The Two-Fold Leadership offered by God’s Word To The Christian

Psalm 119 is probably the longest chapter in the Bible, comprising 176 verses. Sometimes, I wonder how many days David used to write it because it fascinates me. Each verse is on point and very useful for prayer. I was studying it some time ago and got to verse 105, which says,

“Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path.”

In this verse, David described the two-fold leadership offered by God’s Word to the Christian seldom spoken of recently. Each fold is implanted in each section of the verse.

1. “Your Word is a lamp to my feet …”

Have you seen a lamp before? If not, at least you’ve seen it in a picture before. People buy lamps and put them in their bedrooms or study tables more often, not to use as a general light for an entire room. Why? Because the area its brightness covers is short. Hence, it’s only needed in small areas light is required, like a dark study room or beside a bed at night.

So if David says God’s Word is a lamp to his feet, he’s saying, “In my daily walk, decisions and activities of life, the Word is my guidance and director. It shows me what to do each step.” Doesn’t this apply to us, believers?

Life comes with so many encounters that need unique divine wisdom to navigate through them. Two people may face the same problem, yet one has a demonic root, and the other is simply ignorance. How can you, as a servant of God, distinguish between those two if you don’t know how to discern using God’s Word? It’s by spiritual maturity. Hebrews 5:14 (NIV) says,

“But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.”

You don’t pray to get spiritual discernment; you grow into it by the working of the Word of God. Even Jesus knew that. There was a time He cast out an unclean spirit from a deaf and dumb person (Mark 9:25-26), and another time he touched a deaf person’s ear to receive healing (Mark 7:32-35). But before that, He had increased in stature to know the difference effortlessly (Luke 2:52). Same situation, with different solutions.

Life is spiritual. So never downplay how God uses His Word to guide you in your decisions.

2. “And a light to my path.”

The second leadership fold of the Word is its ability to give light to your path. Every child of God is on a race of faith marked out by Jesus Himself (Hebrews 12:1-2). And because of that, each one needs light to see what’s ahead in the journey. That is what I call divine vision.

For example, assuming God has called you to become an intercessor. As you study the various figures in the Bible who interceded for people, the eyes of your heart will be enlightened. You’ll start living like those people because your life will follow their pattern. An intercessor can study Daniel, and through the knowledge he acquires, set spiritual structures in his life to pray three times daily as he did (Daniel 6:10). This is the kind of leadership God’s Word provides. It’s able to help you identify the closest figure in the Bible that mimics your life to follow intently. God has charged every pastor to do this well (Colossians 1:28). He might preach well, but you must take responsibility to study the Bible consistently.

Don’t treat God’s Word lightly. Acknowledge its leadership. Because it has the potency to transform your mind so powerfully in order to help you become all that God created you to be. You’re a blessing.