« Refraining »

Psalm 119:101 I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.

First, the statement, “I have refrained my feet,” reminds me of the man who had been saved from alcoholism. He had come to the Lord in repentance and his life had been changed, but he came to his pastor one day and asked him to put him on his prayer list because he was facing great temptations and he was afraid he might yield. He told his pastor that he was tempted to go into the bar he passed while going to work and back. His pastor’s response was, “Drive a different way.” Refrain your feet and don’t go that way anymore.

I Thessalonians 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.

Second, we should not just keep our feet from doing evil, but from the evil way. It is easier to obey God’s Word when the path we take is not leading in the wrong direction. It would have been much easier for Lot to not fall into complacency and pride if he had never pitched his tent toward Sodom, but if he had not followed this evil path who knows what God could have done through him? Refraining our feet from the evil way not only keeps us from doing evil, it also makes it possible for us to do good.

Matthew 7:13-14 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Holiness produces hatred and indignation against ungodliness and wickedness. The righteousness that comes from God will stir up loathing and disgust for every evil way.