“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”

Meaning of “Thy word”

We use the term to refer to the bible or scripture, which we believe is not from men, but was inspired or breathed by God; it was given from God as He guided those men who recorded all He chose to reveal to us (2 Peter 1:21).
So, the bible is truly a miracle. It is unnatural in that it is not a product of this world or its people. It was only by divine intervention that the bible is available to us. And it is truly amazing to consider that while our almighty creator is above and beyond everything we see and understand, we have in readily accessible printed form what He wants us to know.

But the Word is more than mere printed paper or mobile phone app. We know that the bible only becomes meaningful to us as the Holy Spirit opens our heart and our eyes to receive its meaning (John 16:12–15). And we read in John chapter 1 that the Word also refers to Jesus, through whom the world was created; He reveals the nature of our Heavenly Father, and He lives in all who believe in him.

So, the Word can also refer to the active presence of God in our lives and in the world as we read the bible.

A light to guide us

The purpose of this miracle of the bible is to give God’s assurance and guidance, to ennable us to live amongst the perils of this world, to navigate our way, and to save us from this world’s fatal temptations.

My Feet, and My Path

The use of repetition or pairing of two lines or statements which are equivalent or parallel, is used in many of the psalms to emphasize meaning. Although the two statements here appear equivalent, they have a slightly different meaning.

A lamp to my feet points to where we stand now. Through his word, God shows us how to stand strong and stay upright where we are now placed, and where to place our feet with each step.

A light unto my path points to the way ahead. Despite the dark chaos of this world, God will guide and lead us to where He wants to use us, and eventually to where we will be with Him forever.

Praise God for his Word!