I just had a thought as I was reading several verses about the Light and walking in the Light. I am reading these verses differently now as I consider "walking in the light" to mean "confessing sin regularly." Then I came across Psalm 119:105, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." Of course I've heard sermons on that verse my whole life. But the next verse says, "I have sworn and I will confirm it, that I will keep Your righteous ordinances."
I've never really understood how David could love the law of God so much. That theme is presented over and over in the Psalms. But then I saw it. "Your word is...a light to m y path." The law was given to show/reveal to us our sin, and the OT law gives instructions on sacrifices made to cleanse them of sin. But in order to make those sacrifices, they had to go publicly to the temple and present specific items - virtually forcing people to make public confessions.
David was a "man after God's own heart" and I've been taught that that refers to how quickly he confessed when confronted with sin. Confession truly does bring a kind of joy to life that cannot be experienced any other way. No wonder David loved the law. he searched it and memorized it so that he would know for sure when he sinned and could confess it. How many times does it say that he praised God in the midst of the assembly? He was very public about the joy he had found through forgiveness. It makes me think, in a way, that David was "addicted" to confession. And why wouldn't he be? Walking in the Light is the only way to have "abundant life." If life = a closer relationship with Jesus, and sin separates us from God, then confession will continually bring us closer to Him and to the abundant life we crave.
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