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hope have been sealed with the holy Spirit of promise (chapter 1:), and reckoned to be
buried, quickened, raised, and seated together with Him in the glory at the right hand of
God. A most remarkable and glorious transition indeed!
Hannah's song continues in verse 9, "He will keep the feet of His saints . . . . .". We
are reminded of similar words in David's song, after the Lord had delivered him out of
the hand of Saul, and out of the hand of the Philistines:
"God is my strength and power: and He maketh my way perfect. He maketh my feet
like hinds' feet . . . . . Thou hast enlarged my steps under me; so that my feet did not
slip" (II Sam. 22: 33, 34, 37).
The Psalms have many references to the feet of saints:
"Mine eyes are ever toward the Lord; for He shall pluck my feet out of the net"
(Psalm 25: 15).
Another Psalm of David reads:
"(Thou) hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy: Thou hast set my feet in a
large room" (Psa. 31: 8).
The setting of feet "in a large room" is quaint English in our A.V. The Septuagint
reads "Thou hast set my feet in a wide place" which illustrates better the greater freedom
of movement enjoyed by David when delivered by the Lord from his enemies.
We constantly need to be reminded of the words of Asaph in his Psalm, i.e. 73:,
where he reflects on the prosperity of the wicked, of their corrupt words, oppression and
violence, yet they themselves do not seem to be troubled. He says in verse 2:
"As for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well-nigh slipped, for I was
envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked" (Psa. 73: 2, 3).
These thoughts were too painful for him, until he went into the presence of the Lord:
"When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; until I went into the
sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. Surely thou didst set them in slippery
places" (73: 16-18).
In verses 22 to 24 Asaph acknowledges his foolishness and now can rejoice that the
Lord is holding him by his right hand, guiding his steps to glory:
"So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before Thee. Nevertheless I am
continually with Thee: Thou hast holden me by my right hand. Thou shalt guide me
with Thy counsel, and afterward receive me into glory."
It would be negligent to finish this thought without a reference to Psa. 119: 105:
"Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."