Light a Candle

This is a short message based on Psalm 18:27 that was preached for the Christmas Eve Candlelight Service. The sermon speaks about God's light in our lives, to whom it is provided and the purpose it fills.

(KJV) Psalm 18:28 For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.

Written Excerpts: (There was no audio recording of the message.)

Introduction:

Since this is a candlelight service, I decided to get real innovative and bring a message titled, “Light a Candle!”

A well-known quote that has circulated for decades goes like this, “It is far better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.” (quoteinvestigator.com) It signifies the fact that it doesn’t take much effort or intelligence to simply criticize the conditions that exist. It is much more productive to actually do something to illuminate the darkness.

Christmas eve is a time when we recognize that God has provided the light for the darkness of this sin-cursed world. Yes, God’s Word repeatedly condemns the “darkness” of sinful behaviors and choices of men, but He didn’t stop there. He provided a remedy for the sin of the whole world by sending His only Son into our world. He is the light of the world.

For the next few minutes I want to use a passage from the book of Psalms to help us think about our mission of lighting the world with the light of Christ.

Psalm 18:27-29 _(NKJV) For You will save the humble people, But will bring down haughty looks. ²⁸ For You will light my lamp (KJV-Candle); The LORD my God will enlighten my darkness. ²⁹ For by You I can run against a troop, By my God I can leap over a wall. 

I.          Light is provided by the Lord.

(KJV) “Thou wilt light my candle; The Lord my God will enlighten my darkness.” (Ps. 18:28)

God is the source of light. 

We cannot possess light or provide light in ourselves.

The light of God illuminates truth and the path we walk.

(Spurgeon, The Treasury of David) Candles which are lit by God the devil cannot blow out.

When we think of Christ as the light of the world, we can understand how He lightens our darkness. He is our candle. He is our source of light.

Light – illuminates literally & spiritually; to not only remove darkness but to expose error, deceit, and display the path of truth.

II.        Light is provided for the humble and faithful.

The verse right before our text gives an indication of who the Lord provides light for.

Psalm 18:27 (NKJV)  For You will save the humble people, But will bring down haughty looks. 

Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries – The Hebrew has literally ‘exalted eyes’, used in Ps. 131:1 to refer to someone who has a proud demeanor.

Expositor's Bible Commentary, Revised - The “haughty” are those who have little or no regard for the Lord…

Over and over throughout the Bible, humility is emphasized as the primary condition that is necessary for one to receive any help from the Lord.

“God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Jam. 4:6

III.       Light provides courage in the face of darkness and opposition.

The verse immediately following our text tells what the light enables one to accomplish.

Psalm 18:29 (NKJV)  For by You I can run against a troop, By my God I can leap over a wall. 

Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries – … with your help I can advance against a troop, [or]… alternative found in the footnote [of NIV]: ‘with your help I can run through a barricade’. In either case, along with the second colon (with my God I can scale a wall), the psalmist proclaims that God enables him to overcome any obstacle put in his way by his militaristic enemies.

The connection (“for”) at the beginning of the verse signals a continuation of the thought. It clearly seems to imply that the lighting of one’s candle gives the necessary ingredient to advance against opposition.

When we walk/grope in the darkness, we go with hesitancy and apprehension. We have little confidence because of uncertainty regarding what’s ahead. But, with the bright light of God, we march forward with confidence and we have the courage to go up against overwhelming odds.

Another application that came to mind as I considered this aspect relates to the tremendous asset a brilliant light is when in the hand of the user, but in the eyes of an opponent/enemy a brilliant light is blinding and unnerving. It diminishes the ability to fight.

When the enemies of Christ are blinded by the light of truth, then those who carry the light can truly “advance through the troop and scale the walls.”

Conclusion:

As we live our lives in accordance with Christ's mission, we need to “light a candle” in our world and spread the light of truth, faith and hope.

Jesus stated that His disciples are to be the “light of the world.” (Matt. 5:14)

We are the candles that God wants to use to bring the light of truth and the light of salvation to the dark world.