Copyright 2015 J. Neely
Psalm 37:31
31 The law [towrah] of his
God ['elohiym] is in his heart [leb]; none of his steps ['ashur]
shall slide [ma`ad]. KJV-Interlinear
31 The law of his God is in his heart; his
steps do not slip. ESV
The law, towrah, is
a word that is used to describe the whole collective body of truth, namely the
Scriptures.
Of God, simply
specifies which law we are talking about, which is the content of the Bible.
In his heart, is a
reference to the active function of the thinking of the soul. In the physical
body the heart is the pump, which keeps the blood moving and circulating throughout
a person’s body.
When referring to
the soul, the heart represents the thinking or the constant or active movement
of thought within and throughout the soul.
Obviously in order
to have something circulating within your soul, you have to have something in
your soul. And, since this is a reference to the content of the Scriptures
circulating within your soul, then obviously you have to learn Bible doctrine before
it can be a functional part of your soul.
The context of our
passage is referring to the spiritually mature believer, who has grown up as a
result of learning Bible doctrine, understanding Bible doctrine, retaining
Bible doctrine, and utilizing it within his daily life.
Throughout the
Bible, references are made to success, prosperity, security, and in this verse,
to sure steps, wherein the individual does not stumble his way through life. This
is a reference to the spiritual life, and may or may not apply to ones temporal
life.
The benefits of
the spiritual life can overflow into the temporal life, but that is not a
given. A poor man, a sick man, has obvious handicaps in this world. However if
that poor man or sick man pursue Bible doctrine and learn it, and advance in
their spiritual life, then they can legitimately claim success, health,
security and prosperity. All of these apply to the spiritual side of their
life, and eventually to the next life, or eternity.
The steps that do
not slip, is a reference to the functioning aspect of your spiritual life.
You can live in
this world and fail miserably, and have the worst luck imaginable, and live a
life that is filled with one problem after another, after another. But if the
individual is positive toward Bible doctrine, which addresses not the temporal
life, but the spiritual state of ones soul, then the application of the status
of their soul is a spiritual application which ultimately applies to the next
life, and all of eternity.
The priority of
preparing yourself spiritually, is to ready yourself for eternity.
The functions of
living in this life, are logistical to help you get through this life, while
simultaneously giving you the opportunity to prepare yourself and your
spiritual life.
The temporal life should
be viewed as a supporting role for your spiritual preparation.
Your life in this
temporal world is not your objective, nor the end of, or the completion of,
your life.
Spiritual
principles you learn, apply to this life with respect to your responsibilities
and obligations in life.
But your ultimate
success or failure in life is determined completely by your spiritual life.
Your spiritual
life goes with you into eternity.
The things of this
temporal world, are merely temporary, and are left behind when you leave this
world.
These
studies are a part of the massive daily study web site at DailyBibeStudy.Org,
and are written, so that you can come to Christ if you have not done so
already, and therefore not be lost forever.
And
if you have already believed in Christ, then these studies are written so you
can learn and understand and grow in your spiritual life, so that you can come
to the full knowledge of Christ, so that you can fulfill your meaning and
purpose in life as God intended for you, and so you can qualify for a
phenomenal eternal reward which you will have forever. To ignore this opportunity to pursue a daily
study means you will be incomplete, unfulfilled and you will lose out, big
time.
The
Daily Bible Study is online, making it possible as never before in all of human
history, to advance in ones relationship with God, through Christ, and to
complete yourself beyond your imagination.
But
you have to decide to make that commitment.
No one else can study for you.
You have to do that yourself.
