Deuteronomy 33:25 Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; and as thy days, so shall thy strength be.

I Samuel 2:9 He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail. (Also Proverbs 3:26).

Psalm 37:31 The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.

Psalm 91:11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.

Habakkuk 3:19 The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.

Luke 10:19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Romans 16:20a And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly.

MEMORY VERSE: And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. — Ephesians 6:15

CENTRAL THOUGHT: God’s detailed, attentive care of the feet of his saints is well documented by Old and New Testament writers, as shown in the literal example of the Israelites’ forty-years’-tramp through the wilderness, but even more so in the figurative examples of His care of believers’ footing on the spiritual journey, in spiritual warfare, and in spiritual danger.

WORD DEFINITIONS

Deuteronomy 33:25 “Shoes”: meaning bolts or bars of gates, but translated by the King James Version as shoes. “These shoes suited his rocky coast from Carmel to Sidon. Country people as well as ancient warriors had their lower extremities protected by metallic greaves [heavy-soled hobnailed military sandal-boots] (1Samuel 17:6; Ephesians 6:15) and iron-soled shoes” (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary)

I Samuel 2:9 “Saints”: those who are faithful and devoted to God’s service; of kindly, godly character and piety; God’s chosen ones.

Psalm 37:31 “Slide”: slip from the path; falter.

Habakkuk 3:19: “Hinds’ feet”: denoting the agility of a deer.

Luke 10:19 “Power”: authority. “Serpents and scorpions…”: the spiritual powers of evil.

Romans 16:20 “Bruise”: crush completely; shatter.

LESSON BACKGROUND

We have cited just a few of the many scriptures that refer to the protection God gives his chosen ones, covering even the detail of each footstep along the journey of life. The verse in Deuteronomy comes from Moses’ prophetic blessing given to Israel just before his death. He blessed and directed each tribe personally. The reference to “shoes” was given to the tribe of Asher, to whom God also directed, “Let him dip his foot in oil,” which alluded to “a land abounding in olives, and generally richly fertile, a fat land and yielding rich dainties, such as Jacob (Genesis 49:20) promised to Asher” (Pulpit Commentary). An interesting note, which I remember from a message by Bro. John Varghese of India, was that the prophetess Anna in Luke 2:36 was from the tribe of Asher, and the spiritual significance of the oil was that she was especially anointed—God directing her footsteps—to identify the infant Jesus in the temple as the Messiah.

Hannah’s song encourages us that God keeps the feet of His saints, and the psalmist promises that none of the steps of one who keeps God’s law in his heart shall falter or slide. An extra protection is mentioned in Psalm 91—that of the angels bearing us up in their arms lest our feet stumble or are injured on our journey.

The remaining four verses in our lesson speak of treading on the powers of satan, or having the agility of a mountain deer to climb on very difficult, treacherous places. What precious promises are given to God’s people!

—Angela Gellenbeck

DISCUSSION:

1. What was Hannah’s promise about God’s saints?
2. What keeps the steps from sliding in Psalm 37?
3. Who are commissioned to guard the feet of God’s hidden ones?
4. Habakkuk used the analogy of the feet of a deer: upon what does God make us to walk, and what is the spiritual meaning?
5. List the different words used by the Psalmist, Jesus and Paul to describe the enemy upon which we may tread.

LIFE APPLICATION

Protecting the feet, or footsteps, of His saints. What a wonderful assurance, especially the part about Him employing the ministering angels to bear us up lest we injure ourselves! Spiritual foot protection was a pleasant surprise as I followed the line of verses through the Bible. The concept isn’t strange to modern, everyday life, when you think about it. A sports player uses special cleated shoes for sure-footedness and running. A lineman could not go up the high poles without his special shoes. A farmer protects his feet against the wet weather and barnyard mess with heavy boots. A hiker certainly has the best hiking boots as part of his gear.

I’m just thankful for how my Commander lovingly guards every footstep. Surely, those special times when I don’t know HOW I came through were because of those ministering angels bearing me up. When my feet were “tangled with briars, ready to cast me down”; when I was about to step in a land mine, and a voice said, “Stop!” When the serpent struck at my feet, and my gear stopped him. I’m speaking spiritually, now. But these are real battles, and real-life situations. They happen in teenage struggles, in marriage, in raising children, in old age. The enemy tries to get us to stumble. Disappointment in people, sickness that never seems to let up, life-changes. He will keep the feet of His saints.

I’m eager for the next lesson to explain just WHAT God uses to protect my feet, and how I’m to put it on.

—Angela Gellenbeck

REFLECTIONS

By Emily Doolittle, OK

The past week I’ve been fighting battles and struggling with trying to figure out where my victory lay. However, without realizing it, I was searching for the capability within myself.

Finally, one morning as I was going about my day, I was praying and asking God what more I had to do. I had been faithful in my devotions, done my duties, and gave time to Him, yet I felt incredibly overwhelmed and frustrated that I was somehow coming short. In the midst of that He spoke to me, simply saying “Humble yourself and surrender it all to Jesus.”

I almost didn’t believe it could be so simple. In a way I felt like I had to prove myself, like I had to do some great big thing to be able to find my peace again. However, as I continued to pray and seek God, He made it clear to me that surrender was the answer.

When I got down and prayed, I was able to humble myself before God and give all my feelings, questions, and shortcomings to Him. The discouragement I had been feeling disappeared as I realized that even if I couldn’t, God could. I had found my victory, my peace, and my joy again.

Sometimes we can try to fight battles God never even meant for us to fight, or perhaps the battle will go on for days, and even weeks, just because we won’t give it all over to Him.

Many times without realizing it, I try to overcome within my own strength. I may be saying “God, why am I not winning this?” or “Why are you not fixing it for me?” but how could He ever fix something that He doesn’t have full control over?

Only when I would realize that I wasn’t capable in myself to win and I gave it all to the Lord was I able to truly have victory over that area.

God wants to fight the battle for us. He wants to be our refuge and source of our strength. You don’t have to find it within yourself. I’ve wasted a lot of time thinking it was complicated, but in reality it’s very simple.

If you’re facing any troubles, I want to encourage you to sweetly surrender and talk to Jesus about it. He always wants to hear from an earnest heart. He will be faithful to show you the way and give you complete victory.

The answer to so many of our problems lies in giving them over to Jesus. He wants to bear all of your burdens. As Christians we have such a wonderful privilege. We have the opportunity to give every trouble to Someone who can take care of it for us, Someone who can work every situation for our benefit. How wonderful is that?

Take advantage of the opportunity. Humble yourself, and surrender. Then you will find peace in your soul and a power that goes beyond human strength. “But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:6-7).

Click here to here an encouraging song: “The Battle’s Not Mine”: