Walking in God's Sovereign Love and Justice
To "walk" in a biblical sense signifies one's conduct, way of life, or manner of living [3, 7]. This concept extends to how individuals live in relation to God's sovereign love and justice. The Old Testament often connects walking with righteousness and justice, as seen in Proverbs 8:20, "I walk in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice" [1]. This suggests an active engagement with God's moral standards.
In the New Testament, walking is frequently used to describe a believer's life and behavior. For instance, John Gill interprets "walk in love" in Ephesians 5:2 as encompassing love for God and love for Christ. This love for God manifests in fearing to offend Him, conforming to His will, and seeking His glory. Love for Christ is characterized by fervent, constant, and sincere devotion, valuing Him above all else [2]. Similarly, the apostle Paul encourages believers to "walk worthy of the Lord" (Colossians 1:10), which involves living in a manner that is pleasing to God and bears fruit [3, 6]. This walk is not merely an imitation of God but an alignment of one's daily life with God's eternal being [7].
The concept of walking in God's sovereign love implies recognizing His ultimate authority and benevolent care. John Gill notes that "man's goings are of the Lord," indicating that all aspects of life, from natural movement to civil concerns, are under God's providential guidance [5]. This perspective underscores that God's lovingkindness is ever-present before the eyes of the believer, providing comfort and assurance [8]. This divine oversight means that the path of the believer is directed by God's will, even when it involves suffering or challenges.
Walking in God's justice involves living righteously and upholding moral standards. The call to "walk worthy of God" (1 Thessalonians 2:12) means imitating His works of kindness, beneficence, righteousness, and holiness. It also entails conforming to His revealed will and living in a way that adorns the Gospel [4]. The Jamieson, Fausset & Brown commentary on Colossians 1:10 emphasizes that true knowledge of God's will is inseparable from living in conformity to it [3]. This active obedience is a manifestation of one's faith and understanding of God's character.
The Lutheran tradition, as represented by Keil & Delitzsch on Micah 4:5, highlights that humanity's ability to reach its ultimate goal is not through general humanitarian efforts but "solely through the omnipotence and faithfulness of the Lord" [9]. This perspective reinforces the idea that walking in God's ways is dependent on His sovereign power and steadfastness, rather than human initiative alone. While other nations may walk in the name of their own gods, the people of God are called to walk "in the name of Jehovah our God for ever and ever" [9]. This distinction underscores a commitment to God's unique identity and His just ways.
Sources
- Proverbs “I walk in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice; -- Proverbs 8:20”
- Ephesians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ephesians 5:2: And walk in love,.... To God; to which the saints are obliged, not only by the law of God, which requires it, but by the goodness of God, and the discoveries of his love to them; and which shows itself in fearing to offend him, in a conformity to his will, in making his glory the chief end of all actions, and in loving all that belong to him: and also the saints should walk in love to Christ; who is to be loved fervently, constantly, in sincerity, with all the heart, and above all creatures and things; because of the loveliness of his person, the love he bears to th”
- Colossians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Colossians 1:10: Greek, "So as to walk"; so that ye may walk. True knowledge of God's will is inseparable from walking conformably to it. worthy of the Lord-- (Eph 4:1). unto--so as in every way to be well-pleasing to God. pleasing--literally, "desire of pleasing." being fruitful--Greek, "bearing fruit." This is the first manifestation of their "walking worthy of the Lord." The second is, "increasing (growing) in the knowledge of God (or as the oldest manuscripts read, 'growing BY the full knowledge of God')"; thus, as the Gospel word (Col 1:6) was said to ”
- 1 Thessalonians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Thessalonians 2:12: That ye would walk worthy of God,.... In imitation of him; not of his perfections, which are inimitable, but of his works; and these not of his power and wisdom, but those of kindness and beneficence, and of righteousness and holiness; and in conformity to his revealed will, which is good, perfect, and acceptable; and agreeably to his Gospel, that that may be adorned, and not blasphemed; and particularly, in a manner worthy of the calling wherewith saints are called by him: since it follows, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory; which instance of ”
- Proverbs (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Proverbs 20:24: Man's goings are of the Lord,.... In a natural and literal sense, the instruments of going are of the Lord; the act of motion from place to place is not without the concourse of his providence; as in him we live, and move, and have our being, so "in and by him we move"; he preserves our going out and coming in; and as the preservation, so the success and prosperity of journeying are owing to his providence, and the whole is under his care and direction: and so likewise, in a civil sense, all the civil concerns, business, and actions of life, are guided by his provi”
- Colossians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Colossians 1:10: That ye might walk worthy of the Lord,.... The Vulgate Latin version reads, "of God"; to which the Ethiopic version agrees; but rather the Lord Jesus Christ seems to be designed: and to "walk worthy" of him, is to walk by faith in him; to walk after his Spirit, and according to his word, and in his ordinances; to have the conversation as becomes his Gospel, and worthy of that calling wherewith the saints are called by grace to the obtaining of his kingdom and glory. The apostle prays that their knowledge might issue in practice; for knowledge, without practice, is”
- 1 John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 John 1:7: Compare Eph 5:8, Eph 5:11-14. "WE WALK"; "God is (essentially in His very nature as 'the light,' Jo1 1:5) in the light." WALKING in the light, the element in which God Himself is, constitutes the test of fellowship with Him. Christ, like us, walked in the light (Jo1 2:6). ALFORD notices, Walking in the light as He is in the light, is no mere imitation of God, but an identity in the essential element of our daily walk with the essential element of God's eternal being. we have fellowship one with another--and of course with God (to be understood from Jo”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 26:3: For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes,.... The special lovingkindness of God, shown in the choice of him in Christ, in the provision of a Saviour for him, and in the effectual calling of him; which lovingkindness is unmerited, free, and sovereign, is from everlasting and to everlasting; it is better than life, excellent beyond expression, and marvellous: and this may be said to be "before his eyes"; because it was now in sight; he had a comfortable view of interest in it, and was persuaded nothing should separate him from it; it was upon his heart, shed abroad in”
- Micah (Lutheran) “Keil & Delitzsch on Micah 4:5: It will not be through any general humanitarian ideas and efforts, however, that the human race will reach this goal, but solely through the omnipotence and faithfulness of the Lord. The reason assigned for the promise points to this. Mic 4:5. "For all nations walk every man in the name of his God, but we walk in the name of Jehovah our God for ever and ever." This verse does not contain an exhortation, or a resolution to walk in the name of God, which involves an exhortation, in the sense of "if all nations walk, etc., then we will," etc.; for an admonition or a”