{"id":1824,"date":"2007-01-29T02:10:04","date_gmt":"2007-01-29T02:10:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/jesuscreed\/2007\/01\/foot-lights.html"},"modified":"2007-01-29T02:10:04","modified_gmt":"2007-01-29T02:10:04","slug":"foot-lights","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/jesuscreed\/2007\/01\/foot-lights.html","title":{"rendered":"Foot Lights"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Torah, the Bible for the psalmist, was God’s communication with Israel in order to inform Israel of God’s ways — and its intent was to guide the whole of an Israelite — heart, soul, and strength. Here the psalmist utters one of the few lines of this psalm — from the nun section (119:105-112) — that many have memorized:
\n“Your word is a lamp to my feet
\nand a light for my path” (v. 105).
\nThe “word” (devar<\/em>) is a “lamp to my feet.” Israel knew of lamps for the lampstand in the tabernacle and Temple; they fired their lamps with olive oil; they carried torches with them as they walked in the night so they could see (no street lights). Reminds one of the use of a flashlight when one is camping.
\nThe image of a lamp as the revelation of God’s will for Israel and the psalmist is found in the Psalms (18:28) and Proverbs (6:23; 13:9). The light of the righteous shines brightly. And this one: “the human spirit is the lamp of YHWH that sheds light on one’s inmost being” (Prov. 20:27).
\nA potent statement is found in 2 Sam 22:29, David’s song of redemption: “You, YHWH, are my lamp; YHWH turns my darkness into light”.
\nThe Torah as God’s revelation illumines the responsive Israelite and it gives light for the path of life.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Torah, the Bible for the psalmist, was God’s communication with Israel in order to inform Israel of God’s ways — and its intent was to guide the whole of an Israelite — heart, soul, and strength. 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