Psalm 37:23 is a familiar verse to many, declaring that the steps of a good man are ordered of the Lord.
Are you are a good person? If you want your steps to be ordered by the Lord this question must be answered. The reply often comes “well, I’m no worse than anyone else…” We tend to answer that question then by comparing ourselves to others. Over the years, I’ve attended many funerals, and whether or not the deceased had a testimony of faith, it is always said “he was a good man” or “she was a good person.” I’ve heard this said even when the departed was known lifelong to be involved in depravity of the worst kind. What is David referring to when he speaks of a “good man?” We need to know because the promise is that a good man’s life will be one whose steps are ordered and ordained by God Himself.
In Luke 18:18, Jesus said, “call no man good.” Are these two scriptures then contradicting each other? If we believe in the infallibility of God’s word (which many, even believers these days do not). If we believe in the infallibility of God’s word, then we must take the seeming contradiction here and reconcile them in our understanding. God doesn’t speak out of both sides of His mouth.
When David says, a good man’s steps are ordered of the Lord, that word “good” in Hebrew means “valiant man” or “valiant warrior.” It also has a covenantal meaning that describes a man or woman whose character and walk in life confirms the covenant that God made with man in Christ. How is this different from the word “good” that Jesus uses in Luke 18:18?
The word Jesus uses in Luke 18:18 that is translated “good” means perfect. It is a reference to the philosopher Plato’s idea of good. Plato’s use of the word “good” was employed to describe his opinion of his mentor Socrates. It means to be useful and valuable to your fellow man. Interestingly, though Plato uses this term to extol Socrates, by modern-day standards, Socrates would be judged as a pedophile. Regardless he is seen by humanism as a good person because he lived a life that was useful and valuable to others both in and beyond his generation.
Back to the question? Are you good? By Jesus’ standard, no one is good, not even you, not even the sweetest, kindest person you know. Paul, though he was no doubt versed in philosophy, likewise disagrees with Plato and aligns with the words of Jesus:
[Rom 3:10-13 KJV] 10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 13 Their throat [is] an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps [is] under their lips:
If we are not good then by Jesus’ standard, how might we ever hope to see our steps, our life ordered by the Lord as David proclaimed? David’s definition of good doesn’t refer to moral excellence but to courage in battle, to being a valiant warrior.
What do you war against? Do you see yourself as a political warrior speaking against the Democratic left? Or perhaps you are a social warrior speaking against sex trafficking or the agenda of the LGBTQ lobby? Our society is fraught with conflict, and there are many sides to choose, but is that the battle David has in mind in Psa.m 37:23? The writer of Hebrews might help us with this question:
[Heb 12:4 KJV] 4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
In Proverbs 16:32, Solomon declared that a person who rules his own spirit is better than he who “takes a city.” What does that mean? There is no OUTWARD CONQUEST that means anything without INWARD VICTORY. Your greatest battle is with yourself, with your own sinful nature. Unfortunately, we have spent a generation telling ourselves we are “practically perfect in every way.” Even Christians today have little comprehension of sin (other than in the lives of those we don’t agree with).
What is your battle? Are you striving against sin? God isn’t looking for Platonic perfection; Jesus makes it plain that is non-existent in the human character. What God desires in your life is that you be a valiant warrior against transgression in your own heart. There is no outward victory without inward conquest. If you commit to that battle, the promise of God through the Psalmist David is that your steps will truly be ordained, established, and blessed by God Almighty.
