May 5 Daily Devotional

How the Godly Man Lives: A Meditation on the First Psalm

Psalm 1

1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
6 For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Devotional

God has graciously conferred favor and blessing upon man. To this state of acceptance with Himself God calls men only through the Redeemer, Jesus Christ the Lord. Man cannot claim the blessing of heaven apart from the Savior from sin. That man alone can say "there is now no condemnation" who is found to be in Christ Jesus. (Rom. 8: 1).

Godliness is not human goodness, but is the casting of the soul upon the mercy of God. And to be a true child of God there must be observed a devout study and keeping of the way of God as exhibited in His perfect law. What sets off and distinguishes the child of God from the one who is not the Lord's is just that the ungodly man is a stranger to God's ways. The law of God makes no difference to him, while to the godly man the law of God makes all the difference. He knows that apart from God's directions he will stumble and fall. The holy way of God is alone for him the path of light, peace, and security.

It is because a man gives heed to divine commands that his position is such an enviable one. His condition stands firm. He is placed upon a rock. Upheld by God it is impossible for him to fall. Even the most adverse things that can happen to him are only for the furtherance of his welfare. And all that that man does shall have its full and glorious reward. Having a good conscience, being upheld in his inward parts by a solid and steadfast integrity, supreme happiness is his lot. Who is in such a place as the man in whom God takes pleasure?

Thus the pleasure of God is conditioned upon the keeping of God's law. This involves a careful study of it. And it must be such a study of it that shall lead to obedience. It ought to cause the believing soul to thank God that He has not left us to make a path for ourselves in religion, but has given us a rule of life. Our own way must necessarily be a wrong and an uncertain one, for what man can of himself know what duty God requires of him! Unaided human understanding, as we see it in people unenlightened by God's directions, is exactly the opposite of God's ways. And being fallen and depraved creatures as we are, our ways cannot but be an abomination in His sight. With the help of God we should determine that henceforth we shall not be led by aught except the perfect rule of God.

And what is meant by the law of God? Any law of God is an expression of His character. He has given to us a perfect expression of Himself in the Ten Commandments. Again and again in the Old and New Testaments God's people are exhorted to keep them (Deut. 6:6-7; Joshua 1: 8; Rom. 7:12, 14, 16; Gal. 3:10). In any way to repudiate God's commands is to repudiate God.

(to be continued)