for the Lord knows the way of the righteous,
Psalm 1:6
but the way of the wicked will perish.
We have been in a series on Psalm 1. The Psalm ends by contrasting two ways, urging us to evaluate which one we are on.
The Way of Life
The Hebrew word “derek,” translated as “way,” is a pivotal term in Psalm 1, appearing three times throughout the chapter. While it can refer to a physical path, its deeper significance lies in the metaphorical realm. We witness its metaphorical power when Jethro advises Moses on the journey to Mount Sinai. Observing Moses bearing the weight of settling disputes among the people, Jethro advises that they should be taught the Lord’s laws and be led in the “way in which they must walk and what they must do” (Exodus 18:20). In the Bible obedience to God becomes synonymous with walking in His way, allowing Him to illuminate our path (Psalm 32:8, Isaiah 48:17, Jeremiah 42:3).
To walk in God’s way is to embrace His commandments, a trajectory that leads to life. Deuteronomy 5:33 underscores this, “You shall walk in all the way that the LORD your God has commanded you, that you may live, and that it may go well with you, and that you may live long in the land that you shall possess.”
Contrasting Two Ways
However, the Psalmist recognizes there is another way, that of the wicked. The Book of Proverbs similarly distinguishes between the path of the righteous and the wicked:
But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,
Proverbs 4:18-19
which shines brighter and brighter until full day.
The way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
they do not know over what they stumble.
Additional Psalms echo this sentiment, proclaiming, “Blessed (ashrei, like Psalm 1:1) is everyone who fears the LORD, / walks in his ways!” (Psalm 128:1; see also Psalm 119:1-3). This duality of ways is a recurrent theme throughout the Bible. Jeremiah conveyed God’s instruction to his people, offering them the choice between “the way of life and the way of death” (Jeremiah 21:8). The path of righteousness leads to life (Proverbs 12:28).
The Way of Jesus
Given that following God is equated to a way to walk, it is fitting that Jesus calls himself the way (John 14:6) to the Father. His early followers, as depicted in the book of Acts, did not initially refer to themselves as Christians; instead, they called their community “the Way” (e.g., Acts 9:2, 19:9, 23, 22:4, 24:22). This uses the same Greek word translating derek in Psalm 1.
In the Didache, an early Christian text, a sharp dichotomy is drawn between two paths. It begins: “There are two ways, one of life and one of death; but a great difference between the two ways. The way of life, then, is this: First, you shall love God who made you; second, your neighbor as yourself; and all things whatsoever you would should not occur to you, do not also do to another.”
To Ponder…
Consider your current path—are you aligned with God’s direction? Does it exude life or lean toward death? Often, it’s a blend of both. What is one change you can make today to better align yourself with God’s way?