God's righteousness opening a way.
"The meaning of this difficult verse may probably be as follows: Righteousness shall go before him (Jehovah), and shall make his footsteps a pathway for his servants to walk in." "God's march of right will leave a track wherein his people will joyfully follow." Aben Ezra curiously explains this verse to mean, "He shall cause the man of righteousness to walk before him, and makes his footsteps for a way to him." Plainly the verse must be treated in the harmony of the psalm. Evidently the latter tart is a vision of the spiritual and temporal deliverances and blessings which would surely come to the exiles—though now in much distress—if they turned heartily to Jehovah, and persisted in serving him in truth and righteousness. Among the blessings anticipated was prosperous harvesting from the land; and with this naturally goes safe guidance of national affairs, and a way out of national difficulties. God's faithfulness would go before the people in all their public affairs, opening for them the way in which they should go (see the term "righteousness" in verse 11).
I. GOD'S RIGHTEOUSNESS, OR FAITHFULNESS, IS ACTIVE FOR HIS PEOPLE'S GOOD. It is "going before him;" it is not quiescent. "God for us" means "God working for us."
II. GOD'S ACTIVE RIGHTEOUSNESS IS TRIUMPHANT OVER DIFFICULTIES. Opening ways implies that ways have been closed. Hindrances have blocked them.
III. GOD'S ACTIVE RIGHTEOUSNESS WORKS FOR THE COMPLETION OF THE REDEMPTIVE PURPOSE. There is an inspiring sense in which we may be sure that God must be true to himself. If he has purposed a thing, he will surely overcome all difficulties in the way of its accomplishment. If he has planned the full redemption and sanctification of believers, it does not matter how impossible that may seem to him; "God's righteousness will surely go before him, and make a way."—R.T.