The Lord watches over the way of the righteous
Psalms 1:5-6; It is dependent on us to stay on the way of the righteous and to exhort those on the wicked path to come to Jesus.
“Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.”
Psalms 1:5-6 NIV
This week I’ve been exploring Psalm 1, the first of the 150 chapters of this great work of sacred songs attributed to King David, his son Solomon, Asaph, and others. Psalms 1:1-2 describe the attributes of a godly life, while Psalms 1:3-4 offer insight into the blessings God bestows on the righteous. Today we reach the end of this short chapter with verses 5 and 6, which describe God’s punishment of the wicked.
What is meant by “the wicked will not stand in the judgement” in verse 5? Basically, on the day of judgement they will have no standing with God — they simply carry no weight with Him. In Daniel 5:27, we see that King Belshazzar was in this sad position: “You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting.”
The psalmist continues with “nor Sinners in the assembly of the righteous”. Sinners are not assured of the future of glory that the righteous are, and they also feel that they aren’t part of the the “assembly of the righteous” in the present day because of their sin. As one who spent many years of my life as an unrepentant sinner, I can tell you that this feeling is real. On the occasions where I “had” to go to a church for a funeral or wedding, I felt extremely uncomfortable and anxious. Now I understand that it was the Holy Spirit convicting me of my sin, a not-so-gentle nudge back to the Lord.
Verse 6 summarizes the entire psalm by pointing out the two directions or “ways” that a person can live their life. The Lord “watches over the way of the righteous,” providing a peaceful life because God gives them direction, protects them, and preserves them. Spurgeon went to the original Ancient Hebrew for more clarity, and said:
“Or, as the Hebrew has it yet more fully, ‘The Lord is knowing the way of the righteous.’ He is constantly looking on their way, and though it may be often in mist and darkness, yet the Lord knoweth it.”1
The wicked do not have the Lord guiding and protecting them, and their way leads in one direction — “to destruction”. They may seem happy and comfortable in their lives of sin, and they’ll certainly find a lot of others who will accompany them on their way, but they will be missing out on eternal life.
Barb is currently doing a detailed, verse-by-verse study of the Book of Acts, which you read every other day here at Heaven On Wheels. In Acts, Christianity is referred to as “The Way” at least four times. From the words of the psalmist, we can be certain that “The Way” is the “way of the righteous”, not the “way of the wicked”. It is dependent on us to stay on the way of the righteous and to exhort those on the wicked path to come to Jesus.
Heaven On Wheels Daily Prayer:
Lord, as I reflect on the wisdom of Psalm 1, I thank You that Jesus is my High Priest who walked on this difficult earthly pathway before me, and that He knows and cares deeply about the struggles I face each day. Thank You also that the Holy Spirit accompanies me through my life, offering me direction on the way of the righteous. I have assurance that You know the path I have chosen, and that You continue to bring to completion the good work You have begun in me. In Jesus’ name I pray, AMEN.
Scripture quotations taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica US, Inc.®. Used by permission.
Spurgeon, Charles Haddon "The Treasury of David: Volume 1" (Psalms 1-57) (Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson, 1988)