The Way of the Righteous and Messiah’s Triumph

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Psalm 1, 2

 

Psalm 1:6

For the Lord knows the way of the righteous,
But the way of the ungodly shall perish.

(NKJV)

 

This is the first post in our verse-by-verse study of the Book of Psalms. Music is an important part of the culture of nations, with each nation having musical influences from its culture and history. The Jews and Israel are not an exception with the Book of Psalms, the musical book of the Bible, its largest book. While the tunes these psalms might have been sung to are gone, the truths found in these words have brought, and continue to bring, comfort and encouragement to people. My prayer is that as readers study these psalms, they will find joy, be challenged, and draw closer in their relationship with God.

 

The book begins with Psalm 1:1, reminding us that a man who does not follow the counsel of the ungodly, does not stand in the path of sinners, or does not sit on the seat of the scornful is blessed. This blessed man finds his joy in the law of the Lord and meditates on God’s law or Word, day and night (Psalm 1:2). This man is compared to a tree planted by rivers of water that is fruitful and does not wither an illustration showing that whatever this man does will prosper (Psalm 1:3). In contrast, the ungodly do not share in this mans stability but are like chaff, driven away by the wind (Psalm 1:4). Because of this, the ungodly will not be able to stand in judgment or in the congregation of the righteous (Psalm 1:5) The Lord knows the way of the righteous but the way of the ungodly will perish (Psalms 1:6).

 

Psalm 2 begins with the question of why the nations rage and the people plot a vain thing (Psalm 2:1). The nations and rulers conspire together against the Lord and His Anointed, desiring to break their bonds in pieces and cast their cords from them (Psalm 2:2-3). The Lord who sits in the heavens shall laugh and hold them in derision (Psalm 2:4). The Lord shall speak to them out of His wrath and distress them with His displeasure, setting His king up on His holy hill of Zion (Psalm 2:5-6).

 

The Lord shall decree and say to them, “You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.” (Psalm 2:7). The Lord invites them to ask of Him and that He will give them the nations as an inheritance and the ends of the earth for a possession (Psalm 2:8). Israel shall break the nations with a rod of iron and dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel (Psalm 2:9). The Lord commands the kings to be wise and for the judges of the earth to be instructed (Psalm 2:10). The people are to serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling (Psalm 2:11). The psalm concludes by saying those who place their trust in the Lord shall be blessed (Psalm 2:12).  

 

God’s people have the promises of scripture, a promise of eternal life in the presence of the Lord, but live in a fallen world among the ungodly. Psalm 1 contrasts the way of the righteous and the end of the ungodly. The picture of a tree planted by waters that bears fruit and does not wither is a picture of a man who lives righteously following the word of God. While this man will experience trouble in life, his life is grounded in the word of God and prospers, but the ungodly shall perish.

 

Psalm 2 praises the Messiah’s triumph and Kingdom. Unlike the psalmist, we know the Messiah is Jesus Christ, who will return in triumph on a white horse, with the armies of heaven (Revelation 19:11-16). Satan will be bound for 1000 years with Jesus reigning for 1000 years (Revelation 20:1-6). This is the end of the fallen world with its troubles and the beginning of the world as God created it to be, a world ruled by the righteousness of God. I want to encourage everyone reading this with these words of hope (1 Thessalonians 5:1-11).

 

The Christian life is a life of faith and not a life free from trouble, as Jesus reminded His disciples (John 16:33), but in our ungodly world, it can appear that the ungodly live lives free of trouble (Psalm 73:1-16).  However, the psalmist of Psalm 73 went into the sanctuary of God and, in God’s presence, was reminded of the end of the wicked and the promises of God to those living for Him (Psalm 73:17-28). Jesus tells us not to worry because he is there to provide for our needs (Luke 12:22-34). Psalms 1, 2 remind us of the rewards in store for those living for God and the end for those living ungodly lives in this world.

 

So, how does one inherit the rewards of the righteous? First we must remember we are all sinners (Romans 3:23) and that our righteousness is as a filthy rags to the Lord (Isaiah 64:6). While the penalty for sin is death, we have the promise of the gift of eternal life from the Lord by believing (John 3:16; Romans 6:23). This is a gift of grace (Ephesians 2:8-9) and not our works and received through belief in one’s heart that Jesus died, was buried, and resurrected from the dead to forgive us of our sins (Romans 10:9-10). If you are reading this and have never made this profession, I invite you to do so by praying with me,

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

May God challenge and bless everyone reading this post.