In this message, we would like to compare and contrast Psalm 26 with Hebrews 12 and glean a very important lesson that is applicable for us today.

     In Psalm 26, David spoke of his foot standing and not sliding. The writer of Hebrews spoke of the foot being "turned out of the way."

     What caused David's foot to stand? What kept him from sliding or backsliding, if you will, in his walk with the Lord? When we examine the entire Psalm, we get our answer.

1. David walked in his integrity.

   Psalm 26:1 "...for I have walked in mine integrity..."

        In other words, he walked the walk and did not just talk the talk. He walked in utmost sincerity and uprightness before God and men. He did not work evil against his neighbor in any way, shape, or form.

   
   

2. He trusted in the Lord.

   Psalm 26:1 "...I have trusted also in the LORD..."

        In all of his ways, he leaned on and relied upon the Lord.

   
   

3. He placed himself under God's scrutiny.

   Psalm 26:2 "Examine me, O LORD, and prove me: try my reins and my heart."

        He did not want anything to stand between him and God. Therefore, he cried out to His Maker to put his heart and life through the strictest and most rigid examination possible. He desired to be tested as metals are tested in order to determine their value and worth. He asked God to "prove" him. This is the testing which is done by smelting. Lastly, he cried for God to "try" his "reins" and "heart." These referred to his inward part which consisted of the mind and the soul and were the seat of all of his affections and desires.

   
   

4. He regulated his life by God's Holy Truth.

   Psalm 26:3 "...and I have walked in Thy truth."

        He embraced God's Word and applied its Truths to his daily living.

   
   

5. He did not associate with the wicked.

   Psalm 26:4-5 "I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers. I have hated the congregation of evildoers; and will not sit with the wicked."

        The "vain persons" were those who were false, hollow, pretenders, and hypocrites. They had no sincerity of heart or soberness of life. All they were after were fun and games.
        The "dissemblers" were those whose real intentions, purposes, plans, designs, and character were hidden and concealed from others.
        The "evildoers" were those who opposed God and His laws and caused confusion and hurt to their fellow man. David had nothing to do with such company.

   
   

6. He strove to keep himself pure.

   Psalm 26:6 "I will wash mine hands in innocency..."

        Washing the hands was an emblem of holiness, piety, and purity. David kept a close watch over his entire life in order to keep himself pure before God.

   
   

7. He loved to be in the Presence of the Lord.

   Psalm 26:8 "LORD, I have loved the habitation of Thy house, and the place where Thine honour dwelleth."

        He loved to be in the place where the Lord was manifesting His Holy Presence.

     Because David resolved in his heart to live holy, uprightly, and godly before the Lord in following all of these seven principles -

• walking in integrity
• trusting in the Lord
• undergoing God's strict and rigid examination
• governing His life by the Word of God
• not fellowshipping with the unfruitful works of darkness
• striving to enter the strait gate and walk the narrow road
• abiding in the Presence of the Lord

He was able to confidently proclaim:

Psalm 26:12 "My foot standeth in an even place..."

Hebrews 12:12-13 "Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed."

     The Book of Hebrews instructs us that there are those who have "feeble knees" which need strengthening. Their feet are "lame" and "turned out of the way." What does this mean? Why are they "feeble" and "lame"? What caused them to be "turned out of the way"?

     We saw in Psalm 26 that David's foot was sure because he walked in integrity of heart before God and men. Is it possible that feebleness and lameness come from letting our guard down and allowing compromise, worldliness, and sin to enter our hearts and lives?

     It is an understood Biblical fact that Faith and Holiness strengthen one's walk to go steadily in a straight path without wavering and wandering.

King Solomon verfied this fact in Proverbs 4:25-27:

Proverbs 4:25-27 "Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil."

     Keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus - the author and finisher of our Faith; watching our every step and how we are walking and living our lives; not compromising or twisting the Truth in any way, shape, or form; and keeping all sin out of our lives - these all work together to keep us on the straight, even, smooth, and level path.

Proverbs 26:7 informs us that:

Proverbs 26:7 "The legs of the lame are not equal..."

Hebrews 12:13 admonishes us:

Hebrews 12:13 "And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way..."

     A "lame" man cannot walk an even, plain, or smooth path. He will be constantly tripping and stumbling along the way. In order to walk the straight and narrow path before God and men, he must get rid of his lameness.

     The writer of Hebrews 12:13 says - "...let it rather be healed." If he doesn't, his lameness will cause his foot to be "...turned out of the way..."

     Are you one whose "legs...are not equal" because you are "lame" through some weakness in your life due to sin or compromise?

     Are you finding much difficulty in your foot standing in an "even place"? Do you find yourself sliding from one sin to the next, going after one idol to another, or chasing after one vain and lustful desire to another?

The writer of Hebrews exhorts us to:

Hebrews 12:13 "And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way..."

     This is similar to the word that King Solomon gave in Proverbs 4:27 - "...remove thy foot from evil."

     Otherwise, that which is "lame" will definitely and most assuredly cause you to be "turned out of the way." You will "slide" - You will "stumble" - You will "fall"

     What is the Holy Spirit showing you through this message? Is there an area in your life where you have allowed your feet to become "lame"? You cannot honestly say, like David, that your foot stands in an "even place." You feel like the lame man in that your legs are not "equal." You find yourself stumbling, tripping, and falling in your walk with the Lord. You are not walking in the Victory of Calvary. Rather you are feeling condemned every day because of your lameness that you allowed through sin and compromise.

     That which is defective in you must be healed, or it will cause you to "backslide" on God and become totally ineffective for our Lord and His work! It will make you a "very unhappy" Christian! It is that serious!

     Today if you find yourself in this position, why not cry out to God to cleanse and heal you of all sin and waywardness? He will heal you. He will restore your soul and make you every whit whole.

     You no longer have to live an "unhappy" Christian life and feel that you are under condemnation. You can be set free today by the Power of God's Holy Word. Obey the Holy Spirit and watch and see all that He will do for you. Like David, you will be once again be able to testify:

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Last modified: Thursday, December 05, 2002