Psalms 89:31
If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments;
Psalms 89:31
“If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments” extends the conditional pattern set in verse 30. The psalmist stresses that knowledge of God’s law carries obligations: knowing God should lead to obedience. The repetition emphasizes cause and effect: disobedience disrupts the divine-human relationship and invites consequences. In the Mosaic tradition, statutes and commandments encapsulate God’s will for holy living, social justice, worship, and daily conduct. The verse underscores that covenant fidelity requires concrete actions, not just liturgical assent. It also sets the stage for the disciplinary measures described later, illustrating the seriousness with which God treats covenant breach.
The theological core is accountability within covenant relationship. God’s faithfulness persists, but human response matters. This verse reinforces the dynamic that love and discipline can coexist in a covenantal framework: God disciplines out of mercy to restore, not punish for punishment’s sake. It also foreshadows the insistence in the prophets that genuine worship must translate into just living.
Practically, you can translate this into daily life by aligning beliefs with behavior. If you claim to follow Jesus or live by biblical principles, let your actions reflect that—honesty at work, fair treatment of neighbors, and generosity to those in need. When you recognize a gap between belief and behavior, address it with accountability—seek accountability partners, confess when you fall short, and take steps to realign with God’s commandments. In family life, model consistency between declared values and daily habits to cultivate trust and integrity in children. If you mentor others, emphasize that knowing God’s laws calls us to live differently, not to boast in knowledge but to serve with love.
Cross-References: James 1:22-25; Deuteronomy 28:1-2; Hosea 4:6; 1 John 2:3-6