Thought for January 1st. “THE LORD KNOWS …”

What does the LORD know?  Again and again Scripture makes the point that the Creator is aware of all things “for the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer” as we read in 1 Peter 3 v.12 last month.  But Peter was quoting from Psalm 34 which we will soon read.  The very first Psalm, which we read today, sees David affirming, “For the LORD knows the way of the righteous” [v.6] – in contrast “ … the way of the wicked will perish.”   They will perish because  they do not know, do not want to know in any detail, the ways of God – and there is no middle way – Jesus made that point very clear. The Psalms are very stimulating to the spiritual mind, we often feel it is a pity that they are all read in the first 3 months of the year.   We learn of God’s ways; Psalm 18 tells us, “This God – his way is perfect; the word of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.” [v.30]       The way of the righteous is wonderfully described in the first 2 verses of the very first Psalm – which we read this morning. “Blessed is the man (mg. ‘godly person’) who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law (mg: instruction)  of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.” David is marking the stepping stones of progress in overcoming ungodly ways.  First, he or she walks past such ways, then there is no chance to stop and look at such ways, still less to sit down and share a seat with them. The result is that those pursuing the way of righteousness are “like a tree planted by streams of water … in all that he (or she) does” [v.3] they prosper – especially spiritually – and – “even though” they, like David, may have times when they “walk through the valley of the shadow of death. I will fear no evil., for you are with me …” [Psalm 23 v4] May we all read and meditate – note the word ‘meditate’ in Psalm 73 (v.3,6,12 esv)-  on God’s word throughout 2025 knowing that “the LORD knows the way of the righteous”