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Job 5:24
And thou shalt know that thy tabernacleshall be in peace; and thou shalt visit thy habitation, and shalt not sin.

Psalm 37:23,24
The steps of agood man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way…

Psalm 91:11,12
For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways…

his saints

Deuteronomy 33:3
Yea, he loved the people; all his saintsare in thy hand: and they sat down at thy feet;every one shall receive of thy words.

Psalm 37:28
For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.

Psalm 97:10
Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.

be silent

Job 5:16
So the poor hath hope, and iniquity stoppeth her mouth.

Ecclesiastes 5:17
All his days also he eateth in darkness, andhe hath much sorrow and wrath with his sickness.

Jeremiah 8:14
Why do we sit still? assemble yourselves, and let us enter into the defenced cities, and let us be silent there: for the LORD our God hath put us to silence, and given us water of gall to drink, because we have sinned against the LORD.

by strength

1 Samuel 17:49,50
And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slangit, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth…

Psalm 33:16,17
There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength…

Ecclesiastes 9:11
I returned, and saw under the sun, that the raceis not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.

but the wicked perish in darkness
The contrast between the faithful and the wicked is stark. "Perish in darkness" implies a lack of divine guidance and protection, leading to destruction. Darkness in biblical literature often symbolizes chaos, evil, and separation from God, as seen inJohn 3:19-20. The historical context of ancient Israel, where light and darkness were powerful metaphors for good and evil, underscores the fate of those who reject God's ways. This phrase serves as a warning and a call to repentance, highlighting the consequences of living outside God's will.

for by his own strength shall no man prevail
This statement underscores the futility of relying on human strength and wisdom apart from God. It reflects the biblical principle that true success and victory come from God alone, as echoed inZechariah 4:6, "Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of Hosts." The cultural context of ancient Near Eastern societies, where military might and personal prowess were highly valued, contrasts with the biblical teaching that divine intervention is the ultimate source of triumph. This phrase also foreshadows the New Testament revelation of Jesus Christ, who embodies the perfect reliance on God's strength, as seen inPhilippians 2:5-11, where Christ's humility and obedience lead to His exaltation.

– The promise is personal: “He guards.” God Himself actively watches over every movement of those who trust Him.

– “Steps” suggests ordinary, daily living. Nothing is too small for His care—comparePsalm 37:23-24: “The steps of a man are ordered by the LORD… though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed, for the LORD is holding his hand.”

– Faithfulness, not status, is the condition. The same assurance echoes inPsalm 121:3-4, where the Guardian of Israel “will not slumber,” and inProverbs 3:5-6, where acknowledging Him brings straight paths.

– Jesus echoes this security inJohn 10:27-29: no one can snatch His sheep from the Father’s hand.

– A sharp contrast: while the faithful are guarded, the wicked face ruin. Darkness pictures separation from God’s light and guidance (John 3:19-20).

– “Perish” shows finality; this isn’t mere setback but ultimate loss—seeProverbs 4:19, where “the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.”

– Hannah’s song (where this verse appears) anticipates later warnings:Matthew 8:12 speaks of “outer darkness” for those who reject the King.

– God’s justice is as certain as His mercy; both flow from His unchanging character.

– The verse ends by exposing the futility of self-reliance. Human power, intellect, or resources cannot secure lasting victory.

– Scripture repeats this truth:

•Psalm 33:16-17—“A king is not saved by his great army… a horse is a vain hope for salvation.”

•Zechariah 4:6—“‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the LORD of Hosts.”

•2 Corinthians 12:9—God’s power is perfected in weakness, so Paul boasts in dependence, not ability.

– Victory belongs to the LORD alone (1 Samuel 17:47). Our role is humble trust; His is sovereign deliverance.

1 Samuel 2:9 sets a clear, comforting line: God Himself secures every step of those who cling to Him, while the self-sufficient and unrepentant walk into ruinous darkness. Human effort, however impressive, cannot overturn this reality. Lasting safety, guidance, and triumph are found only in wholehearted reliance on the Lord who guards, judges, and forever reigns.

By strength shall no man prevail.--The same thought is expressed very grandly by the prophet, "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts" (Zechariah 4:6). The Holy Ghost, in one of the sublime visions of St. Paul, taught the suffering apostle the same great truth, "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness" (2Corinthians 12:9).