“Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope. Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually.” (Psalm 119:116,117)
There is great safety in obedience. If we are to find good, and steer clear of evil, more than anything else, we need to hear from God. David knew the importance of sheep heeding their shepherd. He recounts the many ways God communicates to us and says: “Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.” (Ps. 19:11)
David was not ignorant of the dangers he faced. He wanted God to keep him. “Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings” (Ps. 17:8) David knew his safety depended on his staying on God’s path: “… By the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer. Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.” (Psalm 17:4,5)
Each of us has an enemy, who like a roaring lion, would devour us. But we are told: “We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.” (1 John 5:18) Sin is missing God’s way. We miss God’s way when we fail to hear His voice.
God knows how to keep us. Our keeping is found in our hearing and obeying the voice of our Shepherd. Let God hold up your goings in His paths. By the word of His lips you can be kept from the paths of the destroyer.