“The steps
of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in his
way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the LORD
upholds his hand” (Psalm 37:23-24, ESV).
The
passage shows that the safety of God's people or the true believers,
especially their spiritual security, is certain and nothing could
prevent them to reach their Divine destination.
Their
security depends not on their own effort, but on the Sovereign Grace
of God. Consider the beginning words of the passage, “The steps of
a man are established by the Lord...” No matter how difficult is
the way, they could go on and walk toward their goal, because God
established their steps.
In
Today's New International Version, we read the passage:
“The
LORD makes firm the steps of those who delight in
him; though they stumble, they will not fall, for the LORD
upholds them with his hand.
In
the ESV, it seems God establishes our steps, if He delights in our
way; but in the TNIV, He establishes or makes firm our steps, if we
delight in Him.
Of
course, the Bible tells us that we please God or He will delight in
us, if we have faith (Heb. 11:6). Also, when we intimately know Him
and delight in Him, so we have faith in Him (Psalm 9:10).
Anyway,
if He delights in us or we delight in Him, not only He makes firm our
steps, but He upholds us with His hand! So, we “will not fall.”
In the ESV, we read: “...though
he fall, he shall not be cast headlong.”
Because
of our sinful nature, we sinned and failed many times to hold on the
hand of our Heavenly Father. But, He will never leave nor forsake His
children. We read in Psalm 73:22-24:
“I was brutish and ignorant; I was like a beast toward you. Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory.”
“I was brutish and ignorant; I was like a beast toward you. Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory.”
