Week 6 – Day 31 (Wednesday)

Psalm 119:147-149 – Keep Your Light Burning

As Jesus’ mission on earth is quickly approaching its end, He wants to prepare His disciples for that day as well as for His ultimate return. Jesus talks about staying alert for His return through The Parable of the Ten Virgins in Matthew 25:1-13.

Jesus explains the cultural setting of a wedding in His day. Following the wedding ceremony, there was always a procession to the bridegroom’s home at night for the wedding feast. Everyone invited to the wedding carried a torch as they journeyed to the feast. The ten virgins were likely part of the bride’s wedding party, waiting to join the other guests. The procession was delayed in reaching its location. The parable describes five wise virgins who brought extra oil and could keep their lamps burning, while the other five ran out of oil. The light the guests carried was their ticket for entrance into the feast.

The theme of this parable is vigilance in keeping our ‘lamps” or our faith burning for Christ’s return. Jesus ends this story with this caution, “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” (vs. 13)

Today’s psalm emphasizes preparedness for the Lord's movement in our lives and His promised return.