Shopping for shoes a couple of weeks ago, I strolled around a store in Boulder. Along with hiking boots and trail runners, I looked over a wall of climbing shoes. These are small, tight, slip-on shoes with sticky rubber soles. They’re designed to give maximum grip as the climber ascends a rock face. Fun to look at, but I left with a pair of shoes made for level ground—no cliffs for me.

Climbers cannot afford slippery footwear. In a similar way, we all hope to avoid disastrous falls in life. David wrote of those who steer clear of calamity:

The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom, and their tongues speak what is just. The law of their God is in their hearts; their feet do not slip.

The law of God—the Bible—acts like a pair of climbing shoes for those who read and study the text. Whether barely hanging on, or striding confidently down the sidewalk, the Scriptures bring stability. Wisdom and justice flow for those who know and apply God’s word.

If you’re a climber, a good pair of shoes is worth the investment. If you’re a human, spending time in the Good Book is worth the investment as well.

Psalm 37:30-31 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by lena Enz