2 Samuel 22:29 – “For Thou art my lamp, O LORD; and the LORD illumines my darkness.”  NASB

This verse is part of the song that David wrote after he had been delivered from Saul and all his enemies.  He was filled with thanksgiving to God and wrote this song to express his gratitude and offer his praise to God.  There are so many powerful declarations in the song, but this revelation has captured my attention and brings great comfort to my heart.

We all go through difficult times in life.  We all encounter obstacles and even enemies that want to destroy us.  Those enemies may be human or may be the forces of darkness assigned to trouble us by the devil himself.  No matter the source we can take comfort in the promises of God to watch over us, keep us, protect us, and guide us.  That is the focus of David in this verse.           

A lamp has the purpose of giving light and in the giving of light illuminates the hidden things lurking in the darkness.  It reveals the beneficial as well as the detrimental and dangerous.  It reveals the right path to take and exposes the potholes and pitfalls that are unseen when things are dark. 

In Psalms 119:105, the Psalmist declared, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light to my path.”  The idea of a lamp is that it provides enough light for the immediate area.  A natural lamp only provides light enough to penetrate the immediate darkness, but David said that God was his lamp and that God illumines his darkness.  That is an expansion of the function of a lamp. 

God is a lamp providing illumination for the immediate dangers, pitfalls, and blessings we do not see but He is more.  He illuminates our darkness.  He is light and that light could be compared to the brilliance of the noonday sun.  We have both the Lamp and the Light so that we can see where to place our foot for the next step but illumination to plan for the future seeing into His purposes.

Lynda Randle sings a song that moves my heart every time I hear it, “God on the Mountain.”  The song identifies the ease of life when we are on the mountain and all is well.  On the mountain, we often experience peace of mind beyond anything we have ever known.  Then suddenly things change, problems arise, and the storm clouds roll in.  We find ourselves in a valley and it is difficult to see which way to go.  The song says that in those times we need to remember that, “The God on the mountain, is the same God as in the valley.  When things go wrong, He makes them right.  The God of the good times is also the God of the bad times.  The God of the day is the God of the night.”

When we are on the mountain faith is easy but when we are in the valley faith is tested and pressed to the limit.  It is easy to talk about faith and make bold confessions and declarations when all is well but when things go wrong it is sometimes difficult.  But, the God on the mountain is the God in the valley and if we will just come to Him, He will illuminate our path and guide us to the safe shore.

God is both a Lamp and a Light.  He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  He will never leave us nor forsake us.  He is the God on the Mountain and the God in the Valley.  He is God and always will be God!

God bless you as you enjoy this day in Him!