A broad path for my feet
Psalms 18:35-36 - The seemingly insignificant words in these Old Testament verses all point to the Cross and our redemption through Christ’s sacrifice.
“You make your saving help my shield, and your right hand sustains me; your help has made me great. You provide a broad path for my feet, so that my ankles do not give way.”
Psalms 18:35-36 NIV
We continue to walk through the vast storehouse of wisdom and knowledge that is the Book of Psalms. Today’s verses come from chapter 18, which Enduring Word’s David Guzik titled “Great Praise from a Place of Great Victory”. The introduction of this chapter provides the background for this long psalm - “For the choir director: A psalm of David, the servant of the LORD. He sang this song to the LORD on the day the LORD rescued him from all his enemies and from Saul.” (Psalm 18)
Why did I refer to it as a long psalm? It is the fourth longest psalm (50 verses) of the 150 total psalms. Only psalms 79, 89, and 119 are longer. King David certainly had a lot to praise God for when he wrote and sang this psalm, and it begins with a statement that should be repeated by believers constantly — “I love you, Lord, my strength.” (Psalms 18:1).
In these verses, David thanks God for giving him both strength and skill. In verse 35, he refers to God’s “saving help” (salvation) as a shield, symbolizing God’s protection of David and deliverance from his enemies. You may remember another Psalm recently explored on Heaven On Wheels that referenced shields. The image of God as a shield is very common in the Psalms, representing the belief that God is both a bringer of safety and a deterrence against evil. The shield foreshadows the ultimate salvation through Jesus Christ, who protects His people and delivers them from sin.
The king also realizes that his personal successes are not his own doing, but completely due to the Lord’s guidance and assistance (“your help has made me great”). This is reflected in Christ’s work, where His humility and sacrifice lifted up all believers to honor in God’s kingdom.
David goes on to say that God’s “right hand sustains me”, meaning he knows that God is actively involved in his life and supports him constantly. Why the right hand? It symbolizes strength and power in the Bible, particularly God’s authority and might. Thinking of God as giving David a helping hand shows that He is not distant, but present in sustaining and empowering the king. Jesus is foreshadowed once again in this phrase, as He sits at the right hand of the Father (Luke 22:69, Acts 7:56, Mark 16:19, etc…), interceding for all believers and providing them with strength and support.
Are you a hiker? If you are, verse 36 (“You provide a broad path for my feet, so that my ankles do not give way”) makes a lot of sense. On a wider path, one can sidestep rocks or dips in the way, making it much less likely that you’ll twist an ankle. In ancient Israel, paths were usually narrow, unleveled, and covered with rocks or loose sand. Broadening a path is a symbol of making it safer and more secure, a metaphor for God’s protection and guidance throughout life. He’s preparing the way for His people to ensure their steps are steady and secure.
What’s this about ankles not giving way? Foot soldiers in ancient times needed to be able to stand firm in the face of an enemy, and weak or injured ankles could lead to a fall and probable death by sword or spear. David once again uses a metaphor in a psalm, here paralleling physical strength with spiritual resilience. For modern believers, this metaphor extends to Christ, our foundation and strength who helps us in our faith walk.
The seemingly insignificant words in these Old Testament verses all point to the Cross and our redemption through Christ’s sacrifice. That is why all of the Bible, not just the Gospels or the New Testament as a whole, is so important to study and understand.
Heaven On Wheels Daily Prayer:
Father in Heaven, I thank You for opening my mind to the truth of Your Word, where I find a clear path to Your Son and my Savior Jesus Christ in all of Scripture from Genesis to Revelation. I pray that You continue to inspire me to study and understand more of the Bible until that glorious day when I am in Your presence. In Jesus’ name I pray, AMEN.