“He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.” Psalm 40:2
If you ever travel to Alaska you will notice that much of the state is covered with beautiful mountain ranges. The scenery is breathtaking, and the animal life is fascinating. You see moose crossing the road, and you can hear wolves howling in the distance. Perhaps you will even catch a glimpse of a wandering grizzly bear. But one of the most interesting animals you will see is the Dall sheep. Both the males and females have curly horns. They also have split hoofs covered with soft pads on their soles. God’s special design for their feet helps them walk on some of the rockiest cliffs and steepest mountainsides. They can quickly escape from a predator by running up cliff walls where their enemies can’t reach them.
The Dall isn’t the only sheep that can climb cliffs and mountainsides. Many other species can do the same like the big horn sheep in the Rocky Mountains. These animals have been seen standing on ledges only two inches wide. Would you stand on a two inch ledge on a cliff?
We prefer to have our feet on solid ground where we can be confident we will not fall. However, there are times in our lives when we seem to venture onto a cliff or go to a place where there is no solid footing. Whenever we sin we are placing our feet on shaky ground. Lies, hatred, gossip, and filthy language all put us on thin ledges where we should not go.
We would be wise to follow the Good Shepherd who leads us to safe pasture. There we can be certain that we will not fall. The shepherd David once said in Psalm 40:2: “He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.” David wasn’t thinking about his sheep getting themselves into frightening spots, he was telling us that God will help us find firm footing as we go through life.
When another Old Testament shepherd named Jacob was about to die, he told his children and grandchildren to always follow the Shepherd. He even called that Shepherd the “Rock of Israel” (Genesis 49:24). Jacob meant that the surest place to plant our feet is on Jesus, the solid Rock.
The next time we are tempted to stray from the Shepherd and wander off onto dangerous cliffs of temptation, we must ask the Good Shepherd, the Solid Rock, to help us find a safe way back. Then he will place us on the solid ground of his everlasting love.
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
On Christ the solid rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand.
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