When the Lights go Out

The cool thing about my college courses is that every week the professors post devotional thoughts and prayers for us to read before we dive into the grueling homework assignments. Today my systematic theology professor posted a devotional about Ps. 119:105, "Your word is a lamp for my feet and light for my path." I've heard that verse my entire life. Like my professor, I remember quoting that verse at VBS and even singing the song. Today however I came to a new depth of understanding of that verse. It was like reading it for the very first time.

My professor talked about needing a light at night in the woods as an illustration of the verse. It reminded me of the stories my dad tells of coon hunting at night with a lantern when he was a kid. While I missed out on all that fun, I have been in the woods many times at night. It is a great thing to have a flashlight, and a very scary turn of events if that light burns out. A tiny light can make the difference in finding your way safely through the woods back home or getting lost and confused in the gloomy darkness.

Then I thought about just how dark it was the other night when I came home after a storm and the electricity was out on the entire block. The stars were covered by clouds and there wasn't a streetlight as far as I could see. It was extraordinarily challenging to just find my way from my car into the house. I ran smack into the glass door. Once I got in, Shawn had a few candles lit for me. As tiny as the flickering flames were, it was still a huge difference from complete blackness.

But I had a new thought tonight. I never know when the electricity might go out, so I keep a stock of candles and matches in a cabinet in our laundry room. In life, I never know when I may find myself in a place of great darkness and need to find my way out. If I am in advance familiar with God's word, then I have my candle with me, ready to be lit so that I can see. However, there is a much greater opportunity for me to get off the path if I am caught off guard and forget that light is the greatest weapon against the darkness.

God's word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path. Every moment in my life can be illuminated by God's word. Measuring my thoughts and actions against God's standards in his word can help me to find the right path and keep me from falling off into darkness. I realized that studying the Bible, meditating and memorizing scripture during the good moments in life is very important so that I will have the tools that I will need when the lights go out. I need to work harder at being consistent with spending time daily in God's word and memorizing scripture.

When I was in the MRI tube for the 3rd time the other day, I decided that I would go over all the scripture that I knew to pass the time. It was an embarrassingly short list. I became aware of just how little I remember. So that's definitely something I need to work on!

Psalm 5 (I got nothin' on a creative title)

I love the Message translation of the Bible for fresh perspectives on the narratives in the Old Testament. It really brings new life to old, familiar stories. However, I must say that the Message translation leaves lots to be desired in the translation of the Psalms. It pretty much destroys the poetical language.

I tend to laugh instead of focusing on the meaning. Remember these are songs to sing. I have a habit of trying to imagine using the lyrics in worship. This could be why the giggling is such an issue.

Try this out:
Ps. 3:7, "Up, God! My God, help me! Slap their faces, First this cheek, then the other, Your fist hard in their teeth." Chris Tomlin try that one out for size....dare you to work that into a worship song!

Or how about Ps. 1:1, "How well God must like you - you don't hang out at Sin Saloon, you don't slink along Dead-End Road, you don't go to Smart Mouth College." That's the best translation of that you can come up with...Smart Mouth College? Seriously.....that doesn't even read well. I don't think I could read that aloud in a worship service.....I couldn't read it out loud with Shawn during our quiet time without laughing.

I tend to giggle my way through my quiet time as I try to picture the band setting these lyrics to music and using them in worship. I think I will stick to NLT for the Psalms, thanks. I miss the poeticism.

But on a serious note, I did like the translations of Ps. 5: 1-3, "Listen, God! Please pay attention! Can you make sense of these ramblings, my groans and cries? King-God, I need your help. Every morning you'll hear me at it again. Every morning I lay out the pieces of my life on the altar and watch for fire to descend."

I love this thought that daily I have to re-offer my life to God. Not because God needs a fresh committment, but because I need a fresh reminder. Every day I need to sacrifice my life, my desires for God's dreams and desires for my life. And I like that sense of expectation. As I lay my life down, I wait for God to consume it and use me. I expect His presence. Very beautiful thought to me.

I also really liked vs. 11, "But You'll welcome us with open arms when we run for cover to You."

At the end of the day, when I go pick Abby up at daycare, she comes running toward me full blast with her little arms held out to me. I scoop her up into my arms and hug her tightly. I like that picture of God holding open His arms to me...waiting for me to come running.

So some good stuff .... just have to wade through the yucky language to find the beautiful passages. Who knows, by the time I finish the Psalms....I may be much less critical of this particular translation.