How does Psalm 119:101 connect with Proverbs 4:27 about avoiding evil paths? Placing the verses side by side Psalm 119:101 — “I have kept my feet from every evil path, that I may keep Your word.” Proverbs 4:27 — “Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your feet away from evil.” Shared imagery: feet and path • Both texts picture life as a walk. Our “feet” represent daily choices. • “Path” points to a direction that becomes a habit and eventually a destiny (cf. Matthew 7:13-14). • Deliberate movement—keeping, turning—shows that avoiding evil is active, not passive. Why avoid evil paths? • Psalm 119:101 gives motivation: “that I may keep Your word.” Stepping off the wrong road protects wholehearted obedience. • Proverbs 4:27 stresses single-minded focus: no swerving “to the right or to the left.” Staying straight keeps us from compromise. • Taken together, the verses reveal that guarding God’s Word and guarding our steps are two sides of one command. How the two passages illuminate one another 1. Internal commitment (Psalm 119) fuels external course correction (Proverbs 4). 2. Scripture hidden in the heart (Psalm 119:11) becomes a steering mechanism for the feet. 3. The son in Proverbs hears a father’s counsel; the psalmist models a disciple’s resolve. Both reflect Deuteronomy 5:32-33—“Walk in all the way the LORD has commanded you.” Practical ways to “keep your feet” today • Filter every new opportunity through clear commands already revealed (Psalm 119:105). • Eliminate venues that regularly entice you to compromise (Romans 13:14). • Cultivate companions who encourage obedience (Psalm 1:1; Proverbs 13:20). • Memorize key verses that confront your known temptations (Ephesians 6:17). • Review the path daily: morning planning, evening reflection (Lamentations 3:40). Reinforcing Scriptures • Ephesians 5:15-16 — “Be very careful, then, how you walk… making the most of the time.” • 2 Timothy 2:22 — “Flee from youthful passions and pursue righteousness.” • James 1:22 — “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only.” Summary snapshot Psalm 119:101 highlights the heart’s intention to obey; Proverbs 4:27 highlights the disciplined action required. Hold God’s Word fast, and your feet will stay off forbidden roads; purposefully steer clear of evil tracks, and God’s Word will thrive in you. |
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