Matthew Poole and continuators on Psalms 37:31

31. The law of his God is in his heart , none of his steps shall slide .

According to God's Command, Deut. 6. 6. and Promise, Heb. 8. 10. His Thoughts and Meditations, and Affections are fixed upon it. He doth not talk Religiously in Design, or with Ostentation, but out of the abundance of his Heart, Mat. 12. 35.

This passage describes, Either, 1. His Safety, Consequent upon his Piety; God will uphold and preserve him, from falling into that Mischief, which wicked men Plot against him. Or rather, 2. His Vertue or Piety: Which is evidenced by his Words, v. 30. by his Heart, in the former part of this Verse, and by his Actions in these Words. His steps or goings (i. e. his Actions) shall not (or rather, do not: For this Verb though Future, may and should be rendred by the present, as Futures frequently are in the Hebrew Language, and as the two foregoing Future Verbs are rendred, v. 30.) slide, or slip, or swerve, to wit, from the Rule, or from God's Law. Which is to be understood as that Passage, Psal. 119. 3. They do no iniquity; and some such Expressions, not simply and absolutely, as if all good Men were Sinless; which is abundantly Confuted, both by many Scriptures and by universal Experience▪ but Comparatively, and in Respect of his Design and Course, or Custome. His Conversation is ordinarily Regular and unblameable. He not onely begins well, but Constantly preseveres in God's ways, and will not be drawn to forsake God and Religion, upon any Terms.

Marginal references: Psal. 40. 8. & 119. 98. Isa. 51. 7.; Psal. 38. 17. & 40. 2.; Or, goings.