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

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