My Soul, My Hands, My Feet.

For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.

Psalm 116:8

Before us is a tremendously valuable passage of scripture, both for you who have never been saved and we who have. Here is the psalmist’s own personal account of his falling into sin, his misery while fallen, and the way he found deliverance. It’s descriptive, true, and powerful. The way of sin is a path we all can find ourselves in if we grow careless. But, just a sure as there is a way to sin, there exists a way out of sin. Listen to his testimony, then consider your own soul situation today.

First, he describes his foolish fall into the way of sin. (v. 3, 8) Sin approached him with a face that was totally false. Though he knew what sin was from God’s Word and had clearly identified what was before him, he still gave in to its enticement. It looked harmless. Surely a little would not hurt. It seemed acceptable. If he did it, if he got it, it somehow would be o.k. for him. Surely God wouldn’t really mind. So, whatever sin it was, it caught his eye (v.8), then motivated his feet to go after it. And sure enough, he got what he went after. However, as soon as he did something happened. There was a change. Deep within his soul became defiled, condemned. He felt suddenly alone, separated from the peace of God. He was missing something that he had gotten so used to having that he had taken it for granted. That something was rightness with God. What was once just sin had become his sin. Then, its real face began to show. Sorrows submerged him. Untold sufferings took hold, and wouldn’t let up. No matter where he turned, troubles found him. You see, sin involves your entire body. From the eye and ear, to the feet and hands, to the mind and heart, and then to the soul  sin increasingly involves you and invades you until it has completely captured and dominated you. Then comes the collapse. The falling flat upon your face. Satan puts his foot upon you as you lay helpless, and laughs. There is nothing you can do about it now.

Or is there?

The psalmist proceeds to describe the way of of his sin. (v.4, 13) Though now helpless, he realized there was one thing he could always do:lLook up. When he did, he saw two cups. One was the cup of God’s wrath for sin. But this cup was held back  so the other cup could be offered first. This cup was the cup of salvation. He realizes that, even in his low and fallen state, the Lord was showing him mercy, giving him another chance. Though he had lost everything due to his sin, he had one thing left. He still had a prayer (v.4). The ability and opportunity to call upon the Lord. This prayer said it all; “O Lord, I beseech Thee, deliver my soul!” The regret. The agony. The humility. The utter helplessness. He begs the Lord to deliver him! Not first his eyes or his feet, but where sin had done its deadliest work: His soul. When the soul is delivered, then the eyes will be cleared and the feet will be strengthened to both hold you up again and returned to their solid foundation.

Thirdly, God’s response to this prayer. (v.5-9) His attitude to this fallen one is remarkable. God is being gracious for the psalmist doesn’t deserve it. His sin was entirely his fault. God is righteous, for the psalmist can never muster enough of his own righteousness to compensate for his wrong. So God hears his prayer and covers him with the covering of His own righteousness. God is merciful, for the psalmist is guilty as charged and self-condemned. He can plead nothing to his defense, except his feeble prayer. So God chooses to pardon him. The result? “He helped me.” (v.6) God deals bountifully with him in forgiving him, getting him back up on his feet, then returning him to where he once was.

Verse 8 is the Golden Testimony. “ For Thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.” He is thankful first for the fixing of his soul. When the soul is delivered, the eyes will dry and the feet will be where they should be again. Yes, sin is real. Terribly real. Yet you too are offered the Cup. And you have this prayer as well. Look up, cry out, pray the prayer, reach for the Cup.

Then you too can say to your soul, “Return to thy rest.”