God Ordains the Steps of the Righteous
Context: In this Psalm, the Psalmist reveals his desire to walk in godly wisdom and his need for a spiritual lamp to avoid spiritual pitfalls, accidents, or bumps. A cautious approach to life is evident in this prayer, with the godly desire to live a God-honoring life. The Psalmist is not restricting himself but understands that living with godly wisdom leads to much greater blessings and freedom. Conversely, careless steps in life can lead to destruction.
Conviction: The steps God shows us are not broad or arbitrary; they are not the wild, rushed kind of steps. Instead, they are holistic leading to a repentant life, with deep conviction against sin, for our best. These steps help us experience rich freedom when we surrender to where the Spirit of God leads us in our daily routines. Weekends or seasonal holidays are areas we can also plan holistically, as celebratory vibes can lead to stumbles if not approached thoughtfully and prayerfully.
Supernatural: Hearing God’s voice is key to discovering our steps. We should not limit God’s voice to special supernatural conferences or events; He desires us to discern His voice consistently. This can be achieved through confession and leaning on the guidance of the Holy Spirit in every area of our lives. Embracing this principle will lead to wisdom, fruitfulness, and success while avoiding pitfalls. Daily inquiring of the Lord—even for routine decisions—can lead to great victories. For example, in 1 Chronicles 14:10, David inquired of God, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hands?” And the Lord answered, “Go up, and I will give them into your hand.”
Given Wisdom: Recently, my intercessory prayer has been: Lord, give me excellent wisdom. This stems from the need to make numerous God-honoring decisions, recognizing that I cannot see five or ten years ahead. While we can predict, plan, and prosper, pitfalls and bumps often arise. If we fail to foresee and navigate these pitfalls, we will suffer. This need for excellent wisdom applies to many of us. So, together, we can pray: Lord, give me excellent wisdom, and it is biblical to ask God for wisdom “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him” (James 1:5).
King Saul’s Crisis: Impatient steps or decisions can destroy our success. We need to learn patience, even when things don’t work out as expected. King Saul’s leadership crisis stemmed from his impatience and disobedience. Saul made a burnt offering without waiting for Prophet Samuel, feeling compelled to act because Samuel didn’t arrive on time. This decision cost him dearly: “But now your kingdom will not endure; the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him ruler of his people because you have not kept the Lord’s command” (1 Sam 13:8-14). The lesson here is to wait upon the Lord and follow His decrees, even when waiting feels challenging or the situation seems critical. It is important to move, but always in a God-honoring way, according to His truth.
Discipline: Avoiding reckless living or impatient steps that are destructive would require spiritual disciplines of intentional prayer and reliance on the Holy Spirit for patience, endurance, love, hope, and guidance. Also, cultivating the ability to hear God’s voice through His Word and through what Dallas Willard describes as the small voice will act as a lamp to our feet, guiding and comforting us. Like the Psalmist would say in Psalms 27:14, “Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord.”
