Walk the Path That is Lit By The Light of The World 

This post’s passage reference: Psalm 119:59-63

I went to the movies with friends and saw a sweet, faith based movie tonight. We got into the theatre after the lights had gone down. That makes it a little more challenging, but the strips of light along the side of the steps helped lead the way. It is good to have some light shed on a dark path way. It helps keep you from stepping, or falling off the path. That is importance in our physical world and our spiritual world. 

In the previous passage the psalmist was talking about his journey, how he upheld his dedication to the Lord and how he would seek Him with his whole heart. In the next passage, Psalm 119:59-63, he talks about the path he is traveling and how he has stumbled off. When we get to verse 59, even though he expresses his deep devotion to the Lord, we see that he does not mean he has been without sin. It simply means that he got to a point where he realized, recognized, his deliberate sin. He then turned away from it and turned back to his relationship with God.

Once the psalmist saw he was out of fellowship with the Lord and off that pathway, he quickly turned back to Him. He didn’t think about it for long. He didn’t weigh the options of “Can I wait?“ “Can I hang out a little longer?” “Should I go now?” Not only did he turn back  quickly, he took steps of urgency to get back within the presence of God’s commandments. 

He was off the path. Evil had surrounded him. I wonder, myself, if that was part of the reason he was drawn away from God’s path. He could have strayed because of evil or because he was battling evil. Either of those situations could have caused him to stumble from the path. Whatever the cause, even when he was off the path, he did not forget God’s laws he had learned from His Word. 

Verse 62 tells us that he would rise at midnight to give praise to the Lord because His judgements are righteous.  He knew what he deserved, but knew what God had given. He then goes on to declare that he enjoyed being with God‘s people, those that fear God and keep His commandments. (Those were probably “on the path people.”) I suppose if you have been surrounded by those that hate you and that hate God, it would be sweet solace to be surrounded by those that serve and love God. 

What is the challenge from this passage for those of us that follow Christ? This world has a lot of paths that we are tempted to walk on. Just keeping our balance and staying on the path leading to God can be the challenge at times.  The world seems to be building newer and more enticing exit ramps to their smooth, wide, multiple-lane paths all the time. They make God’s simple, single-lane path (that only goes one direction) seem stuffy and prudish; while seeking to convince us that we are missing out on the multiple, elaborate, glamorous, stimulating paths they have to offer.  The challenge is for us to prepare ourselves in advance by maintaining devotion to God—possibly through some of those midnight praise sessions! We should challenge ourselves to keep our eyes focused on God’s navigation system, not the world’s; and make every effort to stay on the path and remain in God’s Word and in intimate communication with Him until we reach our heavenly destination.

How can we apply this to our lives? Staying on God’s path can be majorly affected by who we are on that path with.  We really do need the fellowship of other like-minded believers, family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, church family and those that will be in our path that we have not even met yet. We need the Church, not necessarily the building full of people that we meet with each week, but the Spirit within those people.  We should be diligent to keep out of ungodly relationships that could cause us to compromise our principles and divide our loyalties. 

What does this mean to my faith? Most of this Psalm 119 that we have looked at so far emphasizes the importance of the Word of God. The psalmist’s life was changed when he engraved God’s commands on his heart. My faith is strengthened when I see how that has worked in my own life. Just researching and studying to write these posts on Psalm 119 has given me pause to look into my own heart and see areas where I need to lean more on my Lord and areas where I need to step up in service to Him. I see God’s Living Word directing my path. 

Lord, thank You for giving us a path to travel that leads to You.  I long to stay in Your Word that will direct me in the way.  My desire is to always know when my foot is even close to going off the path that You have set for me. I desire to plan ahead so I won’t be tempted to take a side road or short cut. If I run into a path that is blocked, I pray that I do not back up and get off at the previous exit. (I don’t ever want to back up!)  I pray that I will get out of the comfortable place I am in and help others get the path unblocked. I want to stay on the path that leads to You at all costs! Then when the world crowds around blotting out the light and my path gets dark, I pray that the Light of the World will illuminate my way. 

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 “59 I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies. 60 I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments. 61 The bands of the wicked have robbed me: but I have not forgotten thy law. 62 At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments. 63 I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.”  Psalm 119:59-63 (KJV)

“5 Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways. 7 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.” Haggai 1:5,7 (KJV)

“And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.”  Acts 16:25 (KJV)

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I feel that since God has given me the gift of this platform, I must always tell you about my Jesus.  

What is your relationship to the all-knowing God of the universe?  Do you know Jesus? Do you know the peace that can come only from an intimate relationship with Him?  You can know Him.  Jesus Christ, God’s Son, born into human flesh, sinless, crucified and giving His life freely, buried, arisen on the third day, will come into your life and change the outcome of your eternity.  You just have to be willing to believe and accept His truth.  

Here is an excellent website that can give you additional information about making your decision for Jesus Christ!  PeaceWithGod.net

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