Word of Encouragement (01/16/2024)

He made my feet like the feet of a deer and set me secure on the heights. (2 Sam. 22:34)

In the previous verse, David praised God for making his way blameless (v. 33). In this verse, we see God’s additional blessing on David: not only did God make his way blameless, but God also gave strength to his feet to move quickly and securely on that path.

We can say that the first blessing does not really benefit us unless God blesses us with the second blessing, too. What is the point of having a straight and well-paved road before us if our feet are too weak to walk or run on that path? It may be that God’s blessing of making David’s way blameless includes strengthening his feet as well (“his way” being the blameless manner of David’s walking or running). Either way, we can say that the second blessing highlights an important aspect of the more comprehensive first blessing. Also, if the way—David’s manner of living his life—was blameless, it was because he did not stray away from the way, which was prescribed by God’s law.

It is a wonderful blessing to know the way of the Lord. How do we measure the difference between knowing something and not knowing it, especially if the content of knowledge is as serious as a matter of life and death—knowing the path of life among all the paths of death and destruction—like being in a dark cave with many tunnels, among which only one leads to the other side, and you know the one?

But if your feet are not strong enough, how tortuous that hike will be! By God’s grace, David was shown the path of God. It was not an easy one, to say the least. As he looks back on it, he cannot help but acknowledge that it was not by his might and wisdom but by the Spirit of God that he was able to walk that path. Further, he feels compelled to confess that God made his feet like the feet of a deer. He did not just make it barely. Even in the most difficult times, he experienced God supernaturally boosting his strength to become more than a conqueror. When all other helpers failed and comforts fled (“Abide with Me”), David looked to God as the Help of the helpless and received the help He needed. Paradoxically, he experienced this when he could not rely on his own strength and humbling and desperately looked to God.

Not only that, God set him secure on the heights. Was he speaking of sitting on the throne of Israel? I’m sure there were times when he couldn’t believe that he was Israel’s king. Was he not just the youngest of eight brothers, taking care of his father’s sheep? Yet, God chose him to be king, and He was faithful to keep His promise. But David might have had another thing in mind when he spoke of being secure on the heights. For his reign was far from troubles and dangers. He knew that his security did not come from his crown; it came from God. If he was secure, it was because of God’s covenant faithfulness to him.

Let us give thanks to the Help of the helpless, who strengthens our feet. In doing so, let us be assured that He has set us secure on the heights with Jesus Christ our Redeemer. And if we are going through a trial, let us look to Him, trusting that He is our Strength and ever-present Help in times of need.