In the former verse David had pleaded for mercy and God's favor, now in our text he tells us of God's ordained way which leads into His favor which is only found through humble prayer. "And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight," 1JO 3:22

After he learned to know the sinful nature of sin, David's prayer was "Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me," PSA 19:13. This word "presumption" comes from the root word "zed" in the Hebrew which means "arrogant, to be insulting, or a religious revolt."

Realizing our proneness to such self-exalting we may well plead with David in our text, "Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me." The word "Order" reveals the universal nature of sin-and our need for God's restraining grace to direct our steps, i.e., our attitudes as well as our actions, and why? That no iniquity should have dominion over us.

This word "dominion" tells us of the tyranny and reigning power of sin. Oh, how often we find that ugly monster self--striving for the throne of our hearts! It reveals itself in our arrogance that is the great transgression!

The Lord had allowed David to fall into sin to learn the true nature and power of besetting sins that rein in the heart of man by nature. 1JO 2:16 says, "For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world."

God's Word is the source of knowledge and delight for all those who walk before God with a tender conscience, desiring to know and do those things that are pleasing unto Him. David, the man after God's own heart said,

"How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path," PSA 119:103-105.

David pleads in our text for the Lord to "Order his steps." Every step you or I take is either one step closer to heaven-or hell. An awakened conscience strives as much to be faithful to God's Word in the smallest matter, as in the greatest. "...as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy," 1PE 1:15-16

Our text says, "Order my steps in thy word." Those who desire to please God in their attitudes and actions, flee to the light of the Word as their authority in every decision, spiritual or temporal; "...he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God," JOH 3:21.

God's Word is the only safe rule for our life; it is Sword of the Spirit for our sanctification. Our Saviour's prayer was, "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth," JOH 17:17. God's Word is the only instrument in the hand of the Holy Spirit that will ever put a man in a capacity to serve God with an acceptable love and holiness.

David first asks, "Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way?" then he answers his own question, "...by taking heed thereto according to thy word," PSA 119:9. A young man outside God's grace is in the heat of his lusts. He is under the tyranny and power of sin. How shall he be delivered from the powers of Satan and sin? By the power of the Word-which is Christ!

A revelation of the love of God in the Word is what leads any man unto repentance, ROM 2:4. The Apostle Paul's rebellion was broken by a single revelation of the longsuffering love of Christ-and the most presumptuous-arrogant, rebellious lion became a lamb pleading before Christ, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" ACT 9:6.

A faith's view of Christ will rend the cry of our text from the heart of the greatest sinner, "Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me." Amen.