Psalms 94:18

When I said, My foot slippeth; Thy mercy, O Lord, held me up.

A common incident of the journey

The soul in peril can seldom say much, but that which is said is generally expressive. Take, for example, these words: they imply faith in the presence of One able to help--abhorrence of the sin to which ha is tempted--and confidence in His willingness to save. This experience is a common one. All of us are, at some time, found in slippery places.

I. Some slippery places, We are the more exposed to falling when we are brought into circumstances of--

1. Poverty and want. Christ was tempted when He hungered.

2. Of annoyance and vexation. Moses smote the rock in anger.

3. Of dejection and perplexity (Psalms 73:2).

4. Of sore bereavement and trial (Job).

II. Some things concerning the traveller, rendering these the more perilous.

1. The absence of the staff, or negligence in its use. Learn the promises and use them.

2. The foot ill-shod.

3. Drowsiness. “Watch and pray, that,” etc.

4. Carelessness.

5. The lantern untrimmed or insecure, so that it goes out or burns dimly.

III. The sure means for preservation. We have simply to cry to the Deliverer. The secret of a secure and blessed life is constant ejaculatory prayer. The moment danger is oven anticipated, to ask for timely assistance. (R. A. Griffin.)

Upheld by Divine mercy

Not often has the voice of man pointed the way and brought sinners to Christ with so much of picturesque and sweet persuasiveness as did that of Dr. Bonar. What could be finer than this eccentric way of stating the Gospel: “Suppose that I, a sinner, be walking along yon golden street, passing by one angel after another. I can hear them say, as I pass through their ranks, ‘A sinner! a crimson sinner!’ Should my feet totter? Should my eye grow dim? No; I can say to them, ‘Yes, a sinner--a crimson sinner--but a sinner brought near by a forsaken Saviour, and now a sinner who has boldness to enter into the Holiest through the blood of Christ.’”