Order My Steps*

 

     The Psalms will play a large role in this message. We should remember that the Psalms are songs, meant to be sung. Just as we are able to sing along with our favorite popular songs, we should also be that familiar with the Songs inspired by God. They are the soundtrack for our lives.

     Psalm 119 says: "Order (kun - prepare, establish, ready, set, direct, order, fashion, be securely determined, to direct toward, be enduring) my steps in thy word ('imra - word, speech, commandment, word of God, Torah): and let not any iniquity have dominion over me...Thy word (dabar - speech, spoken word) is a lamp (nir - candle, light, lamp, to glisten) unto my feet (regel - foot, to endure, journey), and a light ('or - morning light, light of day, light) unto my path (natib - way, path, footpath)." (v. 133, 105, also Ps. 85:12-13).

     God's Word is the direction for our lives. It is like a user's manual written by the creator of an object. The manual contains directions for assembly, for use, for troubleshooting and for the warranty that pertains to that item. The creator of the object made a book about it for our use and information. The same is true concerning the Word of God. It contains all that you need to know pertaining to your life, including the warranty!

     There is no doubt that the LORD is the Creator of each life. Psalm 139, written by David, describes God's omniscience and omnipresence in each life: "...thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God: how great is the sum of them! (Ps. 139:14-17). The LORD also revealed the same insight to the prophet Jeremiah when He told Jeremiah that not only had He known him before he was formed in the womb, but God also sanctified him and called him to be a prophet before Jeremiah was born. (click on: Jer. 1:5).

     The LORD tells us not to be without understanding like a horse that has to be led by a bit and a bridle. The LORD wants us to have the understanding of His guidance through our lives by His eye: "I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye ('ayin - eye, sight, fountain, presence, countenance)." (Ps. 32:8-9).

     Because of this divine guidance, we don't have to worry or fear what evil men do, nor envy them their gains from evil. Instead we are to: "Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart...The steps of a good man are ordered (see above) by the LORD: and he delighteth (hapes - take pleasure in, be mindful of, be attentive to, zealous, favorable to, pleased, excited attention, move, bend down) in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand (see Ps. 18:35-36 also)...The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment. The law (tora - law, direction, instruction, prophetic teaching) of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide (ma'ad - slip, slide, totter, shake)." (Ps. 37, excerpts, see also Ps. 17:5-6). The hand of the LORD upholds our lives. It is the hand upon the cross. He keeps our steps from sliding if we delight in Him, like a parent supports his toddler as he first walks: "He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber." (Ps. 121:1-4, excerpt). Is the church slipping and sliding because it is not delighting in Him?

     Under the instruction of the Word of the LORD, our lives are lengthened and our paths shine brighter and brighter: "Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many. I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths. When thou goest thy steps shall not be straitened (yasar - be bound, in distress, be cramped, besieged); and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble...But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble....attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart." (Prov. 4, excerpts). The path of the wicked is so darkened that they do not even know over what they fall. (see also 1 Sam. 2:9). However, the Word and sayings of the LORD are to be in our hearts to lighten our paths.

     People often want to decide their own paths and then believe that the LORD will direct them on it. Proverbs says: "There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." (Prov. 16:25). The LORD gave His Word to Jeremiah that even the pastors, who were to shepherd God's people upon the path of the LORD, were not seeking the LORD, and were leading the people away from His path instead. Desolation of the land and the scattering of the flocks (God's people) would be the result. Jeremiah cried out: "O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps." (Jer. 10:20-23). It is far better to depend upon the LORD, rather than ourselves, to direct all of our steps. 

     The apostle Peter exhorted the church to follow the example of Christ who did no sin, and to follow in His footsteps. Jesus committed Himself to His Father in heaven. Jesus bore our sins in His own body on the tree so that we could live to righteousness: "...by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray (see above from Jeremiah); but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls." (1 Pet. 2:20-25, excerpt).

     John wrote of Jesus as the propitiation, or blood of atonement sprinkling, for our sins and for the sins of the whole world. If we claim to know Him, John said we are then to keep His commandments. Jesus told us that the two commandments upon which hang all of the Law and the Prophets were to love the LORD with all of your heart and to love your neighbor as yourself. If we do not keep the commandments of Christ, but say that we know Christ, John wrote that the truth is not in us: "But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby we know that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him (Christ) ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked." (1 Jn. 2:1-6).

     The steps that are ordered by God, the path upon which He lights and directs our feet by His Word, is the walk of Jesus Christ. He is the Shepherd of our souls

*Based upon Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson, Jr.'s 2/8/26 message to the church. If you would like to hear the complete message, you can find it on the Facebook page of Kenneth E. Stevenson Jr. Dr. Stevenson's video messages are also found on You Tube at the Kenneth Stevenson channel. To contact or support this ministry, or to request prayer, you can write to PO Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705. To find out more about the Shroud of Turin, which is evidence of Christ's suffering, death, and resurrection, and to receive a free e-book now available in several languages, go to http://www.theshroudofturin.org/freebook. Also the book NAZAH: White Linen and the Blood of Sprinkling, written by Dr. Stevenson, is available on Amazon.