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I. THERE ARE WAYS WHICH ARE NOT IN THE PROMISE. "All thy ways" are mentioned; but some tracks are not to be followed by children of God, and are not their ways.

1. Ways of presumption. In these men court danger, and, as it were, defy God (Matthew 4:6).

2. Ways of sin, dishonesty, lying, vice, worldly conformity, etc. We have no permit to bow in the house of Rimmon (Ephesians 5:12).

3. Ways of worldliness, selfishness, greed, ambition. The ways by which men seek personal aggrandizement are usually dark, and crooked, and are not of God (Proverbs 28:22; 1 Timothy 6:9).

4. Ways of pride, self-conceit, boastful promisings, pretended perfection, etc. "Pride goeth before destruction."

5. Ways of will worship, wilfulness, obstinacy, fancy, day-dreaming absurd impulse, etc. (Jeremiah 2:18).

6. Ways of erroneous doctrine, novel practice, fashionable ceremonial, flattering delusion, etc. (2 Timothy 3:5).

II. THERE ARE WAYS IN WHICH SAFETY IS GUARANTEED.

1. The way of humble faith in the Lord Jesus.

2. The way of obedience to Divine precepts.

3. The way of childlike trust in providential guidance.

4. The way of strict principle, and stern integrity.

5. The way of consecrated service, and seeking God's glory.

6. The way of holy separation, and walking with God.

III. THESE WAYS LEAD US INTO VARIED CONDITIONS.

1. They are changeful and varied: "all Thy ways."

2. They are sometimes stony with difficulty: "foot against a stone."

3. They may be terrible with temptation.

4. They may be mysteriously trying. Devils may throng the path — only to be met by holy angels.

5. They are essentially safe, while the smooth and easy roads are perilous.

IV. BUT WHILE WALKING IN THEM ALL BELIEVERS ARE SECURE.

1. The Lord Himself concerns Himself about them: — "He shall give His angels charge over thee." He will personally command those holy beings to have an eye to His children.

2. Mysterious agencies protect them: angels bear them up in their hands, as nurses carry little children. Wonderful tenderness and power! Angels acting as servants to men!

3. All things are on their side, both visible and invisible. Command is laid on all to protect the saints (Psalm 71:3).

4. Each one is personally watched over. "Charge over thee to keep thee" (Isaiah 42:6; Genesis 28:15).

5. That watchfulness is perpetual — "All thy ways" (Psalm 121:3, 4).

6. This guard also confers honour. How noble a thing to have the courtiers of heaven for a corps de garde!

7. All this comes to them by Jesus, whose the angels are, and whom they serve (Isaiah 43:4).

V. LESSONS.

1. See how the lowest employment is consistent with the highest enjoyment: — Keeping guard over the Lord's stumbling children is no discredit to angels.

2. How cheerfully we should watch over others! How vigorously should we hold them up whenever it is in our power. To cast off a stumbling brother is not angelic, but the reverse.

3. How safe we ought to feel, how fully trustful we ought to be. Alexander slept soundly, "for," said he, "Parmenio wakes."

4. How holy we should be with such holy ones for watchers! Great privileges involve heavy responsibilities.

( C. H. Spurgeon.)

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KJV: For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

WEB: For he will put his angels in charge of you, to guard you in all your ways.