Every ground that is good is centered in Christ. All other ground is sinking sand. There are many unbelievers and believers that are not on good ground. Sadly, some believers have wandered off the good ground centered in Christ. They have backslidden. “The backslider in heart will be filled with the fruit of his ways, and a good man will be filled with his ways.” (Proverbs 14:14) This spirit of backsliding disrupts the soul and sends it into the briars of fear, bondage, loneliness, hopelessness, and confusion, etc. We are reminded of Jonathan Edwards’ famous sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” preached in 1741. His text was “Their foot shall slide in due time.” In this text we see the threatening of God’s vengeance on the “wicked unbelieving, who were God’s chosen people; but who, notwithstanding God’s goodness to them, remained void of counsel, having no understanding in them.” How many believers today are experiencing similar judgment because of the slippery slope of sin? “Their foot will slide in due time”.
King David confessed in his spirit the trusting of the Lord in his trouble. His trust was an absolute trust in God. The text of Psalm 31:1 states, “In You, O Lord, I put my trust.” He wanted to glorify the Lord in his tribulations. Looking to anyone other than the Lord would be a stumbling block leading to shame. It grieved his soul that shame might engulf him if he didn’t stay in the saddle of trusting God. “Let me never be ashamed.” David was fearful over losing his testimony that would shame the Lord who redeemed him from his sin. “Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.”
Shame has many branches where it can express itself. Failure in the soul exacerbates the shame. It focuses on the depth, width and length of the destruction of the thing lost. The wounds of shame for the thing lost pierce the conscience and the dragon of guilt devours any attempt to see any light in the abyss. The thing lost represents the idol of the heart. The idol worshipped becomes the chain with which the dragon secures the soul. It is the grieved loss of the idol that secures the soul in shame and guilt.
There is a way out. God has not forgotten you. Repent of your sins and your idolatry that has aggravated your shame and guilt. You have crossed the line and this text confirms it. “Their foot shall slide in due time”. Idolatry has been the sinkhole that has caused the foot to slide. But, God can set your feet on good ground once again.
Consider King David’s answer to the dilemma:
ABANDON all your IDOLS. “I have hated those who regard useless idols.” (Psalm 31:6a) The attitude to be taken towards idols: HATRED. Acknowledgement of the value of idols: USELESS. Consider the thing or things that you value. The thing loved may not be in itself evil. The pursuit of work for the meeting of one’s needs, the desire to be loved and the establishment of security are legitimate desires. But, when these things are worshipped and made idols then life is on ground that can at any moment collapse. Christ is no longer worshipped. And our lives are swept away. “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things that I say? Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you what he is like: He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock. But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built his house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and it immediately fell. And the ruin of that house was great.” (Luke 6:46-49) The only ground that can hold us is Christ alone.
Make trusting in God personal. “But I trust the Lord”. (Psalm31:6b) A reiteration of (Psalm 31:a) “In YOU, O Lord, I put MY trust.”
Give praise for His mercy. “I will be glad and rejoice in your mercy.” (Psalm 31:6a)
Give praise for His deliverance. (Psalm 31:7b-31:8a) “For You have considered my trouble; You have known my soul in adversities, and have not shut me up into the hand of my enemy.”
Give praise for bringing you back on the SECURITY of GOOD GROUND. (Psalm 31:8b) “You have set my feet in a wide place.”
Consider the truth revealed, believe the truth revealed, act on the truth revealed and return to the security of good ground.
Review King David’s answers to any dilemma and pray as David prayed.
Where the Grace Blows,