This morning, a proverb brings to mind a couple of psalms.

I think the proverb may have jumped off the page this morning because I don’t recall encountering it before when reading Proverbs. Turns out, I haven’t . . . at least not since I last read out of the NIV translation back in the ’90’s. Read the verse in the NKJV, NASB, or ESV and it looks pretty different. But this morning, I’m reading in the CSB and so, I’ll go with the CSB.

Here’s the proverb:

The LORD’s lamp sheds light on a person’s life,
searching the innermost parts.

(Proverbs 20:27 CSB)

Here are the lines from the psalms which were brought to mind:

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

(Psalm 119:105 AV)

Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my concerns.
See if there is any offensive way in me;
lead me in the everlasting way.

(Psalms 139:23-24 CSB)

Not sure who wrote Psalm 119:105, but even though it’s been almost 40 years since the song came out, I still hear Amy Grant singing it. The word of God is a lamp. It is a light. Profitable for direction. Profitable too for protection. But as I’m reminded by this proverb, profitable also for detection.

Often, I think I’m tempted to open my bible as I would a textbook or a guidebook. But shouldn’t it also be interacted with as I would a mirror or, perhaps more accurately, a magnifying glass? If the word of God truly is “living and active”, if it really is “sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow, . . . able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Heb. 4:12) then shouldn’t this lamp also give light as to what’s really happening within? I’m thinkin . . . So too, apparently, is the proverb writer.

I’m thinking that we shouldn’t be surprised to experience a little (or maybe a lot of) discomfort during our devotions? Maybe not every day, but we shouldn’t be surprised if it happens on some days . . . maybe even most days. The LORD’s lamp sheds light on a person’s life.

And not so that we would wallow in discomfort, nor be overwhelmed by deficiency. Instead, that we might be directed afresh to the One who has dealt once-for-all with what is found when searching the innermost parts.

Jesus wants to present the church (aka us) to Himself “in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or anything like that, but holy and blameless.” And He’s chosen to do that by loving the church and giving Himself for the church to make her holy. And part of that process of being made holy involves Jesus “cleansing [the church] with the washing of water by the word” (Eph. 5:25b-26).

The word, the LORD’s lamp. Shedding light on a persons life. Revealing stuff on the inside we don’t even know is on the inside. A lamp to our feet, a light to our path, but also a litmus test for our hearts.

That we would know afresh His overflowing grace. That we would want anew to give Him all-deserving glory.