May 6 – Your Word is Truth

         Psalm 119:104 – "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path."

         This is easily one of the most quoted scriptures in the Old Testament. It goes without saying then that God's words, recorded for us, should be the most sought-after treasure in our lives. Actually, the entire song of Psalm 119, the longest in the Bible, is one that extols his word, laws, and commands. Jesus takes this idea even one step further. In John 17:17, he prays to the Father "....your word is truth".

        Recently, I had an unexpected conversation with a 40 year-old woman, that started with what's wrong about American society. She immediately stated that we have neglected the Bible. I then said, "Tell me more!" So she proceeded to tell me how God had led her mother, sister, her daughter, and herself 20 years ago from New Orleans to Virginia Beach to start a new life. She told of divine intervention along the way, as well as "signs" to guide them to the correct location. They were helped in gaining employment and lodging in Virginia Beach. She even met her future husband there. The same happened (minus the husband-finding) when just three years ago (2019), they were prompted to move again from Virginia Beach to my hometown, of all places – a rinky-dink small tourist town, with few opportunities of employment.

        Throughout our conversation, I delved further into life in Virginia Beach. There were no friends who would miss them, when they would move to my town; there was no church family to speak of, only a husband to bring along. The same thing was said of her three years of residence in my town. She preferred to keep to herself. If this wasn't odd in itself for a Christian (although she did not mention that name), one thing else was glaring. I asked how she knew that God was truly leading her. Her reply was how she saw his hand in her family's moves. I then inquired if God's word, the Bible, was important. (Remember that this was the catalyst of our conversation, but which never appeared in her long story.) She stated that it was, but that it was not enough in order to know God in a personal way. She gave the age-old example of people in poor and restricted nations, where folks cannot find a Bible, but nevertheless, have found the living God. I couldn't deny that this is true, but not in America, where we both lived. I came to the conclusion, that God's word was not really important, as she mentioned that she might read it a couple of times a week for "comfort", not for direction, guidance, or truth. However, it was not needed for knowing God in a personal way. So many verses came to my mind, and a few I offered; however, I was beating my head against a wall.

        So, my dear reader, let's remind ourselves of what God's word can do for us. Psalm 119:10, 11, 97-100, 133 state, "I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you....Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are always with me. I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes. I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey your precepts....direct my footsteps according to your word." Verse 10 above sounds like a personal relationship with God CAN be found via his word.  Furthermore, the last phrase states that God can give us direction in which to walk. 

         Deuteronomy is my favorite book of the Pentateuch, because it is pregnant with hope and description of why keeping God's commands are more than just rule-following. In chapter 6, we read: "Love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them upon your children. Talk about them when you sit at home, and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and get up." Having them in one's heart and living them daily sounds to me like a lifestyle, not a religion. The rest of chapter six also gives that impression.

        The Israelites, by and large, however, forgot that God brought them out of Egypt, in order to make them prosperous in a new land – under his covenant as King and caretaker. By the time that Jesus arrived on the scene, the Mosaic law had become a burden that no one could carry, and one that not even the Pharisees would help you carry (Matthew 23:4). Jesus had to remind us that God and his word were more than rules to be submitted to. Man was not created to just follow the rules; the rules were created to benefit man (Deuteronomy 10:12, 13). Jesus showed us how to love God by keeping the Spirit of the law, which transcended and pre-dated the Mosaic law itself. Jesus said that he came not to abolish the law, but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17), as only he could. 

        How can we know these differences that bring freedom unless we read the words of Jesus himself?  Let's get out the flashlight, and start walking in this dark world.