GOD’S OVERSIGHT
“The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.” Psalm 37:23, 24
God has such interest and oversight in our lives, in greater detail than most might imagine. We may measure our lives in years or weeks, or even days. But, the Bible says that God is involved in our “steps.” How many steps do you think you might take in a year? This shows us how concerned God is for the minutest of matters in our walk. He orders the “steps of a good man.” We should never be doubtful of God’s care. He is intimately aware of the smallest details of our days and is always influencing our paths. Because He is ordering our steps, we can certainly depend on Him to lead us as we lean on Him. This wonderful truth gives us great confidence, as we trust our Lord to guide our decisions and help us to find and follow His will.
Because the “good man” is seeking God’s guidance and desiring His will, God “delighteth in his way.” God enjoys the journey of those who are interested in pleasing Him and trusting Him wholly. This is in direct contrast to God’s view of the ungodly. “The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the LORD” (Proverbs 15:9). God detests the path of those who reject Him; but He delights in the way of those who love Him. He cares about us. We can imagine a parent who lovingly watches the first steps of his child or interestingly follows the actions of his children as they play or learn. God’s eyes of delight are upon His children at all times. He loves us beyond what we can imagine.
Even when we fall, we can know that God is there to help us. “Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.” We will never find ourselves in a place that God cannot see us and is unable to assist us. All of us will have our disappointing moments and times of failure, more than we would like to recall. What will God do when we stumble? He will never let us “be utterly cast down.” He is there to help us recover. He is the Shepherd who restores our soul. David says that He “upholdeth him with his hand.” Our Savior is holding our hands and is keeping us secure in His grasp. He will never forsake us nor give up on us. By faith, we can believe that His strong hand is there to lift us again.