Today’s chapter: Psalm 18

Today’s verse: Psalms 18:28

For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.

As a student it was a dismissal routine for the class to repeat prayers before leaving school in the afternoons.

With hands clasped and eyes closed we would repeat

Enlighten our darkness, we beseech thee O Lord and by thy great mercies defend us from all the perils and dangers of this night. For the love of thy only son our saviour Jesus Christ our Lord Amen.

Our teacher liked to say “enlighten our dark understanding”. For her this meant as students we would: grasp new concepts easily, retain the knowledge she shared with us and in the end do well on our internal and external examinations.

As students we had a lot of new things to learn and we had a number of things we had to unlearn. The fact that the earth revolves around the sun and not the other way around was fascinating for some students while mind boggling for others. In the end our teacher enlightened our darkness.

As adults we also have to learn and unlearn a number of things. Techniques used for punishing a child have evolved. Couples have to decide between social distancing and public display of affection. There might even be a need to unlearn and relearn interpretations for a number of Bible stories and Bible passages.

As an adult the Bible is not just a book with colourful stories and a few verses to memorize. It is so much more. Its a history book, its a prophetic book, it is a source for: doctrine, reproof, correction and instruction in righteousness.(2 Timothy 3:16).

When there is a need to address life’schallenges the Bible is that tool that will enlighten our darkness.

When despair, grief, heartache and other trials present themselves the Bible will be a candle. It will be a source of hope to enlighten in the darkest of hours.

Trials may come, disappointments will happen, love ones will part and life will continue to throw dark challenges but there is hope. Like David you can trust that the Lord will light your candle and He will enlighten your darkness.