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¹⁰⁵ Your word is a lamp to my feet
    and a light to my path.
¹⁰⁶ I have sworn an oath and confirmed it,
    to keep your righteous rules.
¹⁰⁷ I am severely afflicted;
    give me life, O Lord, according to your word!
¹⁰⁸ Accept my freewill offerings of praise, O Lord,
    and teach me your rules.
¹⁰⁹ I hold my life in my hand continually,
    but I do not forget your law.
¹¹⁰ The wicked have laid a snare for me,
    but I do not stray from your precepts.
¹¹¹ Your testimonies are my heritage forever,
    for they are the joy of my heart.
¹¹² I incline my heart to perform your statutes
    forever, to the end.

In the last couple of sections we have seen the power of the word of the Lord. It upholds the world (vs 87), and it upholds and changes us (vs 93, vs 97-104). As those things are true, it is no surprise that the Psalmist once again expresses his commitment to listen and obey that word.

We may be tempted to wait until we feel like picking up our Bibles, or only come to church when the mood takes us. But this would be disastrous. We need to follow the Psalmist and make a decision beforehand to act. The battle to attend church is won on Saturday. You will read the word tomorrow if you’ve decided to make it a priority today.

The Psalmist isn’t relying on his own energy though. This is grace energised effort. Look at verse 107. He is honest about how hard things are for him, so he cries out to the Lord “give me life according to your word!”. The ability not to stray from God’s precepts (verse 110), and the fact that the Lord’s testimonies are his joy (verse 111) can only be because the Lord has first transformed his heart. 

At the beginning of the section is perhaps the most famous verse in the whole Psalm. The Bible is described as a “lamp” and a “light”. But notice, these are two slightly different images. God’s word is both like a hand held torch with a very narrow focus given us explicit and clear commands. It is also like a street light lighting up the whole area, enabling us to see ourselves and the world rightly, enabling us to live wisely. 

As we put this all together, it is no surprise the Psalmist expresses real joy in God’s word and loves to hear and obey it. This is because he loves his Lord! God is not a cosmic policeman in the sky and his word is not a catalogue of offences we shouldn’t commit due to fear of punishment. He is the Lord who has committed himself to us by his covenant. His testimonies are our heritage (verse 111). They belong to us because we are saved by him. His word to us is like the bit of the promised land given to each family in Israel - their participation in the promises of God. As we read, obey and delight in God’s word it shows we belong to the Lord.