Praise the Lord! During this Christmas and New Year festival season, we, the SftW team, would like to bring a warm Christian greetings to all our family members and friends and ministry partners and supporters and well-wishers and everyone else out there in the matchless and wonderful name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. When we think about our life during the yesterdays, we can boldly testify that the Lord has been good to each and every one of us not only during the past moments or hours or days or weeks or months or years but throughout our life the Lord has been faithful to us. He has been keeping us safe and secure under the shadow of His mighty wings and carrying us day after day, week after week, month after month, and year after year as He has engraved us on the palms of His hands (Isaiah 49:16) and hems us in behind and before and lays His hand upon us (Psalm 139:5). Let our testimony be about God’s faithfulness and loving-kindness upon our lives as we come to the very close of the year 2025. Before we come with our SftW meditation next week, two things will happen for sure: firstly, the year 2025 will successfully end its course and disappear from the limelight of the present generation and will become part of the talk of yesteryears [history], and, secondly, the year 2026 will enter into the limelight of the present generation and will start running its course for the days destined to it. The difference between the past years and new year is that we may be able to recollect some of the things that happened in the past year/s but we will have no idea about the things that is going to happen in the days and years ahead – only time will let us know, that is also only one day at a time. It is human nature that when some good [pleasant] things happens in our life, we are happy and cheerful but when some unpleasant things happens, we are sad and miserable. When we think about our life in 2025 [or in the past years], who knows, there might have been some good things happened to very many of us and, at the same time, some unpleasant things also might have happened to very many of us. Most of our lives are filled with some occasions of joys and some occasions of sorrows – like a garland that is made of using different kinds of flowers with different kinds of scents and odors and different kinds of colors, which in fact makes the garlands look attractive and pleasant and feel good (Proverbs 14:13; Ecclesiastes 3:4; Jeremiah 31:13; John 16:20; Romans 12:15). As faithful followers of Christ, it doesn’t matter what life situations we are going through, our call is to fulfill God’s purpose in and through our lives (Proverbs 19:21; Isaiah 14:24; Jeremiah 29:11; Romans 8:28; 1 Corinthians 2:9; also refer to 1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22, 36). Definitely, we will be rewarded for such decisions – we will be rewarded a great deal of blessings both here on earth as well as in heaven; and, if we are not rewarded here on earth under any circumstances, there will be a greater reward waiting for us in heaven’s store (Matthew 16:27; John 16:20; Romans 2:6; Hebrews 11:35; Revelation 22:12).

The Lord has blessed us with a very blessed Scripture passage for our SftW meditation this week that is taken from Psalm 1:1-6 (part of it is mentioned above). The book of Psalms is a collection of praise and worship poems, songs/hymns, and prayers written by a group of ancient Jewish worshippers from various walks of life who were skilled musicians and poets and leaders who lived mainly between the time of exodus from Egypt (Psalm 90) and exile to Babylon (Psalm 137) namely Moses, David son of Jesse and his son Solomon who were kings in Israel, Asaph [prominent Levite seer and musician whom king David appointed as a worship leader in the Temple choir], sons of Korah [the descendants of a Levite named Korah who rebelled against Moses who later served as doorkeepers and musicians in the temple], and many other known and/or unknown authors. Also, there are some Psalms written by the remnants who returned to Jerusalem from the Babylonian exile who constructed and dedicated the temple, for instance, Psalms 107-150 known as the Psalms that reflect new life and new circumstances in the life of the remnants of the Israelites after a time of distress and despair, particularly, Psalms 120-134 are sang by the remnants while returning to Jerusalem [Zion]; Psalm 85 is a prayer for their salvation and renewal of life;  Psalm 126 is the celebration of remnants return to Zion with joy and hope; Psalm 147 praise and prayer for bringing the remnants back from their exile and helping them to rebuild the temple and the city; and so on. There are a total of 150 individual Psalms grouped into five books or sections [book/section one: Psalms 1-41; book/section two: Psalms 42-72; book/section three: Psalms 73-89; book/section four: Psalms 90-106; and book/section five: Psalm 107-150] that could be used for various occasions or causes like during one’s pilgrimage; while gathering to celebrate success/victories with gratitude; wedding ceremony [Psalm 45]; when trials and troubles hit one’s life; teaching the righteous laws and decrees and commands; for instructions of godly counsel; guiding young and old alike in godly path; to differentiate [godly] wisdom from [human] folly; praying and praising with gratitude of hearts for various occasions /circumstances; during the seasons of joy and sorrow; during a time of remorse and repentance; during a time of thanksgiving and celebrations; and so on. These Psalms [individually or collectively] are used in most Jewish and Christian worship gatherings praising God for His faithfulness in their lives. Each of these Psalms acknowledge who God is [His sovereignty (Genesis 1:1-2:3; Deuteronomy 32:39; Isaiah 46:10; Psalm 135:6; Romans 9:14; Revelation 19:6); His greatness (Psalm 95:3; 145:3; 147:5); His Omniscience (Psalm 139:1-4; 147:5; John 21:17; 1 John 3:19-20); His Omnipotence (Jeremiah 32:17; Psalm 135:6;); His Omnipresence (Psalms 139:7-10; Proverbs 15:3; Hebrews 4:13); His loving kindness and mercy (Isaiah 41:10; Lamentations 3:22; John 3:16; Romans 5:8; 1 John 4:16), His faithfulness to His creations, particularly towards human beings (Deuteronomy 7:9; Psalm 36:5; 119:19; 1 Corinthians 1:9)] and what He does to His people, especially for His blessings upon their lives and His faithfulness to them in times of troubles and trials. God is presented in Psalms as God Most High; the Almighty God; the God of gods and Lord of lords; Creator and sustainer God; protector and provider God; redeemer and savior God; a God who cares for His creation; a God who owns and reigns over His creation; loving and gracious God; righteous Judge and forgiving God; and so on. Through reading, studying and meditating the Word of God [especially from the book of Psalms since our this week’s meditation passage is taken from it], one  can nourish and cherish their spiritual life and strengthen their relationship with the Lord God Almighty and with one another. Those who read, study, and meditate on the Word of God will continue to walk in the light of God, as it is mentioned: Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path (Psalm 119:105; also refer to Proverbs 6:23; John 8:12; 15:7; 2 Peter 1:19). The Scripture earnestly urges God’s people to read, study, and meditate on God’s Word day and night, so that they can continuously grow in the Lord and be prosperous and successful in everything they do (Psalm 1:2; 119:97; Joshua 1:8).

The Scripture passage we chose for our meditation (Psalms 1:1-6) mainly focuses on two groups of people: (i) the godly people [who are characterized here as righteous people {1:1a, 5c, 6a}] and (ii) the ungodly people [who are characterized here as wicked, sinners, and mockers {1:1b, 1c, 1d, 4a ,5a, 5b, 6b}]. When we think about the godly people, they totally depend on God’s love, righteousness and justice and obey His righteous laws and decrees and commands in its entirety; whereas the ungodly people are self-seeking and live their life to satisfy their personal interests, which is based on the pattern and procedures of this world. Though the righteous [godly] people live in the world and primarily among the ungodly, they totally separate themselves from the ungodly order of lifestyle in order to follow God’s purpose and plans for their life and try their best to live according to it, a way which brings no harm to anyone else in the community. On the flip side, the unrighteous [ungodly] people despite seeing or observing the ways and pattern of God’s involvements in the world that is revealed through other people [especially through godly people] and the nature [the rest of God’s creation], they deliberately ignore them and make every effort to live their life satisfying their heart’s desires by carrying out their personal interests, which would hurt almost everyone else in the community. In short, the godly people do their best to fulfill God’s purpose and plans in the world in and through their life and stay blessed (Psalm 1:1a, 6a), but the ungodly people ignore to fulfill God’s purpose and plans in the world in and through their lives and, thus, forfeit their standing in the assembly of the righteous (Psalm 1:5b) as well as their part in the Kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9) and ultimately perish in the end (Psalm 1:6b). Let us read, study, and analyze the passage (Psalm 1:1-6) again to understand it thoroughly and mediate for the advantage of our spiritual life while on earth.

• • Blessed is the person who does not walk in step with the wicked (1:1a)
  • Blessed is the person who does not stand in the way that sinners take (1:1b)
  • Blessed is the person who does not sit in the company of mockers (1:1c)
  • Blessed is the person whose delight is in the law of the Lord (1:2a)
  • Blessed is the person who meditates on God’s law day and night (1:2b)
  • Godly [righteous] people are like trees planted by streams of water (1:3a)
  • Godly [righteous] people are like trees that yields its fruit in season (1:3b)
  • Godly [righteous] people are like trees that its leaf do not wither (1:3c)
  • Godly [righteous] people thrive and prosper in everything they do (1:3d)
  • The ungodly and wicked people do not yields its fruit in season like the godly people (1:4a)
  • The ungodly and wicked people do not prosper or thrive like the godly people (1:4b)
  • The ungodly and wicked people are like chaff that the wind blows away (1:4c)
  • The ungodly/wicked people will not stand in the judgment (1:5a)
  • The ungodly and wicked people [sinners] will not be able to associate with the righteous (1:5b)
  • The Lord watches over the way of the godly/righteous people (1:6a)
  • The way of the sinners/ungodly/wicked leads to destruction (1:6b)

As we have seen above, Psalm 1:1-6 provides us with the basic life principles that divide humanity into two groups: the righteous and the unrighteous/wicked. From this we can understand that [in the sight of God who created humanity in His likeness and image] such division happens not based on one’s identity, such as male or female; ethnicity or nationality; religious faiths or cultural practices; class or category; rich or poor; dark complexion or light complexion; ideologies or affiliations; and so on (refer to Romans 10:12; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Galatians 3:28; Ephesians 2:14-16; Colossians 3:11), but based on the choices one makes in life. This means, the division appears among people because of the choices they make in life – that is, good choices and bad/evil choices. The real division happens only between those who choose to live according to the righteous standards the Lord God Almighty established in the universe and those who do not choose to live according to the righteous standards the Lord God Almighty established in the universe but live according to the standard they themselves set up or live according to the standards of this world, which remains corrupt before God, as it is mentioned: Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight and was full of violence. God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways (Genesis 6:11-12; also refer to Psalm 14:1-3; 53:1-3). Apostle Paul stated similar things while he was writing to the believers in Rome:

Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them (Romans 1:28-32).

Paul exhorts us as the faithful followers of Jesus to live a righteous life before God and not to live the way the ungodly/worldly people live or act the way they act or behave the way the they behave or initiate any dealings with such people:

Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people” (2 Corinthians 6:14-16).

This was the reason Paul urged the believers of all times not to conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, as it is mentioned: Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will (Romans 12:2). Those who do the will of God will be blessed by the Lord their God because they do not walk in step with the wicked or they stand in the way that sinners take or they sit in the company of mockers (Psalm 1:1), which means, a godly/righteous person does not do the things the wicked do and does not go to the places where the wicked go or does not associates with one who practices evil. Rather, they delight in the law of the Lord and meditate on His law day and night and live according to the plan and purpose of God. Such people will be like the trees that planted by streams of water whose leaf does not wither, it yields it fruits in season, flourish in its growth and expansion, and prospers at all times. Those who faithfully seek God through reading, studying, and meditating the Word of God and depend on the guidance and leading of the Holy Spirit would receive God’s blessings in a greater measure in his/her life here on earth and eternal life in the coming age (Psalm 1:6a), but those who reject the righteous laws and decrees and commands of God and live a life different from the righteous [the ungodly and wicked] will be like chaff that the wind blows away (Psalm 1:4), will be separated from God, will be condemned on the day of judgement, and, eventually, lose the privileges [blessings] God promised to the humanity collectively and individually, as it is mentioned: … the way of the wicked will perish (Psalm 1:6b; also refer to 1:4-5).

Dear brothers and sisters, as we come to close of our this week’s meditation based on Psalm 1:1-6, let us try to understand the fact that there are only two groups of people exist in the world: the godly people and the ungodly people. The reality is that we need to identify ourselves [or our position] either with the godly people or with the ungodly people. First of all, let us know the fact that there is no righteous people among the living (Ecclesiastes 7:20; Romans 3:10-12, 23; 1 John 1:8-9); and we ourselves have failed God and others numerous times. Just examine ourselves, many a time, many of us [including the faithful followers of Jesus Christ who knows the truth of the Scripture inside out] have done the very things that are forbidden us – we did those things just like any ungodly or wicked person does. The Scripture states that Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them (Romans 1:32). If we have done anything in ignorance, that will be forgiven (Numbers 15:27-31; Luke 23:34; Acts 3:17; 1 Timothy 1:13) but if we have done anything deliberately and knowing that it is wrong, there is no way out except to face the consequences decreed for the actions (Numbers 15:30-31; Hebrews 10:26-27; 2 Peter 2:20-21). If any of us who claims to be Jesus’ faithful followers take part in such activities, it is high time for us to pause where we are, repent and return to the Lord pleading for His mercy and proceed with doing the right things in life. The Scripture clearly tells us who God is and what He does in the universe, and the plan and purpose of His creation, especially regarding the human beings. Therefore, it is better for a person not to sin against the Lord – knowingly or unknowingly, than sin and face its consequences (Leviticus 5:17; Matthew 5:29-30; Romans 6:12, 23; 1 John 1:8). It’s time for us to love the Lord our God with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our mind and with all our strength (Mark 12:30) and seek and fulfill His good, pleasing and perfect will in and through our life (Romans 12:2b). Apostle Paul wrote: For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:10; also refer to Matthew 5:16; Philippians 2:13; Colossians 1:10). May the Lord God Almighty bless us all! Amen!