Walking Uprightly in Daily Life According to Scripture
Walking uprightly in daily life, according to Scripture, refers to a manner of living characterized by integrity, righteousness, and adherence to God's commands. This concept is deeply rooted in biblical texts, describing both God's character and the expected conduct of His people [1].
The term "uprightly" (or "perfection" in some translations) signifies sincerity and integrity in one's heart and actions [7, 8]. It does not imply sinless perfection but rather a genuine commitment to God and His ways, free from deceit and hypocrisy [7]. The Psalmist describes the one "walking uprightly" as someone "working righteousness, And speaking truth in his heart" [3]. This internal sincerity is crucial, as God takes pleasure in uprightness of heart [1].
Scripture outlines various facets of walking uprightly:
- Fear of God: Those who walk uprightly fear God [1]. This fear is not terror but reverence and awe, leading to obedience and worship [6].
- Love for God and Christ: Upright conduct is intertwined with loving God and believing in Christ [1, 6]. This love motivates believers to follow Christ's example and obey His commands [6].
- Righteous Conduct: Walking uprightly involves living righteously, soberly, and godly [6]. This includes avoiding revelry, drunkenness, sexual promiscuity, lustful acts, strife, and jealousy, as admonished in Romans 13:13 [2].
- Honesty and Truthfulness: Uprightness extends to one's speech and dealings with others [1]. It means speaking truth in the heart [3] and walking honestly [6].
- Departure from Evil: The "highway of the upright is to depart from evil" [12]. This implies a conscious effort to shun sin and avoid its appearance, adhering to God's commandments as a consistent course of life [12].
- Justice in Judgment and Rule: Uprightness is also expected in public life, particularly in judging and ruling [1].
The concept of "walking" in Scripture often denotes one's habitual conduct or way of life [10, 13]. For instance, God commanded Abraham to "walk through the land" [4], which can be understood as a metaphor for his life's journey and conduct. The "feet" are frequently mentioned in Scripture as instruments of movement, symbolizing one's path or journey [5].
The benefits of walking uprightly are emphasized throughout the Bible. Such individuals are countenanced and delighted in by God [1]. They are promised security and safety, even amidst adversity [9, 11]. John Gill notes that those who walk uprightly "walk surely" because they are in Christ's hands and protected from falling away [8, 11]. Matthew Henry further elaborates that integrity provides security, as the upright person is "safe under a divine protection and easy in a holy security," armed against temptation and worldly troubles [9]. The way of the just is described as "most upright" and "plain and even," a path where even the foolish will not err [14].
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Uprightness — God is perfect in -- Isa 26:7. God has pleasure in -- 1Ch 29:17. God created man in -- Ec 7:29. Man has deviated from -- Ec 7:29. Should be in Heart. -- 2Ch 29:34; Ps 125:4. Speech. -- Isa 33:15. Walk. -- Pr 14:2. Judging. -- Ps 58:1; 75:2. Ruling. -- Ps 78:72. The being kept from presumptuous sins is necessary to -- Ps 19:13. With poverty, is better than sin with riches -- Pr 28:6. With poverty, is better than folly -- Pr 19:1. They who walk in Fear God. -- Pr 14:2. Love Christ. -- Song 1:4. Countenanced by God. -- Ps 11:7. Delighted in by God. -- Pr 1”
- Romans “Let us walk properly, as in the day; not in reveling and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and lustful acts, and not in strife and jealousy. -- Romans 13:13”
- Psalms “Psalms 15:2 (YLT) — He who is walking uprightly, And working righteousness, And speaking truth in his heart.”
- Genesis “Arise, walk through the land in its length and in its breadth; for I will give it to you.” -- Genesis 13:17”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Feet, The — Necessary members of the body -- 1Co 12:15,21. Parts of, mentioned in scripture Heel. -- Ps 41:9; 49:5; Ho 12:3. Sole. -- De 11:24; 1Ki 5:3. Toes. -- Ex 29:20; 2Sa 21:20; Da 2:41. Often swift -- 2Sa 2:18; 22:34. Were liable to Disease. -- 1Ki 15:23. Swelling from walking. -- De 8:4. Injury from stones, & c. -- Ps 91:12. Early use of shoes -- Ex 12:11. Of women often adorned with tingling ornaments -- Isa 3:16,18. Of the Jews Neglected in affliction. -- 2Sa 19:24; Eze 24:17. Bare in affliction. -- 2Sa 15:30. Washed frequently. -- 2Sa 11:8; Song 5:3. Stampe”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Conduct, Christian — Believing God -- Mr 11:22; Joh 14:11,12. Fearing God -- Ec 12:13; 1Pe 2:17. Loving God -- De 6:5; Mt 22:37. Following God -- Eph 5:1; 1Pe 1:15,16. Obeying God -- Lu 1:6; 1Jo 5:3. Rejoicing in God -- Ps 33:1; Hab 3:18. Believing in Christ -- Joh 6:29; 1Jo 3:23. Loving Christ -- Joh 21:15; 1Pe 1:7,8. Following the example of Christ -- Joh 13:15; 1Pe 2:21-24. Obeying Christ -- Joh 14:21; 15:14. Living To Christ. -- Ro 14:8; 2Co 5:15. To righteousness. -- Mic 6:8; Ro 6:18; 1Pe 2:24. Soberly, righteously, and godly. -- Tit 2:12. Walking Honestly. -- 1”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 15:2: He that walketh uprightly,.... Or "perfectly" (e); see Gen 17:1; not so as to be without sin entirely, but as not to be chargeable with any notorious crime, and living in it; moreover, perfection and uprightness often signify sincerity, and the phrase here may design an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile; whose faith is unfeigned, whose love is without dissimulation, whose hope is without hypocrisy, and his whole conduct without fraud and deceit; likewise such an one may be said to walk uprightly who walks according to the truth of the Gospel, and by faith on Chris”
- Proverbs (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Proverbs 10:9: He that walketh uprightly walketh surely,.... Or, "that walketh in perfection" (c) as the Targum. Not that walks without sin, no man does that; but that walks in the sincerity, integrity, and uprightness of his heart, both before God and men; who worships God in spirit and in truth, and speaks the truth in his heart to his neighbour; who is an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile; who walks uprightly according to the truth of the Gospel; who makes the word of God the rule of his life and actions; who walks by faith on Christ, using him as the way to the Father; bel”
- Proverbs (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Proverbs 10:9: We are here told, and we may depend upon it, 1. That men's integrity will be their security: He that walks uprightly towards God and man, that is faithful to both, that designs as he ought and means as he says, walks surely; he is safe under a divine protection and easy in a holy security. He goes on his way with a humble boldness, being well armed against the temptations of Satan, the troubles of the world, and the reproaches of men. he knows what ground he stands on, what guide he follows, what guard he is surrounded with, and what glory he is going to, and th”
- Proverbs (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Proverbs 2:13: paths of uprightness--or, "plainness." walk--habitually act;”
- Proverbs (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Proverbs 28:18: Whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved, Or "be safe" (r) from those that seek his life, plot against him, shoot at him, as the wicked do at the upright in heart, but the Lord protects him; and it is even well with him in times of public calamities; the Lord has his chambers and hiding places for him; and he is safe from falling, as may be gathered from the opposite clause; for he walks surely, and is in the hands of Christ, and is kept by him from a final and total falling away: and he shall be saved also with an everlasting salvation; from sin, and all the effects”
- Proverbs (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Proverbs 16:17: The highway of the upright is to depart from evil,.... Upright persons, such who are upright in heart, and walk uprightly; these walk in the highway of holiness, in which men, though fools, shall not err; in the King's highway, the highway of the King of kings; in the plain beaten path of God's commandments; and so shun the bypaths of sin, and abstain from all appearance of it: this is their common constant course of life; they are studiously concerned to walk herein, and take delight in so doing; whereby they escape many evils others fall into; he that keepeth h”
- Psalms (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Psalms 15:2: walketh--(Compare Psa 1:1). uprightly--in a complete manner, as to all parts of conduct (Gen 17:1), not as to degree. worketh--or, "does." righteousness--what is right. in his heart--sincerely (Pro 23:7).”
- Isaiah (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Isaiah 26:7: The way of the just is uprightness,.... Or, "the way for the just is uprightnesses" (s), most upright; the way which is appointed for him, and which he is directed to walk in, is a way of righteousness and holiness, and in which he does walk; he walks uprightly, according to the rules of the word, becoming the Gospel of Christ, and worthy of his calling: or, it is "evennesses"; a most plain and even way, in which men, though fools, shall not err, Isa 35:8 or, "the way" of the Lord "to the just is uprightnesses", or "evennesses"; most upright, or most even; there is no”