Psalm 119: Does Life Come With an Instruction Manual?

JOSHUA ALEXANDER

In 2005, Country music singer Carrie Underwood released a song entitled “Don’t forget to remember me.” This song tells the story of a young woman leaving home for the first time. In the chorus of this song, the mother in the story gives her daughter some last-minute words of advice; “Here's a map, and here's a Bible, if you ever lose your way.” Though very simple, these words have a profound message. God’s word is a “lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105). In a world full of uncertainty and misdirection, God’s word can give us direction, should we choose to follow it. In this section of the 119th Psalm, the psalmist expresses three ideas concerning God’s word as a guide for us on earth.

We are Pilgrims and Strangers on this earth (19)

The psalmist proclaims that he is a stranger on this earth. When the Bible talks about strangers, this is sometimes a reference to the gentiles (Lev. 17:8, 10, 13, 25:45, etc.). At other times, the term strangers refer to the children of Israel when they were in Egyptian slavery (Exo. 22:21, 23:9, Lev. 19:34, Deu. 10:19, Acts 13:17). However, the Apostle Peter may give us a better understanding as to what is being communicated. Peter uses this same picture to express how Christians are to conduct themselves in the world “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul” (1 Pet. 2:11). Hebrews writer says those in Faiths Hall of Fame who did not see the fruits of their labor were also strangers and pilgrims in this world “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth” (Heb 11:13). In a world full of evil, where Satan’s influence has spread far and wide, God’s people are to stand out. Our citizenship is not on this earth. Therefore, we are strangers and pilgrims. There is a beautiful song we sing that closely applies to this idea “As I travel through this pilgrim land, there is a friend who walks with me. Leads me safely through the sinking sand It is the Christ at Calvary. This would be my prayer, dear Lord, each day. You help me do the best I can. For I need Thy light to guide me day and night, Blessed Jesus, hold my hand.”

Our eyes need to be set on the map (18, 21, 24)

How do we keep ourselves focused on things above? One way that the Psalmist proclaims throughout the 119th Psalm is to set our eyes on the road map of God’s word. “Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law” (Psalm 119:18). As Christians, we must live in the world, but we cannot allow the world to live in us. Satan will do everything in his power to try and get us off track. We must stay strong in the faith and be confident in our convictions. Solomon instructed young men, and by implication all of us, to lean not on our own understandings, putting our whole trust in God (Pro. 3:1-6). God’s ways are superior to our ways. Why wouldn’t they be? He is the creator of the universe! Solomon encourages us to follow God‘s ways and remove our steps from the path of the devil (Pro. 4:25-27). How does God guide our path today? He does not guide us through burning bushes, signs in the sky, or warm feelings in our hearts. He guides us through His inspired word. All Scripture is given by the very breath of God (2 Tim 3:16). God’s word is up to date. God’s word contains everything we need to follow God’s path, “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue” (2 Pet. 1:3).

In a world full in certainty, there is something about which we can be certain. God has revealed himself to us through His word. The Bible contains everything we need; if we follow His path, we will not be led astray. Thanks be to God that he loved us so much to give us His word. May we never take that wonderful blessing for granted.