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#2.
The Lamp and the Light.
p. 76
The Psalmist joyously confessed:
"Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet And a light unto my path" (Psa. 119: 105).
Parallel with this passage is the acknowledgment of the writer of the Proverbs:
"The commandment is a lamp; and the law is light: and reproofs of instruction are
the way of life" (Prov. 6: 23).
In both passages the way is in view, and the Scriptures are likened to a lantern held
low, near the feet, in order that the pitfalls which awaited the traveler on an eastern road
might be avoided.
The extension in Proverbs regarding "reproofs" and "instruction" indicate how the
Word of God, and especially its commandments, may and should be used.
#3.
The Sword of the Spirit.
p. 105
The whole armour of God is comprised of six pieces, beginning with the girdle of
truth, and ending with the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. It is the
believer's only weapon.
"The weapons of our warfare are not carnal" (II Cor. 10: 4).
Our Saviour has shown us the temper of this blade, and how effective is its use in
spiritual conflict. Three times was He tempted of the Devil, and three times did he meet
the Adversary with the sword of the Spirit, saying: "It is written", and "It is written
again".
When at last the day of revelation breaks, He will come bearing the name "The Word
of God", and "out of His mouth" will go "a sharp sword" (Rev. 19: 13, 15), so that in the
hour of His triumph as in the hour of His humiliation that sword of the Spirit is seen as
His trusted weapon. Where He avoided other means and other weapons, how can we
hope to succeed if we attempt to substitute any means of victory other than this wondrous
word of God?