Psalms 37:23, “The steps of a [good] man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.”
There is considerable disagreement over the syntax of this passage. Does man delight in God’s way or does God delight in man’s way? Go ahead and read your modern English translations. You will find many stay with the ambiguity of the KJV were it could read one way or the other. Some will boldly declare, as the NIV that it is man delighting in God or the ISV that the Lord delights in man’s way.
This is where I get very frustrated with commentaries. You get to a difficult passage as this and many just tend to ignore the obvious question which in this case is man delighting in his way or is God delighting in man’s way. Even Keil and Delitzsch, the go to commentary for understanding the depths of the Hebrew tends to side step a Hebraic explanation and simply say that it is God delighting in man’s way. Some commentaries indicate that it means both God and man delighting in his way. In other words when man’s way is God’s way both delight in the way.
The fact is, in the Hebrew it could mean either or, or it could mean both. The syntax is just too ambiguous to be sure. I believe God intended it to be this way. Jewish tradition takes the position that it is a reference to God delighting in the way of man. I believe it is safe to say and most commentators would agree that this passage does teach that God delights in the way of man when he follows the steps that God has ordered. That is what I want to focus on.
Let’s really break this down. The literal reading of the first part of this verse is “From the Lord a great man’s steps are established. The word step in the Hebrew is mits’ad. It is used in the Akkadian language for soldiers marching into battle or conflict. An Assyrian general would lead his army into battle. When he did all the soldiers following him would march in perfect step with him, they would follow the steps of the general in perfect time showing their solidarity with their general. Marching soldiers, soldiers who march in a cadence with each step in perfect time with their leader creates a sense of unity and oneness. Marching in perfect step creates fear in the enemy for they know that their opposition is of one mind and one purpose. They are together, watching each other’s backs. They are disciplined and determined to follow the orders given to them. They are not an unruly mob set to do whatever they want, they are a disciplined force all with the same goal and purpose in mind. The word ordered may not be the best English word to use here. In our modern understanding of ordered we get the idea that God winds us up and sends us on our way. In other words to use the English word ordered creates in our minds the idea of having no free will. This is not at all what the Hebrew word is kun is suggesting. Kun really has the idea of being stable, firm or established.
We have basically three Hebrew words that are rendered as man. You have adam which is a fleshly natural man. You have ish which is both a spiritual and fleshly man expressing one or the other or both. Then you have the word that is used in this passage which is gavar. A gavar is simply a mighty or great man. It is used for a man who excels in some area, either physically, emotionally, intellectually or in achievements. This is why some translations render this as a good man or a righteous man. A translation that does that is paraphrasing as they are offering their opinion as to what attribute of this man warrants the use of gavar. The context clearly suggests that this is a righteous or good man as God would not delight in the steps of an unrighteous man.
Thus this first part of the passage, the steps of a (good) man ordered of the Lord would be better understood in modern English as a man who is marching in perfect step with God is a righteous person and the Lord will make his marching stable and firm. In other words when you are marching in God’s army and you are in perfect step with God, one with God in purpose and mission you need never fear for whatever happens to God will happen to you and no one will defeat God, thus you will never be defeated.
The verse then goes on to say that God’s delights in our way. If we are of one mind and purpose we are doing what we want and what God wants. But say, look at this word delight. It is chaphets in the Hebrew. It does mean to delight and take pleasure in something or someone. Yet, this is rooted in an ancient Persian word where a man admires the beauty of woman that he is making his wife. Embodied in this word is the idea of being caring, attentive, and protective.
I remember reading a book where some high ranking military officers were observing the training of young officers. They were looking for the cadets who showed the most promise as a leader. They observed one officer leading his men and at the end of the march he ordered them all to take off their boots and he examined their feet and personally cared for any whose feet show signs of any injury or sores. The observers noted that this was a man who would become a great leader, for he was not afraid to minister to the feet of his men. This officer delighted in the achievements of each one of his men and concentrated on doing what he had to do to make them succeed. He was chaphets, caring, attentive and protective of his men. He was also proud of his men and delighted in their successes.
When we march in step with God, He chaphets us. He cares for us, He ministers to us and our needs, even to examine our feet to make sure there are no sores and if they are He ministers to those sores. He is attentive to us and protective of us. He delights in our successes and he delights in our way. The word way in Hebrew is derek which has multiple meanings, I like how derek is used to express the idea of a journey. God is delighting in our journey here on earth. We are people of His personal platoon, people that he trains, and chaphets that He is attentive to, cares for us, and protects us and then when we achieve some great victory he takes great pleasure in seeing how all his chaphets, caring attentiveness, and protection has paid off.
March in step with God and He will lead you to great adventures in your journey through life.
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