Psalm 17, Part 1: Guard My Footsteps

David was a representative man. His history is of interest to every soul who is striving for eternal victories. In his life two powers struggled for the mastery.

Unbelief marshaled its forces, and tried to eclipse the light shining upon him from the throne of God. Day by day the battle went on in his heart, Satan disputing every step of advance made by the forces of righteousness. David understood what it meant to fight against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world.

At times it seemed that the enemy must gain the victory.

But in the end, faith conquered, and David rejoiced in the saving power of Jehovah. “The struggle that David endured, every follower of Christ must go through.” “You need not be surprised if everything in the journey heavenward is not pleasant. There is no use in looking to our own defects. Looking unto Jesus, the darkness passes away, and the true light shineth. Go forth daily, expressing the prayer of David, ‘Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.’ All the paths of life are beset with peril, but we are safe if we follow where the Master leads the way, trusting the One whose voice we hear saying, ‘Follow me.’ ‘He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.’” In Psalm 17, David “asserts confidence in his appeal [v. 1], prays to be kept in an evil world [v. 5], and muses on his ultimate satisfaction in seeing God face to face [v. 15].” David is sure God has found him innocent of the accusations brought against him and knows God will judge him fairly. Following God’s Word, David keeps himself from sin. The path of righteousness is narrow, and David does not want to slip (v. 5).

“My beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58).

“All the way my Savior leads me; / What have I to ask beside?”