Today's Journal
LAMP OIL
Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible with 176 verses laid out in 22 eight verse segments that are cadences and correspond to the Hebrew alphabet. All but five verses of the 176 verses reference The Word of God in some way.One of the more familiar verses is Psalm 119:105: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” If we intend to see where we are going, we need the Word of God shining brightly in our minds, in our spirits and in our bodies.
This verse reminded me of a parable of the Lord in Matthew 25: “Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps.” (Matthew 25:1-4)
The principle is a very simple one: the lamp without oil is of no value. The lamp with oil will light our way. Without the scriptures being put into our inner person on a consistent basis…we will get low on oil and could become foolish as the five virgins or be prudent virgins and take along oil flasks with us.
No oil…no lamp. No lamp…no light.
‘Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out and meet him!’
“All the bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps. Then the five foolish ones asked the others, ‘Please give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.’ “But the others replied, ‘We don’t have enough for all of us. Go to a shop and buy some for yourselves.’ “But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked.” Jesus