by Mike Bennett

In a darkened world, it can be difficult to know the way to go, the right decisions to make. The psalmist here thanks God for His Word—recorded in the Bible—that illuminates our path. Studying God’s thoughts and the biblical principles He preserved for us can help us see the right way to go even in the darkest hours.

Without the light, there are many dangers, including snares laid by the wicked (verse 110) and obstacles that could cause us to stumble (verse 165); but with God’s guidance, our path is clear and straight.

Solomon makes a similar point in Proverbs 6:23: “For the commandment is a lamp, and the law a light; reproofs of instruction are the way of life.”

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To truly use the Bible as a spiritual lamp, we must not only study relevant passages but think about how to apply them in our lives. This type of thinking is known as meditation, and you can read more about it in our article “What Is Meditation?”