Vindication of God's supreme and gracious providence.
"The steps," etc. (see Revised Version). The theme of this noble psalm is the vindication of God's supreme and gracious providence, and the confirmation of faith tried by the vicissitudes of life, the prosperity of evil-doers, and trials of the righteous.
I. IN THE WIDEST SENSE HUMAN LIFE—"the steps of [each] man," the path in which he treads—IS UNDER GOD'S GUIDANCE; upheld by his power, directed by his counsel (Proverbs 20:24). As a journey is made up of single steps, and one false step may be fatal; so life, of momentary experiences and acts of choice, of which the greatest may hinge on the least. Life or death may hang on a pair of damp sheets or wet shoes, or a whiff of poisoned air. The fate of an empire may turn on the flight of a bullet. A spider's web spun across a dark opening has saved a fugitive from his persecutors. A successful career or a happy home may be owing to a chance meeting. If, therefore, God rules human affairs, he must foresee and control their most minute and secret causes.
II. GOD BESTOWS SPECIAL GUIDANCE ON HIS CHILDREN. "The steps of a good man, etc. (Authorized Version). "Established, is the proper meaning of the Hebrew word; not only directed, but made firm, planted evenly and safely. This word" good," inserted by our old translators, seems a bold interpolation; but, in fact, it does but express the spirit of the whole passage. It is of the "meek," the "righteous," the "upright," the man who delights in the Lord, rests in him, waits on him, the psalm speaks (Psalms 37:3, Psalms 37:4, Psalms 37:7, Psalms 37:11, Psalms 37:16, Psalms 37:18). Such phrases as "special providence are sometimes ignorantly used, sometimes as ignorantly found fault with. Wrongly used, if it be supposed that God's control is occasional, not perpetual and universal; wrongly objected to, if it is forgotten that at any moment God's guidance may have some special end in view, some immediate result. There are three reasons why God's children—namely, those who are living the life of faith—obtain this special guidance and may count on it.
They have the teaching of God's Word, which the ungodly person neglects; and the teaching of God's Spirit, which he does not believe in or desire (Romans 8:14). Further, God has a different end in view for them (Romans 2:7, Romans 2:8).
PRACTICAL CONCLUSION.
1. If we desire God to guard and guide and prosper our whole life-journey, we must ask him to guide every step. We are warranted in asking and expecting his leading in the least matters as truly as in the greatest. We should not willingly move a step without him. We must be prepared at every step to let him choose, remembering Psalms 106:15.
2. What shall we say to those who have never yet taken the one first step into the right and safe path (John 5:40; Proverbs 16:25)? "There is but a step between" you "and death." But also, one God-guided step will bring you to the feet of the Saviour, who is pledged to turn none away (John 6:37).
HOMILIES BY C. CLEMANCE