The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
The Lord Himself directs and orders each step of the person who loves, trusts and serves Him in faith, and He takes delight and pleasure in that person's way. The path He orders is safe, straight, clear and plain, growing clearer and brighter so the feet need not grope or slide. Even when that person falls or slips, he is not left down or utterly cast down, because the Lord upholds him with His hand. He makes His will known to those who earnestly seek His guidance, while the one who refuses to know and do His will stumbles in darkness. His ordering does not promise outward ease, for the way may still be dark and thorny, but all events remain under His overruling care for good and call for earnest trust in hardship and in ease.
The Lord Orders Steps
The Lord directs and orders each step of the good person, and He delights in and takes pleasure in that person's way. The good are those who love Him, who trust in Him, who serve Him in consecration, and who maintain good works in faith. Events affecting such a believer stand under God's overruling care and are ordered for good, even when their purpose lies beyond human understanding, for God sees farther and will ultimately bring things right. Affliction, disease and death can come from violated physical laws, and some afflictions may be chastisement, yet the ordering hand remains.
The path He marks out and orders is safe, straight, clear and plain rather than uncertain. Jesus leads His followers in that straight way, so those who follow need not grope among byways and their footsteps will not slide. It grows clearer and brighter as the believer advances toward the perfect day. That secure walking is humble, believing trust and dependence on God rather than a fearful spirit, with the Lord as trust and crown of rejoicing.
As He led ancient Israel, though hidden from view and veiled by the cloud and pillar of fire, He will plainly lead His people in this important period of the world's history and in the present age. The way is marked out and every step upon it is ordered by the Lord.
He makes His will known to those who earnestly seek His guidance and look to Christ for guidance. The person who refuses to know and do God's will stumbles in darkness and does not know where to step.
His guiding is given with wisdom to guide the course, with knowledge and spiritual understanding, and with love surrounding the believer. Those so led experience the presence of the Holy Spirit, the Comforter. His leading is recognized when actions are in harmony with the Holy Spirit and Christ.
Upholding in Trial and Obedience
Though the good person falls, he is not left lying or utterly cast down, for the Lord upholds him with His hand. The feet may still slip even on the ordered path, so the safeguard is to keep the hand in the hand of Jesus and hold fast to His nail-pierced hand. Held in that grasp the feet shall not slide, for Christ holds the believer's hand more firmly than the believer can hold His.
The ordering of steps does not promise outward peace or prosperity, for the path may still be dark and thorny. That guidance does assure protection from evil, and it calls for earnest faith and trust in hardship as well as in ease. Events that touch the believer remain under God's overruling care and are ordered for good, even when the purpose of dark events lies beyond human understanding. Affliction, disease, and death can come from violated physical laws, and some afflictions may be chastisement, yet God sees farther and will ultimately bring things right.
The verse reveals God's special favor toward all who love Him, with His help and strength in trouble for those who trust Him. He loves justice, never abandons His saints, and keeps them forever. Trust in these ordered steps extends to overcoming appetite and maintaining health reform and good works in faith, not by relying on one's own strength but by uniting human effort with the power Jesus provides and relying on God. With that reliance His prospering hand is kept with the believer to guide toward victory.
Living with steps thus ordered brings God's blessing and secure walking in humble, believing trust and dependence on God rather than a fearful spirit, with the Lord as trust and crown of rejoicing. Compassionate acts of helping people in need and drawing troubled souls toward Christ are steps in a life of service that God blesses and uses to open doors of usefulness. The verse therefore becomes a prayer for strength and divine wisdom to follow God's direction, walk in clear light, and avoid false steps.
The Lord Himself directs and orders each step of the person who loves, trusts and serves Him in faith, and He takes delight and pleasure in that person's way. The path He orders is safe, straight, clear and plain, growing clearer and brighter so the feet need not grope or slide. Even when that person falls or slips, he is not left down or utterly cast down, because the Lord upholds him with His hand. He makes His will known to those who earnestly seek His guidance, while the one who refuses to know and do His will stumbles in darkness. His ordering does not promise outward ease, for the way may still be dark and thorny, but all events remain under His overruling care for good and call for earnest trust in hardship and in ease.
The Lord Orders Steps
The Lord directs and orders each step of the good person, and He delights in and takes pleasure in that person's way. The good are those who love Him, who trust in Him, who serve Him in consecration, and who maintain good works in faith. Events affecting such a believer stand under God's overruling care and are ordered for good, even when their purpose lies beyond human understanding, for God sees farther and will ultimately bring things right. Affliction, disease and death can come from violated physical laws, and some afflictions may be chastisement, yet the ordering hand remains.
The path He marks out and orders is safe, straight, clear and plain rather than uncertain. Jesus leads His followers in that straight way, so those who follow need not grope among byways and their footsteps will not slide. It grows clearer and brighter as the believer advances toward the perfect day. That secure walking is humble, believing trust and dependence on God rather than a fearful spirit, with the Lord as trust and crown of rejoicing.
As He led ancient Israel, though hidden from view and veiled by the cloud and pillar of fire, He will plainly lead His people in this important period of the world's history and in the present age. The way is marked out and every step upon it is ordered by the Lord.
He makes His will known to those who earnestly seek His guidance and look to Christ for guidance. The person who refuses to know and do God's will stumbles in darkness and does not know where to step.
His guiding is given with wisdom to guide the course, with knowledge and spiritual understanding, and with love surrounding the believer. Those so led experience the presence of the Holy Spirit, the Comforter. His leading is recognized when actions are in harmony with the Holy Spirit and Christ.
Upholding in Trial and Obedience
Though the good person falls, he is not left lying or utterly cast down, for the Lord upholds him with His hand. The feet may still slip even on the ordered path, so the safeguard is to keep the hand in the hand of Jesus and hold fast to His nail-pierced hand. Held in that grasp the feet shall not slide, for Christ holds the believer's hand more firmly than the believer can hold His.
The ordering of steps does not promise outward peace or prosperity, for the path may still be dark and thorny. That guidance does assure protection from evil, and it calls for earnest faith and trust in hardship as well as in ease. Events that touch the believer remain under God's overruling care and are ordered for good, even when the purpose of dark events lies beyond human understanding. Affliction, disease, and death can come from violated physical laws, and some afflictions may be chastisement, yet God sees farther and will ultimately bring things right.
The verse reveals God's special favor toward all who love Him, with His help and strength in trouble for those who trust Him. He loves justice, never abandons His saints, and keeps them forever. Trust in these ordered steps extends to overcoming appetite and maintaining health reform and good works in faith, not by relying on one's own strength but by uniting human effort with the power Jesus provides and relying on God. With that reliance His prospering hand is kept with the believer to guide toward victory.
Living with steps thus ordered brings God's blessing and secure walking in humble, believing trust and dependence on God rather than a fearful spirit, with the Lord as trust and crown of rejoicing. Compassionate acts of helping people in need and drawing troubled souls toward Christ are steps in a life of service that God blesses and uses to open doors of usefulness. The verse therefore becomes a prayer for strength and divine wisdom to follow God's direction, walk in clear light, and avoid false steps.