Heralds Digest

  “ Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer. Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not .” Psalm 17 : 4 - 5 KJV The experiences of Job’s friends with him during the days of his affliction teach clearly the difference between profitable plans and progressive paths. Their intentions were comfort-promising through correction, but their interactions ended up as miserable, misleading and misfiring. Therefore, the psalmist’s prayer simply shows every believer’s desperate needs for the hands of God, holding and leading the paths of life as though he is a complete blind man. “ Concerning the works of men ”…their responses in all relationships, reactions to all actions and inaction of associates, contributions against all compelling requests, etc, only the inspiration of the Most High, coupled with His divine intelligence, can deliver anyone from the issue of perishing donations. And just as the counsels from Job...

  “ Concerning the works of men, By the word of Your lips, I have kept away from the paths of the destroyer. Uphold my steps in Your paths, That my footsteps may not slip .” Psalms 17 : 4 - 5 NKJV Ideally, nobody wants slippery steps; but people can hardly escape the slippery pathways by the words of their lips. Little wonder why the scriptures posited that a fool with a sealed lip is considered wise. Not until Eliphaz the Temanite opened his buccal cavity to address the afflicted Job, the seven days of silence by the three friends will pass as the best comforting session and a commendable treatment for the oppressed in life. With words like “ Can a mortal be more righteous than God? Can a man be more pure than his Maker? (Job 4 : 17 )”; what can really be considered as a slip, if the admonition is given within an appropriate context? Unfortunately, Eliphaz and his friends were rather motivated by ““ If one attempts a word with you, will you become weary? But who can withhold hi...

  “ Concerning the works of men, By the word of Your lips, I have kept away from the paths of the destroyer. Uphold my steps in Your paths, That my footsteps may not slip .” Psalms 17 : 4 - 5 NKJV If wise words translate only to wise works, there would probably be no reference to the paths of the destroyer for all disciples of the truth. Unfortunately, unguided utterances have always encouraged the production of wicked works from wise words. For example, while the words or counsels of Eliphaz and his miserable friends are no doubt a compilation of inspiration and wisdom, Job had to be summoned at the end to pray for their deliverance from the paths of the destroyer. It implies that intelligence without grace and the spirit of discernment often lead men away from wise works or excellent engagements. Therefore, words of men without the inspiration of God will produce the defiling works of men; only the words of men by the inspiration of God are reserved as wise works. Wise works a...

  ” Concerning the works of men, By the word of Your lips, I have kept away from the paths of the destroyer. Uphold my steps in Your paths, That my footsteps may not slip. “ ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭17‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Funnily, the psalmist’s prayer on the works of men agrees with the concept of slip irreversibility. It is the Second Law of Thermodynamics that accounts for the inevitable destruction of energy with every production of work from any system. Invariably, the human works are filled with slip steps, unless saved by the words of God, i.e., the word of His lips. Unfortunately, we are often deceived by the promotion of our carnal intelligence, technological advances, social connectivity, moral uprightness, and political affiliations. Even righteous Job had to finally bow to his plausible bends on slip steps, when he cried ” Teach me what I do not see; If I have done iniquity, I will do no more’? “ (Job‬ ‭34‬:‭32‬). Whereas, all the works and words of men in apparent disagreement to divin...