There is a well-known story about a believer who had a dream in which she was walking with the Lord along the seashore. Scenes of her life flashed by in front of her. In many scenes she saw two sets of footprints in the sand, but in the most difficult parts she noticed only one set of footprints. Troubled, she asked the Lord why He abandoned her during the most difficult times of her life, but He replied “The reason you see only one set of prints is because those were the times I carried you”. (http://graceofjesus.com/footprints.html )
In verse 19 of this Psalm, the Psalmist expresses a sentiment strongly reminiscent of this moving story:
“Your path led through the sea,
your way through the mighty waters,
though your footprints were not seen.”
Often, when we look back on the really tough times in our lives, we discover the guiding hand of the Lord, even though we didn’t notice His presence at the time. We find that not only has he provided a path through our trouble, a miraculous path previously undreamt of, but He also leads us and guides us along that path. Through the “mighty waters” of our trouble.
This Psalm gives an account of a believer caught in a profound spiritual struggle. Formerly he was close to God and celebrated His fellowship with a glad heart. “I thought about the former days, the years of long ago; I remembered my songs in the night.” (Verse 6)
But now He feels far removed from God. Although he seeks the Lord with groans, he finds no comfort. Deeply troubled, he could neither speak nor sleep (Verse 4).
As believers, we often traverse these seemingly endless and arid spiritual deserts. Times of spiritual drought where His presence seems nothing more than a fond memory. It is during these periods when we have to be especially alert not to fall into the enemy’s trap of doubt and unbelief. Always ready to undermine our faith, he will soon take advantage of our straitened condition and start whispering lies of doubt into our tired ears.
And this is exactly what happened to the Psalmist. In verses 7 to 9, he asks six questions which cast doubt on the goodness and love inherent in the very nature of God:
- Will he reject forever ?
- Will he never show his favour again ?
- Has His unfailing love vanished forever ?
- Has His promise failed ?
- Has he forgotten to be merciful ?
- Has he in anger withheld his compassion ?
These questions show how deeply the tap roots of doubt had sunk into his spirit. But, just when it seems as though the enemy must surely have the victory, he discovers a way of escape!
In verse 10, the Psalmist recovers from his swoon of doubt; “To this I will appeal” rings out the battle cry of his spirit! He resolves to combat the enemy by considering all the works of God and meditating on all His mighty deeds. (Verse 11 to 12).
The Psalmist is deploying his shield of faith, “with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one” and “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:16-17). This is an example we can all emulate and benefit from. When we are beset by doubts, we need to go back to the Word, where God reveals His nature to us. Where else but in the Word of God will we find an account of all His works and His mighty deeds?
Jesus appealed to the written Word when He was tempted in the desert for forty days (Luke 4:1-13). Three times the devil tempted Him, and every time Jesus responded in the same way; “Is is written...”, He said, and then used a relevant scripture to deflect the devil’s attack. Similarly, the Word can help us to overcome the doubts sown in our hearts by the enemy. If you were the Psalmist, which scriptures would you turn to in order to defeat the enemy’s onslaught…?
- Will he reject forever? (Deut 31:6)“…the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you”.
- Will he never show his favour again? (Luke 4:18-19) “…He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free,to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour”.
- Has His unfailing love vanished forever? (Lamentations 3:32 ) “Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love”.
- Has His promise failed? (2 Cor 1:20) “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ”. (Joshua 23:14) “You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the Lord your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed”
- Has he forgotten to be merciful? (Daniel 9:9) “The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him”.
- Has he in anger withheld his compassion? (Exodus 34:6) “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.”
Once we lift ourselves above the narrow confines of our present situation and attempt to look at the bigger picture, the totality of God’s work in our lives, then we can begin to see things from His perspective (“I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds” – Verse 12). As soon as we start to see things from a Godly perspective, we suddenly find our doubts melting away and discover that all God’s ways are holy, we discover the true greatness of God (Verse 13).
We also find when look back over our lives and meditate on God’s works that He is a God who performs miracles (Verse 11 – “I will remember your miracles of long ago” and verse 14 – “You are the God who performs miracles”). In our modern world with advanced medical science and technology, we may consider the idea of miracles old-fashioned and slightly embarrassing. Nevertheless, it is central to our belief in a God who created nature that He is able to intervene supernaturally in His creation.
Jesus showed His divine nature by performing many different kinds of miracles. He considered miracles a key part of His message of redemption, of the power of God breaking through into a sinful world; “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.” (Matthew 11:21).
From verse 16 to 20, we find a beautiful description of the miracle of the parting of the waters of the Red Sea. When all Israel was seemingly trapped by the sea on one side, and the advancing Egyptians on the other, God miraculously provides a way of escape. With His amazing power, He created a way where it was least expected.
Today we are similarly led from captivity into freedom. Not by Moses, but by the One whom he foreshadowed, by Jesus Christ the Son of God. When it seemed utterly impossible that we could ever be reconciled to God, trapped on the one side by our own sinful nature and on the other by the enemy of our souls, Jesus forged a path from death to life by dying for our sins.
And like the Israelites, we also are led through this unexpected and perilous path. With walls of water towering on either side, threatening to collapse at any moment, God walks with us and guides us into the promised land, even though His footprints are not always seen.
Delight in the Lord 