(Psalm 1:6) “For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.”

The Psalmist sets the stage of the final blessing for the child of God by giving the positive with the negative. In the past four devotions concerning (Psalm 1:1-6), the primary focus has been on the positive and not the negative. These short devotions are given to uplift the believer, and not to depress the believer with what he must do; but, what the true believer will do. In these past morning devotions, the goal has been for the believer to rejoice in the fact that Christ lives in him, and his delight and his meditation are in the law of the Lord (or in the law of Christ which is the law of Love), because he loves Christ above all things, even himself. The believer knows that the love he has for Christ, and his delight and meditation, comes from the inward work of regeneration and conversion by Christ Himself; and not by any merits or power of the believer (Rom. 5:5b; Phil. 2:13).

The teacher of God’s Word cannot demand the believer do anything; for the only true and rewarding obedience to the commandments of Christ must flow from Christ (Who is The Love) living in and abiding in the believer. Christ is the Source of all true obedience from the believer; for the believer’s obedience is not from the teacher (pastor, or preacher, or another Christian); but from the Love of God living and abiding in the believer. However, it is the teacher’s duty to teach the whole counsel of God; and it must be admitted, the “nots” must be explained to the believer. The “nots” are not to be tools of embarrassment to “get” the believer to do; but, must be given to “encourage” the believer to “run the race that set before…”  with patience, peace, and holiness (Heb. 12:1,14). The proverb of the sage says, “you can lead a mule to the water; but, you cannot make the mule drink.” So, the believer must be thirsty to drink; and this thirst comes from the Seed of the Love of God, and not from someone trying to shame the believer into obeying the commandments of Christ.

This devotion features (Psalm 1:6a) “For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous…” Once the Holy Spirit gives the believer an understanding of this phrase; it will be a great encouragement for the believer to ‘keep on keeping on’ in his obedience to Christ.

What is it for the Lord to “know” the way of the righteous?”

1. First, The Omniscience of Christ: This means that God sees all and knows all about His creation. God is a Spirit and He is everywhere (Omnipresent) and has all power (Omnipotent). Therefore, He knows all things about everything and everyone. (Job 34:21) “For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.”
2. Secondly, Christ sees the path, or the walk, of the believer: This is primarily what the Psalmist is pointing the believer to see. Christ sees the love of the believer for Him. Christ sees the Fruit of the Spirit being produced in, and borne by, the believer. Christ sees the believer’s separation from his flesh; from the philosophy of this present evil world. Christ sees the desire and determination of the believer to love God first, and then the brethren, in word and in deed. Christ sees the believer’s surrender to God as Lord and Master; of his submission to the Will of God; of his obedience to the Word of God; and of his endurance of the same unto the end. Christ sees the believer’s choice to be a servant of Righteousness and not of unrighteousness; of his being conformed to Christ and not this world; of the control of the new man over his spirit, soul and body. Christ sees the believer’s desire of (Heb. 12:1; Phil. 3:7-14); esp. of v-14, “I press toward the mark for the Prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” There too many things to list in this devotion of the Way of Righteousness the Lord sees of the true believer.

However, the primary thing to notice in closing is

1. Christ is ever-present with the believer (Heb. 13:5c; Ps. 121:1-6; Rom. 8:29-39).
2. Christ is the Cause, the Source, the Origin of all the believer’s walk of faith, and all his words and deeds of love (2 Peter 1:3; Eph. 1:19; 2:13).
3. The believer knows that he is a son of God (Rom. 8:14-16); that Christ lives and abides in him (Jn. 15:4, 6-7). He knows that it is the love of God in his spirit that is the reason of all his service; that all he does for the name of Christ is by the Power of Christ living in him (Phil. 4:130. And he knows that his “delight” and his “meditation” are rooted and grounded in the “law of the LORD” (or in the law of LOVE; God’s love); for God so loved him that He sent Jesus to be his Substitute, his Sacrifice, and his Savior. He knows “whereas I was blind, now I see” (Jn. 9:25c). He knows that he loves Christ because He first loved him (1 Jn. 4:19). The believer knows he is what he is by the grace of God (1 Cor. 15:10a). And finally, the believer knows that one day he shall see Jesus face to face, and he will be rewarded with the Crown of Righteousness (1 Jn. 3:1-2; 2 Tim. 4:8).
4. The believer knows he has been made a “new creation” and given a “new man” which is “after God created in Righteousness and true holiness” (Eph. 4:22). Therefore, his will has been changed; and his goals and his motives and movements now are toward God for he now has the “mind of Christ” living and abiding in him.

Oh, what security and encouragement for the believer to know, “For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous…” Knowing this fact; the believer confesses this is the final blessing; that is, to know that Christ is with him, sees him, and never leaves him.