What is the way of the righteous in Psalm 1:6?

(v. 6) In the meantime the godly soul has the comfort of the secret approbation of the Lord. For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, and that which the Lord approves will abide — all other will perish.

In this Jehovah manifests Himself at last, from under the clouds and darkness which often now are round about Him. That which He approves abides, His seal upon it never will be broken. And thus He "knows" the way of the righteous, — knows it well as what is His own: it is the way in which He too walks, and in which communion is found with Himself. "But the way of the ungodly perisheth."

"For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous." Here the righteous (not one but many; in the Sept. the word is plural) are distinct from "the Man." Jehovah knows their way, but the way of the ungodly shall perish. The knowing and the perishing placed side by side as here means destruction for the ungodly and preservation for the righteous; yea, a moral approval of the righteous, but does not rise to the height of God's delight in the blessed Man.

It is the godly remnant who are here in view. The "righteous" in the first Psalm, and the "blessed" in the second. They are called "blessed," not because of aught in themselves, but because they trust in Him. Under the first name "righteous" we read that Jehovah knows their way. Their path of sorrow as depicted in Psalms that follow was known to God; and this contains a store of comfort to the tried and suffering remnant. Jehovah watched over their way for the sake of the blessed Man Who trod the same path, going before them, and thus leading them through it. The way is appointed, and known to God; the termination is blessing, and that also is decreed. To the understanding heart the closing verses of each of these Psalms embody a sure and certain promise which is abundantly performed when we see at the close of the book the righteous remnant exalted as a nation, and their enemies destroyed.

Another element is then brought in. Jehovah knows the way of the righteous — the way of the ungodly shall perish. It is a judgment on one side, and a moral approbation before that judgment come on the other, which is connected with the covenant-relationship of Jehovah with Israel. We have seen that Christ was on earth this godly man, and took His place among the faithful remnant, these excellent of the earth was perfect in that place. So far this psalm takes Him in; but that is not yet directly spoken of. Its subject is the character of the godly, and the result under the government of God, Jehovah, in the midst of His people. It is not yet suffering because of this. That is a circumstance which will come out in its time. It is the character of the godly man in presence of the wicked, and the result measured by the abiding principles of God's government. Jehovah knows the righteous — others shall positively perish. Psalm 1 is the moral character of the remnant, their position in the midst of the ungodly, and the general government of God, and the connection of Jehovah and the righteous.

"For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish" (v. 6). The One who takes full account of all mankind knows the way of the righteous. Their history on earth has given time to prove their consistent "way" to be commendable and worthy of a full reward. But the way of the ungodly (being consistently corrupt) shall perish. They have nothing of value to be rewarded, and all they have done, whatever pride they may have taken in it, will be banished into eternal oblivion. Their personal end will be worse than this.

This is our hope as Christians; while, on the other hand, the judgment treated of in the first Psalm, and throughout the Psalms, is a judgment by which the wicked are removed, and the righteous left as Jehovah's congregation on the earth. It is the judgment of Luke 17:24-37, Matt. 24:37-11, and numerous scriptures besides, in which we read of the wicked being taken, and the righteous left. Meanwhile, "the Lord knoweth" (both discerns and approves) "the way of the righteous"; "but the way of the ungodly" (however seemingly successful now) "shall," in the time of judgment, surely "perish." W.T.

This is our hope as Christians; while, on the other hand, the judgment treated of in the first Psalm, and throughout the Psalms, is a judgment by which the wicked are removed, and the righteous left as Jehovah's congregation an the earth. It is the judgment of Luke 17:24-37, Matt. 24:37-41, and numerous scriptures besides, in which we read of the wicked being taken, and the righteous left. Meanwhile, "the Lord knoweth" (both discerns and approves) "the way of the righteous"; "but the way of the ungodly" (however seemingly successful now) "shall," in the time of judgment, surely "perish." W. T.

The contrast appears in the second stanza of these verses. They are worthless and vanish under pressure. The N.T. adds the divine judgment as burning by unquenchable fire. When judgment comes (and the Book of Psalms as a whole contemplates it), the present mixed state will give place to a manifest severance, and an execution of God's sentence on earth before the final one for eternity. This is no secret to faith which enters into His mind and will before that day. "For Jehovah knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked shall perish" (ver. 6).

Yet in the meanwhile the kingdom takes strange shapes, and because it is true that He will have His harvest, and because it has been forgotten that the seed springs and grows up He knoweth not how, it has been taken for granted that if the kingdom of heaven is in the Word of God said to be "like" such and such things, — "like" mustard-seed, or "like" leaven in a woman's hand, — this decides that all is according to His mind. In fact, it is far otherwise; for this expression, "He knoweth not how," if it does not mean to convey, as we know it does not, any real ignorance, then does certainly imply that the growth spoken of is strange, irregular, as if He knew not. So it is said, "The Lord knoweth the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish" (Ps. 1:6). And if it be the fact of course that He knoweth the proud, yet to distinguish it from this approving knowledge it is added, "The proud He knoweth afar off" (Ps. 138:6).