We have already seen how the fourteenth stanza speaks of the clarity of the Word of God. The Bible is not only clear itself; it is clarifying, which means that we see other things clearly by its light. The psalmist has noted the various things we see: 1) the way we should go (v. 105); 2) righteous behavior (v. 106); 3) suffering (v. 107); 4) right worship (v. 108); 5) the dangers of this life (v. 109); and 6) enemies (v. 110). In today's study we conclude this list.
In the studies from the last two days, we have looked at some areas we see clearly by the light of the Bible. Today we continue with two more.
The Bible is not only clear itself; it is clarifying, which means that we see other things clearly by its light. What things do we see clearly? We looked at the first item yesterday, which is the way we should go. Today we continue with three other answers to the question.
This fourteenth stanza speaks of the clarity of the Word of God, then. But the Bible is not only clear itself; it is clarifying, which means that we see other things clearly by its light. What things do we see? The writer answers: 1) the way we should go (v. 105); 2) righteous behavior (v. 106); 3) suffering (v. 107); 4) right worship (v. 108); 5) the dangers of this life (v. 109); 6) enemies (v. 110); and 7) our heritage (v. 111). Therefore, he says, “My heart is set on keeping your decrees to the very end” (v. 112).
The nighttime journeys of Israel through the wilderness were illumined by a pillar of fire that moved before them on their march. Most of the time the pillar stood in the center of their camp over the Most Holy Place of the tabernacle where during the day it was a pillar of cloud. But when they marched it went before them to lead the way, and at night it also illumined their path by becoming a flaming pillar of light (see Exod. 40:36-38). In a similar way our nighttime passage through the dark and dangerous journey of this life is illumined by God's Word, the Bible.
