READ: PSALM 119:105-112/129-136 TEXTS: v105/130 BIBLE: A LIGHT
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. (Psalm 119:105)
The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple. (v130)
It is immediately apparent that these two verses are closely linked
together, although they appear in two separate sections of this Psalm
Link is not so much the ref: God's word (common theme/whole Psalm)
But the fact that both verses link the Bible to the idea of light
No other verses in this Psalm 119 do so, although it may be argued that
other portions of Scripture do so, not least Psalm 43:3
O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles.
Before we preach these texts in the gospel, it is worth mentioning that
they usually find themselves quoted in relation to two doctrinal
situations in which a Christian might find himself:
[i] In the Charismatic controversy where there is often claims that the participants were "Spirit led" to do this or that
Often "Spirit led" simply means that the doer/deed lost control
of themselves in their so called pious excitement or were easily
persuaded by one perceived to be Spirit filled to take a certain route
If any opposition is recorded, then they are stigmatised as grieving
the Spirit/God or (even worse) blaspheming Him and so they concur
We counter that type of thing by saying that we are never commanded to go contrary to the Word/God which is a lamp etc.,
If the Bible says that something is wrong then no amount of pious hand wringing can make it right
[ii] In the Calvinistic controversy where some unbalanced ones desire
to elevate the decree of God (much which lies hidden from view) to be
our point of reference and direction
This crops up in all kinds of situations, spiritual, evangelistic,
ethical and political etc., all based on what God might or might not do
Answer: It is not what God might or might not do that guides us
That God can make use of bad situations is beyond dispute
But we want God to rule us rather than overrule us and we therefore
turn, not to providence, but to the precept i.e. to the Bible
It is the Word that throws the light unto our path
Providence has many dark ways to run, and we will be constantly
scratching our heads and (then) making wild guesses as to what to do
next, based on our very limited knowledge - Avoid!
Submit to the word/God as it is clearly written and let the consequences of your obedience to it take care of itself
We want to look at these verses in a gospel context
Word is for lost sinners as opposed to perplexed saints (5 points)
1) OUR PATH BY NATURE IS ONE OF GREAT DARKNESS:
A/ Implied in the text- lamp is only required where there is darkness
Only the entrance/the word that brings light, all presupposing darkness
B/ Darkness in the Bible is usually associated with sin: 1 John 1:5-7
Again: 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. (Romans 13:12)
Again: And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them (Ephesians 5:11)
C/ Our own hearts condemn us as sinners -those twinges/conscience only confirming what is clearly stated: Romans 3:23
D/ A man without Christ is in moral and spiritual darkness
Any good that he can boast of (or lack of evil) is not intrinsic but
due to the restraining grace/God that mercifully prevents all out
rebellion
This is portrayed not only in the sense that the principle/sin is
named, but also its description i.e. its darkness and it is further
described through the sinner being designated by associated words:
[i] Sinner is blind:
But he that lacketh these things is
blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged
from his old sins. (2 Peter 1:9)
The sinner is not only blind/sin but willingly so: he loves his sin:
And this is the condemnation, that
light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light,
because their deeds were evil. (John 3:19)
[ii] Sinner is ignorant: Verse 130 promises light to the simple
Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God
through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of
their heart: (Ephesians 4:18) (Both blindness/ignorance in the one
verse)
Again: It is a willing ignorance - men choose to ignore Bible instruction
For this they willingly are ignorant of…(2 Peter 1:5)
It is this willingness that makes it culpable - the sinner is not a victim
He is a participant - a willing stooge - a perpetrator of sin against God
E/ This darkness is only a precursor to a greater and eternal darkness
Then said the king to the servants,
Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer
darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 22:13)
Such darkness will be divested of the mercy that relives it now
2) MAN'S RELIGION CANNOT SUFFICIENTLY LIGHT UP OUR PATH:
A/ That men see the need for religion speaks volumes - charitable
enough to say that it is a step in the right direction (although
flawed)
B/ It is a recognition that man is subservient to God - that man has offended God (i.e. as a sinner) and that man needs God
So far so good - but only as far as it goes
C/ Problem is that man builds a totally inadequate structure on this
otherwise sound and needed foundation
Man invents his own religion, structures it to alleviate the charges of
spiritual blindness and ignorance, and makes this religion his
claim/light
No amount of talking/arguing on man's part can justify his actions
What blindness was manifest by the religious people of Christ's day:
Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first
that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may
be clean also. (Matthew 23:26)
Although the Pharisee claimed to be Biblical/religion, yet it was not so
Christ charged them of making the Bible/no effect by their traditions
IOW: They covered over the light and plunged the place into darkness
Simple message of salvation/grace alone was snuffed out and replaced by another that put man in control of his own destiny
OBJECTION: These men made it harder to be saved with their works
ANSWER: Such is the folly of it all - the Lord Jesus condemned them:
The blind leading the blind (Matthew 15:14)
Anything that substitutes grace is bound to be harder
D/ This is why we must protest against the errors/false religion
Just as some cried Peace, peace when there was no peace (Jeremiah 6:14)
So too there are many to cry "light, light" when all around there is
still a darkness that can be felt - not enough light to bring them to
God
3) ONLY THE WORD OF GOD CAN LIGHT UP OUR PATH:
This is what our texts are both saying
A/ If man's religion can adequately do the job…
[i] Why do we need God's word at all?
[ii] Why do we need missionaries, risking life/limb etc.? (Romans 10:13-17)
Why do the NT writers spend so much time contending earnestly and minutely with various deviations of the NT faith?
Does it really matter if Christ was Divine and if so, whether Divine actually means full orbed deity?
We live in a world of much sin/sorrow and it this not the stuff of
arguing theologians in Ivory Towers, far removed from reality?
B/ Answer is simple: Only the truth sets men free - only God's word
send sufficient light upon our path so that we might be saved
This is why we contend not just so earnestly against error but for truth
Apologetics and evangelism is the order/day
C/ Let us be clear to ourselves about the matter: Where the Bible does
not hold sway…then the darkness reigns and men die/sins
Such is the density of nature's darkness, than no other light can pierce the gloom and chase away the shadows of the night
Jesus said: I am the light of the
world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have
the light of life. (John 8:12)
Where can we find Jesus apart from the pages/Bible?
Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. (John 5:39)
And again:
To him give all the prophets witness,
that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive
remission of sins. (Acts 10:43)
D/ Without a Bible… (or in proxy a Bible preacher) a soul will
not be reconciled/God - the forces of nature may communicate the power
of God in creation etc., but they can never communicate his need of
grace
4) WHAT THE WORD OF GOD REVEALS WHEN ITS LIGHT SHINES:
A/ Reveals the contents/wickedness of our hearts
You say: I already know it only too well
Answer: Only because the word revealed it to you:
I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. (Romans 7:7)
Again, we only think we know but a very little of our own hearts - and
we think it is not too bad and within our own gift to do something
about it
But the Book opens up not only the reality but the depth and dangers
Come and see a man that told me all things that I ever did (John 4:29)
Come and see a Book that exposed my rotten heart to the core
B/ Shine slight upon the great danger that we are in:
Reveals the righteous character of God that demands a hell
Pulls back the curtain (Luke 16:19-31/Mark 9:44) and shows us what hell is like and who goes there and why
Objection: Ancient religions have their places/punishment also
Answer: Ancient religions had this truth (Jude 14-15) but have introduced aberrations of it and so polluted it
C/ Bible reveals to us our totally helpless condition: Ephesians 2:1
Warns us faithfully of our wilful blindness and love of darkness
All this is done to drive us to the end of ourselves
Natural religion patches up the Prodigal's rags and keeps him/far country
D/ Bible reveals the only Saviour who can help Him and why:
Christ dying on the Cross for our sins and Christ rising again
The place of repentance and faith and the salvation it brings
Every last facet of the gospel including assurance etc.,
5) WHEN THE WORD/ GOD SHINES ITS LIGHT ON OUR DARKNESS:
A/ Psalm 130 is very clear: Upon its entrance i.e. appropriation
In Acts 13:46 the Jews rejected the light and Paul said:
Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the
word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it
from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we
turn to the Gentiles.
B/ Many/NT received the light and they were saved…with no regrets!
Appeal
THE END