Psalm 119:133 Order my steps in your word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me. I. COMPLETE SUBSERVIENCE TO THE WILL OF GOD. 1. "Order." He is a man who wishes to be under orders, he is willing to obey the Lord's commands, and he is anxious to receive them, and to be made to carry them out. 2. "Order my steps in Thy Word." Once we lived without any order, or plan, or method; but the grace of God makes us methodists in the highest possible sense. It makes us live according to God's method; and our prayer is, that we may never be disorderly, but. that in all things, just as the universe is arranged by God, and all the stars keep their appointed courses, so we may be made to take our proper places, and may be kept in them, joyfully obedient to the will of the Most High. 3. "In Thy Word." He was perfectly satisfied with God's revelation; he had not so much of it as we have, but there was room enough in it for all his steps. He wanted no greater liberty than the Bible gave him. II. CAREFUL WATCHFULNESS. 1. He does not say merely, "Order my life," but, "Order my steps." Godly men desire to be kept right by God even in the little things of life. 2. That prayer means, "Order my ordinary dally life." Do not many think that religion is only something for Sundays? 3. Let us especially pray about all our advances. It is by steps that we go forward. III. COMPREHENSIVE OBEDIENCE. It has two clauses, the positive and the negative. "Order my steps in Thy Word;" that is, "Lord, make me positively to do the right thing!" Then, "let not any iniquity have dominion over me"; that is, "Lord, preserve me from any thought, or word, or deed which would be contrary to Thy mind and will!" He is the right sort of believer who is an all-round Christian, one who is positive for doing the right, but who is equally determined not to do the wrong. IV. CAUTIOUS APPREHENSIVENESS. He means, "Lord, I am afraid to take a single step without Thine orders, I am afraid to put one foot before another for fear I should go wrong!" "Happy is the man that feareth alway." He that was too bold was never too wise. He that leaped before he looked, looked very sadly after he had leaped. He shall go right who knows where he is going, is careful about the road, and afraid lest he should go astray. He is the man who prays, "Order my steps in Thy Word." ( C. H. Spurgeon.) Parallel Verses KJV: Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.WEB: Establish my footsteps in your word. Don't let any iniquity have dominion over me. |
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