perfect.
God is like light in that He penetrates darkness.
God is light and it is Hard to Hide Light.
Truth About God is Seen Most Clearly in His Word
We are lost without God’s Word – v. 105
Righteous People are Resolved to Follow God’s Commands – v 106, 112
Affliction Should Come as No Surprise to a Disciple of Christ – v 71, 75, 107, 110
“12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.” 1 Peter 4:12
“19 Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.” 1 Peter 4:19
God’s Word is Our Guide in Desperate Times – v 109
Praise Flows Freely from Those Who Delight in God’s Word – v 108, 111
Application:
When we delight in and obey God’s commands, His promises NEVER fail!
Leave A Comment