Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.
Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not is a prayer asking God and Christ to hold up one's life and daily conduct in His paths so the footsteps do not slip, stumble or fall. It is to be prayed daily, hourly and constantly with earnest devoted submission, in humble faith that holds on to the promise and refuses to let go without blessing as Jacob held on for blessing, with childlike trust that clings to the Saviour and lets nothing separate the soul from God. Left to himself a person cannot take one step safely even on what looks like the safest road, for the heavenward journey is full of seen and unseen perils and snares prepared by Satan, so staying upright requires working in cooperation with God while He works within and keeping the heart guarded by pure principles in continual vigilance. There is no safety in following human devisings and slippery paths contrary to His Word, but only in following where Christ leads and trusting His voice, turning from self to look unto Jesus, which is the only safe course against letting one cherished sin or one step in wrong principle break down the defenses of the soul and open the way for Satan to lead astray.
Prayer of Dependent Trust
The prayer asks God and Christ to hold up one's goings, life and daily conduct in His paths so that the footsteps do not slip, stumble or fall. It is David's prayer, to be made his own daily and hourly, constantly and without ceasing, with a heart longing after God, in earnest devoted submission to His will, watching and praying. It belongs to the journey heavenward and to seeking sanctification of soul, body and spirit.
It is prayed in humble faith, belief and trust while holding on to the promise and refusing to let go without blessing, in the same holding-on spirit as Jacob's plea for blessing. It means childlike trust as a child trusts a parent, clinging to the Saviour and letting nothing separate the soul from God, looking for and expecting mercies and blessings and believing with all the heart though a sinner. It is prayed distrusting self rather than being filled with self-confidence, by one who has Christ abiding in the heart and holds communion with God.
It is prayed with confidence that God will hear and incline His ear when called upon, after committing one's case to the Lord in His work and trusting that He cares and will judge in truth and righteousness. It is prayed after He has proved the heart, visited in the night and tried it, asking that judgment come from His presence and that He look on what is right, with the purpose that the mouth will not transgress, and with sincere prayer from unfeigned lips. It is the voice and call of every poor, defenseless and dependent sinner coming to Christ for protection, which Christ longs to hear from Israel and from all who will come to Him, answering His longing to gather them under His mediatorial wings as a hen gathers her chickens.
Joined to the verses that follow, it calls in trust for marvelous lovingkindness, for saving by God's right hand from those who rise up, for keeping as the apple of the eye, and for hiding under the shadow of His wings. Being hidden under His wings means being gathered under Christ's mediatorial wings for warmth and safety as chickens heed the hen's warning call of peril and run to her spreading wings where she defends them even with her own life. This shows His watchful care for all who trust in Him.
Danger, Protection, and Obedience
Left to oneself, footing is lost even on what looks like the safest road, and not one step can be taken safely in mere human wisdom. Staying upright requires working in cooperation with God while He works within to will and to do His good pleasure. Walking without fear requires knowing that the hand of Jesus Christ holds firmly, a certainty found only by searching the Word of the living God.
The path of life and the journey heavenward, which will not always be pleasant, are full of danger and perils, some unseen. Pitfalls have been dug by men for the feet, and snares have been carefully prepared by Satan, who studies his ground and lays his snare accordingly. Going of one's own accord in the way of temptation invites the devil to tempt to ruin when the heart is prepared to receive temptation.
Safety comes only when hearts are guarded by pure principles and depend on God's powerful help. Continual seeking, vigilance, battle and resistance are required against selfishness and corruption, which can draw a person into uncertain paths and become a binding habit. Carelessness about eternal interests and neglect of spiritual interests expose workers to temptation, deception, uncertain paths, evil habits and loss.
There is no safety in following human devisings and the slippery paths of men who forget God and walk contrary to His Word, but only in following where Christ and the Master lead the way. Safety is in trusting His voice saying Follow me, with the heart resting in His love. It means turning from looking at personal defects to looking unto Jesus, so that darkness passes away and the true light shines, while seeking sanctification of soul, body and spirit. That path grows clearer and brighter unto the perfect day.
It is the only safe course against letting an unchristian trait live in the heart. One cherished sin little by little debases the character and brings all its nobler powers into subjection to evil desire. Removing one safeguard from conscience, failing to do the very thing the Lord has marked out, indulging one evil habit, neglecting the high claims of duty and taking one step in wrong principle breaks down the defenses of the soul, often leads to an entire change of life and action, and opens the way for Satan to come in and lead astray.
Those who have made mistakes are taught to proceed carefully and to depend on God rather than themselves to keep from falling again and to obtain forgiveness. This is needed because the Lord sees personal dangers, because every natural and cultivated inclination of the heart rises against true humiliation of self, and because even generous and hopeful workers make mistakes that call for forgiveness. The prayer belongs to those united in reaching the higher classes while lifting the oppressed, relieving the needy and helping the poor to help themselves, offered constantly in earnest, devoted submission to the will of the Lord.
Prayed without vainness, it orders speech and conduct so as to bring no dishonor or reproach on sacred truth. It gives its enemies no occasion to blaspheme and reveals no inconsistencies out of harmony with precious truth of sacred origin. It goes to no extremes that furnish scandal to be circulated far and near in exaggerated form.
Addressed to Christ to hold the believer fast and guide the steps, it means obeying God from the heart whatever the consequences. It means trusting God and honoring His Sabbath sign as of more value than money or employment, doing duty now by offering six days work and asking for the Sabbath free and resolving to labor on no another Sabbath. It means refusing to let go to unite with rebels against the Saviour and giving Satan no victory, with the Lord granting strength to stand firm.
Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not is a prayer asking God and Christ to hold up one's life and daily conduct in His paths so the footsteps do not slip, stumble or fall. It is to be prayed daily, hourly and constantly with earnest devoted submission, in humble faith that holds on to the promise and refuses to let go without blessing as Jacob held on for blessing, with childlike trust that clings to the Saviour and lets nothing separate the soul from God. Left to himself a person cannot take one step safely even on what looks like the safest road, for the heavenward journey is full of seen and unseen perils and snares prepared by Satan, so staying upright requires working in cooperation with God while He works within and keeping the heart guarded by pure principles in continual vigilance. There is no safety in following human devisings and slippery paths contrary to His Word, but only in following where Christ leads and trusting His voice, turning from self to look unto Jesus, which is the only safe course against letting one cherished sin or one step in wrong principle break down the defenses of the soul and open the way for Satan to lead astray.
Prayer of Dependent Trust
The prayer asks God and Christ to hold up one's goings, life and daily conduct in His paths so that the footsteps do not slip, stumble or fall. It is David's prayer, to be made his own daily and hourly, constantly and without ceasing, with a heart longing after God, in earnest devoted submission to His will, watching and praying. It belongs to the journey heavenward and to seeking sanctification of soul, body and spirit.
It is prayed in humble faith, belief and trust while holding on to the promise and refusing to let go without blessing, in the same holding-on spirit as Jacob's plea for blessing. It means childlike trust as a child trusts a parent, clinging to the Saviour and letting nothing separate the soul from God, looking for and expecting mercies and blessings and believing with all the heart though a sinner. It is prayed distrusting self rather than being filled with self-confidence, by one who has Christ abiding in the heart and holds communion with God.
It is prayed with confidence that God will hear and incline His ear when called upon, after committing one's case to the Lord in His work and trusting that He cares and will judge in truth and righteousness. It is prayed after He has proved the heart, visited in the night and tried it, asking that judgment come from His presence and that He look on what is right, with the purpose that the mouth will not transgress, and with sincere prayer from unfeigned lips. It is the voice and call of every poor, defenseless and dependent sinner coming to Christ for protection, which Christ longs to hear from Israel and from all who will come to Him, answering His longing to gather them under His mediatorial wings as a hen gathers her chickens.
Joined to the verses that follow, it calls in trust for marvelous lovingkindness, for saving by God's right hand from those who rise up, for keeping as the apple of the eye, and for hiding under the shadow of His wings. Being hidden under His wings means being gathered under Christ's mediatorial wings for warmth and safety as chickens heed the hen's warning call of peril and run to her spreading wings where she defends them even with her own life. This shows His watchful care for all who trust in Him.
Danger, Protection, and Obedience
Left to oneself, footing is lost even on what looks like the safest road, and not one step can be taken safely in mere human wisdom. Staying upright requires working in cooperation with God while He works within to will and to do His good pleasure. Walking without fear requires knowing that the hand of Jesus Christ holds firmly, a certainty found only by searching the Word of the living God.
The path of life and the journey heavenward, which will not always be pleasant, are full of danger and perils, some unseen. Pitfalls have been dug by men for the feet, and snares have been carefully prepared by Satan, who studies his ground and lays his snare accordingly. Going of one's own accord in the way of temptation invites the devil to tempt to ruin when the heart is prepared to receive temptation.
Safety comes only when hearts are guarded by pure principles and depend on God's powerful help. Continual seeking, vigilance, battle and resistance are required against selfishness and corruption, which can draw a person into uncertain paths and become a binding habit. Carelessness about eternal interests and neglect of spiritual interests expose workers to temptation, deception, uncertain paths, evil habits and loss.
There is no safety in following human devisings and the slippery paths of men who forget God and walk contrary to His Word, but only in following where Christ and the Master lead the way. Safety is in trusting His voice saying Follow me, with the heart resting in His love. It means turning from looking at personal defects to looking unto Jesus, so that darkness passes away and the true light shines, while seeking sanctification of soul, body and spirit. That path grows clearer and brighter unto the perfect day.
It is the only safe course against letting an unchristian trait live in the heart. One cherished sin little by little debases the character and brings all its nobler powers into subjection to evil desire. Removing one safeguard from conscience, failing to do the very thing the Lord has marked out, indulging one evil habit, neglecting the high claims of duty and taking one step in wrong principle breaks down the defenses of the soul, often leads to an entire change of life and action, and opens the way for Satan to come in and lead astray.
Those who have made mistakes are taught to proceed carefully and to depend on God rather than themselves to keep from falling again and to obtain forgiveness. This is needed because the Lord sees personal dangers, because every natural and cultivated inclination of the heart rises against true humiliation of self, and because even generous and hopeful workers make mistakes that call for forgiveness. The prayer belongs to those united in reaching the higher classes while lifting the oppressed, relieving the needy and helping the poor to help themselves, offered constantly in earnest, devoted submission to the will of the Lord.
Prayed without vainness, it orders speech and conduct so as to bring no dishonor or reproach on sacred truth. It gives its enemies no occasion to blaspheme and reveals no inconsistencies out of harmony with precious truth of sacred origin. It goes to no extremes that furnish scandal to be circulated far and near in exaggerated form.
Addressed to Christ to hold the believer fast and guide the steps, it means obeying God from the heart whatever the consequences. It means trusting God and honoring His Sabbath sign as of more value than money or employment, doing duty now by offering six days work and asking for the Sabbath free and resolving to labor on no another Sabbath. It means refusing to let go to unite with rebels against the Saviour and giving Satan no victory, with the Lord granting strength to stand firm.