LORD’S DAY, JULY 1
Psalm 1:1-6
Matthew 7:13-14

Lord, lead me in
the way of life.

ONLY TWO WAYS

In the eyes of God, there are only two ways in man’s goings. The Psalmist has discovered this. It is such an important issue in life that he must tell us on the opening page of this Divine poetry-book.

The two ways are: (a) The way of the godly that leads to heaven. (b) The way of the ungodly that leads to hell (Ps 1:6). In the conclusion of the Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5-7), Jesus confirms what the Psalmist has said. He says, “Enter ye in at the strait gate, for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matt 7:13-14). Reader, on which way are you? At the end of life’s journey, Psalm 1:5 tells of a judgment day when every soul must appear before God. The ungodly will be pronounced guilty and sent downwards. The godly will be happily acquitted and sent upwards. Which verdict will you hear for yourself?

In this earthly life also there is a great difference between the two. The man who follows God and keeps himself from bad company, who reads the Bible and meditates on its teachings, morning and evening, grows sturdy like a tree planted by some water-way. He draws his strength daily from God’s Word and leads a spiritually prosperous life, luxuriant in good works that glorify God and benefit men. Is that not seen in the life of the Psalmist himself, even King David?

As to the ungodly, the man who plots evil and holds on to his unrighteous gains, we see how he must come to ruin. He is like the husks of grain, blown away by the wind in the winnowing process. The sad ending of David’s enemies (eg. Ahithophel, Joab) is like this. There is not only a dead end in the judgment to come, but also a sad end in the way he goes from now.

THOUGHT: Which way am I heading towards?
PRAYER: (Use Psalm 139:23-24.)