Proverbs Chapter 6

Proverbs 6:23
"For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:"

The benefits of the Word of God in the life of the believer are endless. In our verse for this week Solomon lists three ways that God’s Word (commandments, law, reproofs) works in our lives.

The first is as a lamp. As we walk through this dark world in which we live, His Word serves as light by which to travel. It illuminates our path. As we hold it up we can see the dangers, turns and roadblocks as we encounter them. As a US Marine I remember many a time in night training that I had to walk around in pitch black darkness. Were it not for the lamp I carried I could have easily wandered off the path and become lost. I could have fallen into ditches, been tripped by obstacles in the path, or been injured by low hanging tree branches. Another purpose for a lamp is to serve as a beacon. Picture a weary hiker who has become lost in the woods. He tops a hill and sees a light in the distance. He rejoices because he knows that the light means warmth, food, and safety. He can now direct his steps toward the direction of that light. God’s Word is the light for our path and the beacon to follow.

God’s Word also serves the purpose of being an inner light. In His Word we see who God is. We see His glory, His nature, His character, and His eternal purpose. We also see ourselves for who we really are. His Word sheds light on our inner-most being. Every detail of our sinful human nature is revealed. And in the midst of what would appear to be a gulf to great to cross we can also see hope in a hopeless situation. That hope is found in Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on the cross. He bridged the gap between God’s glory and man’s sinfulness.

The third purpose listed here of His Word in our lives is to provide correctional instruction. Everyone who has piloted a plane, sailed a boat or even driven a car knows that without constant small corrections the plane, boat or car will drift off course. So God’s Word is in the life of His followers. We walk down the path of life, start to drift off course, find correction in His Word, apply that correction, get back on course, drift off again, correct again and so it goes on and on. His Word keeps us on the straight path of life.

Here’s the rub. For any of these purposes to be activated in our lives we must be in His Word. We must hear it, read it, study it, memorize it, and meditate on it. Mostly however, we must obey it. If we will make the truths of His Word a regular part of our lives then it will illuminate our path, enlighten our soul and correct our way.