Stick To the Path - May 7

Read Psalm 119:1-2, 59, 101-102,105

Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD! Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart, who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways!...When I think on my ways, I turn my feet to your testimonies…I hold back my feet from every evil way, in order to keep your word. I do not turn aside from your rules, for you have taught me…Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Reflect

Have you ever gotten lost on a trip? What happened? How did you end up finding your way again?

A group of people were taken out to a beautiful, scenic location and given the day to hike and explore. The people were shown the trail markers and were instructed to stay in a group, and stay on the path. That night when the group reassembled, however, one person was missing. After hours of searching the lost hiker was found safe and sound and not a little embarrassed for having left the path and causing so much trouble.

Isn’t that a great illustration of the Christian life? God has given us perfect instructions. He’s given us His Word! All we need to do is follow the instructions and stick to the path He’s told us to take.

Today’s psalm is not only the longest psalm, it is the longest chapter in the entire Bible. In it, the psalmist declared his love for the law of the Lord. Over and over again, he celebrated God’s Word as being the perfect guide for life. In today’s verses, the psalmist wrote that those who blamelessly walk in the way of the Lord are blessed. Now, no one is ever perfectly blameless, of course. Rather, the psalmist is referring to people’s overall habits and pattern of living. Another way to put it would be—happy are those who make it a habit to follow the Lord, whose lifestyle is marked by obedience to Him.

In verse 59, the psalmist wrote that when he stopped to consider his own lifestyle, he turned his feet to God’s ways. This is the essence of repentance. If we’ve gone off the correct path, reflecting about how our ways line up with God’s Word should cause us to turn around and head back towards Him.

The psalmist also said that he actively sought to keep his feet off evil paths. The NASB translates this verse: “I have restrained my feet from every evil way…”. He knew which path to stick to because God Himself taught him. In fact, he compared God’s Word to a lamp that lit up his path and kept him from getting lost or stumbling in the dark.

As we journey through life, we need to remember that God has given us directions and lit up the trail for us. When we go back to the Bible, we see that He has told us which roads to take and which ones to avoid. All we have to do is stick to the path.

Respond

Lord, thank You for the guidance and direction that Your Word provides for my life. Help me restrain my feet so that I can stick to Your path. “Keep steady my steps according to your promise, and let no iniquity get dominion over me” (Psalm 119:133). Amen.

Reveal

As believers and readers of God’s Word, we know the way of life that leads to blessing and everlasting life. Share the way with someone else today!