Psalm 37:31 The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide. 1. One marked characteristic of this is that it inspires him with the power of an unlimited ideal. A high ideal is the spring of social progress and public enterprise. Who can calculate the soul's capabilities, and the mighty sweep of its orbit? It sees in Christ the highest example of excellence, and it goes on becoming more and more like Him, without ever arriving at a point beyond which it cannot pass. The man under the influence of this ideal is the truly practical man, his course of conduct being according to the laws of his being and adapted to the desired end. Christ is formed in him the hope of glory. 2. This develops the individuality of a man. Sensualism destroys individuality. The drunkard, in more senses than one, throws himself away. lie unmans himself. But the man described in the text acts under a constant sense of responsibility. He feels that he must act himself and must stand or fall for himself. He knows that an act can only be performed by an individual, and that he must obey the law himself, or there will be no obedience so far as he is concerned. 3. The life of such a man is positive. He does not try to see how near he can go to the edge of the precipice of wrong without falling over. But he goes on. He has a filial love that inclines him in a positive way to his heavenly Father. 4. Harmony of thought and word. The words are the direct expressions of the thoughts, because these are vivified by the heart's warm emotion. The law in the life is not a mere matter of memory. Paul truly says: "The law of the spirit of life hath saved me from the law of sin and death." The heart in an important sense in the man — it is the mainspring of action, and gives nob only efficiency, but harmony. (E. H. Chapin, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.WEB: The law of his God is in his heart. None of his steps shall slide. |
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