Written by Pastor Jack Wellman– Henry Blackaby
They Lead to Life
God’s laws are not so much “don’t do this” and “don’t do that” but rather, “don’t do this and hurt yourself” (and others). It’s like a guardrail in a winding mountain road. They keep us on the road of life, but if we break them, they will break us. The psalmist clearly knew the importance of God’s law because the longest chapter in the Bible (Psalm 119) is all about the law. This is not talking about the Mosaic law of washings, rituals, and sacrifices, but “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple wise” (Psalm 19:7). The word for “reviving” is the Hebrew word “shubw” and means, “to turn back, to return” or “go back” so it almost sounds like repentance, which is exactly what Jesus’ very first words of His ministry were about (Mark 1:15).
They Light the Path
I have a table locator in my knee. What I mean is that when I get up in the middle of the night, I can always find that table in the dark…with my knee! It’s just automatic. I finally got a brighter nightlight so that I could see my path better in the dark. In that same thinking, the psalmist writes, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105). God’s Word will not only light up the path but shed some light on your feet too so that you might stumble less often. Need a little light on life’s path? The Apostle John tells us Who the source of that light is; “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). Jesus is “The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world” (John 1:9). Not only does Jesus bring light to a darkened world, the dark can’t do anything about it because “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5). There is no such thing as a “flashdark.”
They Straighten the Crooked
In speaking of God’s chosen servant, Jesus Christ, Isaiah writes; “I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them” (Isaiah 42:16). Even though this was written to Israel, I can see the application for believers today because we were once blind but made to see, because not only does Jesus bring light to a darkened world, He also levels the ground for us to walk on. The path that’s level and well lite is one that I’d rather take.
Conclusion
If “The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not slip” (Psalm 37:31) and “Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord” (Psalm 119:1). Isn’t that beautiful? It is beautiful, but these verses aren’t written just to be beautiful poetic language; they were written for our instruction. God pronounces a blessing on those who are walking in His laws and staying inside the “guardrails” of the road of life. They provide the light we’ll need in a dark, sin-stained world; they’ll keep us on the path and less likely to take the wrong one, and they’ll level the place where we put our feet, so that the level, well lite path, will surely lead us into the kingdom and you can say with David, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (Psalm 23:6).
