Psalms 17:5

_HOLD UP MY GOINGS IN THY PATHS, THAT MY FOOTSTEPS SLIP NOT._ HOLD UP MY GOINGS IN THY PATHS, (THAT) MY FOOTSTEPS SLIP NOT - a beautiful supplement to Psalms 17:4, "I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer" - namely, a prayer for perseverance in the ways of God. My having done so theretofore heretofore is solely of thy grace; therefore "Hold up my goings in thy paths" still. Thus, the Hebrew infinitive is for the imperative. Hengstenberg, Cocceius, L. de Dieu, etc., take the infinitive for the preterite, 'my steps hold fast by thy paths, my feet slip not,'-a continuation of the protestation of his righteousness (Psalms 17:1), on which he grounds the following prayer for deliverance from enemies. He had said that he 'kept himself from the paths of the destroyer.' He next declares what paths he c

5._Uphold my steps. _If we take _God’s paths _for the precepts of his law, the sense will be evident, namely, that although David had spoken according to truth, in boasting of having, in the midst of the most grievous temptations which assailed him, constantly practiced righteousness with a pure heart, yet, conscious of his own weakness, he commits himself to God to be governed by him, and prays for grace to enable him to persevere. His language is as if he had said, Since hitherto, under thy guidance, I have proceeded onward in the right path, I beseech thee, in like manner, to keep my steps from sliding with respect to the time to come. And certainly the more any one excels in grace, (356) the more ought he to be afraid of falling; for it is the usual policy of Satan to endeavor, even from the virtue and strength which God has given us, (357) to produce in us carnal c

1-7 This psalm is a prayer. Feigned prayers are fruitless; but if our hearts lead our prayers, God will meet them with his favour. The psalmist had been used to pray, so that it was not his distress and danger that now first brought him to his duty. And he was encouraged by his faith to expect God would notice his prayers. Constant resolution and watchfulness against sins of the tongue, will be a good evidence of our integrity. Aware of man's propensity to wicked works, and of his own peculiar temptations, David had made God's word his preservative from the paths of Satan, which lead to destruction. If we carefully avoid the paths of sin, it will be very lead to destruction. If we carefully avoid the paths of sin, it will be very comfortable in the reflection, when we are in trouble. Those that are, through grace, going in God's paths, should pray that their goings may be held up in tho...

Verse Psalms 17:5. _HOLD UP MY GOINGS IN THY PATHS_] David walked in God's ways; but, without Divine assistance, he could not walk _steadily_, even in them. The _words of God's lips_ had shown him the steps he was to take, and he implores the strength of God's grace to enable him to walk in those steps. He had been kept from the _paths of the_ _destroyer_; but this was not sufficient; he must _walk in God's_ _paths_-must spend his life in _obedience_ to the Divine will. Negative holiness can save no man. "Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire....

HOLD UP MY GOINGS IN THY PATHS - He had been enabled before this to keep himself from the ways of the violent by the word of God Psalms 17:4; he felt his dependence on God still to enable him, in the circumstances in which he was placed, and under the provocations to which he was exposed, to live a life of peace, and to keep himself from doing wrong. He, therefore, calls on God, and asks him to sustain him, and to keep him still in the right path. The verb used here is in the infinitive form, but used instead of the imperative. DeWette. - Prof. Alexander renders this less correctly, “My steps have laid hold of thy paths;” for he supposes that a prayer here “would be out of place.” But prayer can never be more appropriate than when a man realises that he owes the fact of his having been hitherto enabled to lead an upright life only to the “word” of God, and when pro

EXPOSITION THIS psalm is termed "a prayer"—"a Prayer of David." It consists, no doubt, mainly of a series of petitions (Psalms 17:1, Psalms 17:2, Psalms 17:6, Psalms 17:7, Psalms 17:8, Psalms 17:9, Psalms 17:13, Psalms 17:14); but contains also a number of verses which have no precatory

HOLD UP MY GOINGS IN THY PATHS,.... Which being spoken by David in his own person, and for himself, shows that he was conscious of his own weakness to keep himself in the ways of God, and to direct his steps therein; and that he was sensible of, the need he stood in of divine power to uphold and support him in them; [THAT] MY FOOTSTEPS SLIP NOT; out of the paths of truth and duty, of faith and holiness; of which there is danger, should a man be left to himself, and destitute of divine direction and aid; see Psalms 73:2; and though Christ had no moral weakness in him, and was in no danger of falling into sin, or slipping out of the ways of God; yet these words may be applied to him in a good sense, as considered in human nature, and attended with the sinless infirmities of it, he being God's servant, whom he upheld, and of whom he gave his angels charge to keep him in all his

Psalms 17:1. _Hear the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips._ Good men are often slandered and misunderstood; and, at such times, the first verse of this Psalm will well fit their lips: «Hear the right, O Lord.» And, at all times, it is a great blessing when a supplicant can say to God, «Give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips.» It must be a dreadful thing to pray with lips that do not speak the truth. When men's thoughts are far away from their prayers, and they are muttering pious words but their heart is absent, what a mockery it must be in the sight of God! A dead prayer, who will own it? It is like the child that was overlaid in the days of Solomon, which neither of the two mothers would own to be hers, Beware of dead prayers. You may dress them up as finely as you like; but, if there is no life in the

Psalms 17 The Prayer of Christ Against the Enemy _ 1. The Righteous Intercessor (Psalms 17:1)_ 2. Prayer for deliverance (Psalms 17:6) 3. The deliverance (Psalms 17:13) Psalms 17:1. This Psalm is blessedly linked with the foregoing one. We hear Christ interceding for the saints in whom is His delight (16:3). He pleads His own perfection. He is righteous; His prayer does not come from feigned lips. Not David, but Christ alone could truly say, “Thou hast proved my heart; Thou hast visited me in the night; Thou hast tried me. T

XVII. THE PRAYER OF A GODLY MAN FOR DELIVERANCE FROM HIS FOES. These foes are not foreign enemies but worldly Jews who persecute their pious and innocent neighbours. The cry for Divine help is made in Psalms 17:1 and is repeated in Psalms 17:6; Psalms 17:13. PSALMS 17:1. In Psalms 17:2 follow _mg._ Psalms 17:3_ b_. With slight alteration of the text translate Thou shalt find no evil thought in me; my mouth shalt not transgress. Such self-complace