A few days ago, a friend told me a story about how in ancient times, leaders of a household would light a lantern at night so that people could move about the home safely.
The images I imagined were something like a three wick candle I might find at a gift shop or even a red lantern I'd find in the camping section of a box store. But as she explained the type of lantern that these early peoples would have used, what came to mind was that looked like a botched pottery project. These lanterns were made of clay, formed into a bowl to hold the oil and one end was pinched into a narrow spout for a cloth wick to rest.
Not only would this kind of ancient lantern not give off a ton of light, required the carrier to walk slowly as to not spill the oil, The lantern bearer had to take their time and travel one dimly illuminated step at a time.
In Psalm 119: 105, the Psalmist who would have had personal experience with these ancient lamps writes... "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."
The images I imagined were something like a three wick candle I might find at a gift shop or even a red lantern I'd find in the camping section of a box store. But as she explained the type of lantern that these early peoples would have used, what came to mind was that looked like a botched pottery project. These lanterns were made of clay, formed into a bowl to hold the oil and one end was pinched into a narrow spout for a cloth wick to rest.
Not only would this kind of ancient lantern not give off a ton of light, required the carrier to walk slowly as to not spill the oil, The lantern bearer had to take their time and travel one dimly illuminated step at a time.
In Psalm 119: 105, the Psalmist who would have had personal experience with these ancient lamps writes... "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."
The Psalmist does not refer to the wisdom of God to be like the stars, the moon or the sun; all which would have made sense to use if the purpose of the writing to simply prove the splendor of God., but I get a sense there is something deeper to be discovered. Instead the writer expresses the word of God to be a lamp to their feet and a light to their path. Like the lantern that lit their homes and held people in relationship with each other; the word of God is something that abides with people in everyday life.
Cue the phrase, " Slow your roll."
Cue the phrase, " Slow your roll."
While in the midst of confusion and in need for direction, I find myself longing for a clear, concise ways forward; or at least a good flashlight to light my way. But a quick and easy answers usually lead me to shallow shortcuts that rarely give real direction over the long haul.
So like the Psalmist, the kind of wisdom I really need is the everyday, step-by-step, walking in the real world lantern light. Step-by-step lantern light keeps me in the present moment, keeps me from running ahead of my community and makes it possible to... slow my roll.
So like the Psalmist, the kind of wisdom I really need is the everyday, step-by-step, walking in the real world lantern light. Step-by-step lantern light keeps me in the present moment, keeps me from running ahead of my community and makes it possible to... slow my roll.
(Image from: http://www.biblearchaeology.org/post/2014/08/26/The-Lesson-of-the-Lamp.aspx)
t enough to go one step at a time.e much light, at all. Just enough to go one step at a time.
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