Learning to Trust God in the Psalmsనమూనా

Psalm 26: Level Ground For the Soul

“My feet stand on level ground; in the great assembly I will praise the Lord.”

Psalm 26:12 (NIV84)

Level ground is not treacherous. It is safe and solid underfoot, free of unexpected or unseen trip hazards, and a place of sure footing. The Psalmist knew something about level ground. The geographical area he lived in taught him the difference between treacherous and level ground. As he wrote this Psalm, he reflected upon his life and used the area's geography as a metaphor to describe his journey. He declared that he was sure-footed in his devotion to the Lord. He had arrived at a place in his soul where he was sure of his convictions, choices, and behaviors regarding his dedication to the Lord. Consequently, his life was focused, purposeful, and fulfilling.

David is the author of this Psalm. He was living an authentic and devoted life to the Lord when he wrote it. Due to the strength of his personal journey with the Lord, he gathered with others in the great assembly (church service) and praised the Lord.

Verse twelve is David’s poetic way of summarizing his relationship with the Lord. His relationship with the Lord empowered him to live in honorable ways, which led to a stability for which he was grateful. His feet were on level ground. Regardless of how others lived, he was devoted to the Lord in how he lived his life. How can we experience the same in our lives? What must we do to say, “My feet stand on level ground?”

First of all, the soul must have an internal hunger and thirst to seek the Lord. If the soul is not pursuing a vibrant connection with the Lord, it will be tempted and often yield to the behaviors that the Psalmist mentions in verses four and five. These behaviors destabilize the soul, and standing on level ground is unlikely. Deceit, hypocrisy, and engaging in evil and wicked behaviors will always create a rocky road.

Without a dedicated and consistent time of assembling with the Lord, your feet will likely stray in directions that will cause you to misstep. Where do you assemble with the Lord? Not with others, just with the Lord? My personal assembly place is in my living room. Yours can be at your kitchen table, on your patio, on your front porch, as you take a walk, or in another room of your home. There will always be a greater joy in your worship in the great assembly when it is birthed in your personal assembly with the Lord.

Secondly, the soul must be willing to take the time to develop a meaningful and vibrant relationship with the Lord. Developing any relationship takes time. In verse three, David wrote, “for your love is ever before me, and I walk continually in your truth”. Any meaningful relationship develops because of the provision of a quantity and quality of time for the relationship to grow. As a result of his devotion to knowing the Lord, he became sure-footed in his convictions, commitments, and behaviors. The same is available to anyone who seeks and engages a meaningful and vibrant relationship with the Lord. In time, the increasing richness of our connection with Him leads to changes in our lives that will provide a stability for which we will be grateful. We will discover that in this world, acquiring stability in our lives requires stability in our relationship with the Lord.

I believe David finished this Psalm with verse twelve to tell his family and friends that there is a pathway to stability and safety in this world. I think the Holy Spirit inspired him to write these words to tell us the same. There is a direct correlation between the stability of your soul and your relationship with the Lord as you navigate your life in the instability of this world.

Those who seek the Lord and invest time in a relationship with Him can access the pathway to level ground.

1 Chronicles 15:13 says, “Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.” This verse is repeated in Psalm 105:4. Psalm 26 agrees.

Lastly, always remember the feet that find themselves standing on level ground will be thankful for the heart that sought the face of the Lord.