Today we consider one line from our Psalm, Psalm 66. It speaks of the Power of God, Power He utilizes to keep us safe! To keep us stable, steadfast!

Here it is, King James Version, Psalm 66:9. “Which holdeth our soul in life, and suffereth not our feet to be moved.” The Pronoun “Which” has as its antecedent, “our God,” back in verse 8.

And He “holds” our soul! This Hebrew verb is “sum” (pronounced “soom”), which means “to set in place.” Or “to appoint, ordain, mark.” God superintends our very souls!

The Hebrew concept of a “soul” (spelled “nephesh”) means “consciousness” itself. It is derived from a verb stem meaning “to take a fresh breath!” And the noun “life” means “the state of being quickened, of being constantly revived!”

God … “Who holdeth our soul in life.”

This sounds like absolute “security” to me!

But then our verse continues. God also “suffers not our feet to be moved.”

The verb “suffereth” translates “nathan,” the main Hebrew verb for “giving.” God grants our feet surety! No slipping or sliding! The infinitive “to be moved” means “to waver, to shake, to totter!”

Put the verse back together again, and say a prayer of thanks! “Which holdeth our soul in life, and suffereth not our feet to be moved.”

Wow!

This sounds somewhat like Psalm 121:3-8. “He (the Lord) will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.”

Again I say, protection!

If we have remained faithful, for any number of years, it is not US so much! It is HIS KEEPING POWER that has maintained us, that has sustained us, that has upheld us!

No wonder Paul then could years later write: “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:6

Same idea, Old Testament and New.

Praise the Lord!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell