dljrn04
View Profile
History
|
Your words gives light and understanding unto my heart.
Posted : 19 Jul, 2013 02:14 AM
Psalm 119:130 The entrance of Your words gives light: it gives understanding to the simple.
'So "wonderful are Your testimonies," gracious God,' that even
by touching as it were only their threshold, the entrance of
Your words gives light and understanding unto my heart.The
study commenced in simplicity and prayer, opens an entrance
to the first dawning light of the word into the soul; often only
sufficient to make darkness visible, but still "shining more and
more unto the perfect day." Indeed all the spiritual light known
in this dark world has flowed from the word, forcing its
entrance, like the beams of the sun, upon the opening eyes of "a man that was born blind." It is a most striking instance of
Divine condescension, that this word-so wonderful in its high
and heavenly mysteries-should yet open a path so plain, that
the most unlearned may find and walk in it. Indeed the
entrance of the word into unintellectual and uncultivated
minds, often gives an enlargement and elevation of thought,
which is the earnest of the restoration of man to his original
glory, when doubtless every mental as well as spiritual faculty
was "filled with all the fullness of God." So astonishing is the
power of this heavenly light, that from any one page of this
holy book, a child, or even an idiot, under heavenly teaching,
may draw more instruction than the most acute philosopher
could ever attain from any other fountain of light! No-he may
acquire a more intelligent perception of its contents, than the
student, untaught by the Spirit of God, who may have devoted
to its study the persevering industry of many successive
years. For very possible is it to be possessed of all the
treasures of literature, and yet to remain in total ignorance of
everything that is most important for a sinner to know. The
Apostle's paradox unfolds the secret, "If any man among you
seems to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he
may be wise." We do not mean to disparage human wisdom;
but it is the pride of wisdom, so opposed to the simplicity of
the gospel, which prevents us from "sitting at the feet of
Jesus, and hearing His word." It makes the teacher instruct in
"the words of man's wisdom," rather than in the knowledge of
"Christ and Him crucified," and hinders the learner from
receiving Christ in the light and love of the truth.
It is painful to remember how much light may be shining
around us on every side, without finding an entrance into the
heart. "The light shines in darkness; and the darkness
comprehended it not." Not only the pride of human reason, but
the love of sin, shuts out the light: "Men love darkness rather
than light, because their deeds are evil." And thus because
"the eye is evil, the whole body is full of darkness:" and "if the light that is in them is darkness, how great is that darkness!"
Most awful is the view given us of the conflict between the
contending powers of light and darkness-"The god of this
world blinding the eyes of them that believe not, lest the light
of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God,
should shine unto them,"-the Almighty God resisting his
hateful influence, and "shining into the hearts" of His people,
"to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the
face of Jesus Christ." How necessary is it to watch vigilantly
against the pride that "rebels against the light," and the
indifference that neglects to cherish it! How much more
entrance would have been given to the word, and
consequently how much clearer would have been the diffusion
of light in the soul, were we as earnest and diligent in secret
prayer for heavenly teaching, as we are accustomed to be in
the public hearing of the word!
But the enthusiast is not satisfied with the light of the word.
The delusion of his own heart dreams of a light within-an
immediate revelation of the Spirit, independent of the word. It
cannot however be safe to separate the light of the Spirit from
the light of the word. The word indeed moves in subservience
to the Spirit; but the light of the Spirit is nowhere promised
separate from the word. If it does not always guide directly by
the word; yet it is only manifested in the direction of the word.
The word is in the matter, if not in the mode; and though the
Spirit may by immediate light direct us to any path of duty, yet
it is invariably to that path, which had been previously marked
by the light of the word. Thus the Spirit and the word conjointly
become our guide-the Spirit enlightening and quickening the
word-and the word evidencing the light of the Spirit. Nor will
their combined influence ever leave the church of God, until
she has joyfully and completely entered into Immanuel's land,
where she shall need no other light, than that of the glory of
God, and of the Lamb, which shall shine in her forever. But-Reader-rest not satisfied with whatever measure of light
may have been hitherto given. Seek that the word may have
"an entrance ministered unto you abundantly." The most
advanced believer is most ready to acknowledge, how much
of the word yet remains unexplored before him. Cultivate the
disposition of simplicity-the spirit of a "little child"-willing to
receive, embrace, submit to, whatever the revelation of God
may produce before you. There will be many things that we do
not understand: but there is nothing that we shall not believe.
"Thus says the Lord"-is sufficient to satisfy reverential faith. To
this spirit the promise of heavenly light is exclusively made.
"The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
The meek will He guide in judgment; the meek will He teach
His way." It is beautiful to see a man like Solomon, endued
with enlarged powers of mind- acknowledging himself to be a
little child, afraid of trusting in his own light; and seeking
instruction from above. But never will an unhumbled mind
know the benefit of this Divine instruction. To such a student,
the Bible must ever be a dark book; since its very design is to
destroy that disposition which he brings to the inquiry. That
knowledge, therefore, which is unable to direct our way to
heaven-no, which by closing the avenues of spiritual light,
obstructs our entrance there, is far more a curse than a
blessing. Far more glorious is the simplicity of the word than
the wisdom of the world.
"In that hour, Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank You, O
Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hid
these things from the wise and prudent, and have revealed
them unto babes: even so, Father, for so it seemed good in
Your sight."
by
Charles Bridges
Post Reply
|