My Love for Psalm 1
After months of studying the Psalms, I continue to go back to Psalm 1 as one of my all time favorites. I love the simplicity, the teaching, the clear images presented that clearly show us the contrast between the righteous and the wicked. It could be clearly stated Psalm one sets the tone for all of the other Psalms found in this book. In my simple way, let me share with you what can be gleaned from this Psalm.
The first two verses teach us how we so easily can be seduced by sin. David begins by telling us the blessing we can have if we are careful with what we listen to and how we act. Here’s the formula:
- “Blessed [happy] is the man [represents a godly person]
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, [doesn’t stop and listen]
nor stands in the way of sinners, [stops walking and begins to listen]
nor sits in the seat of scoffers; [joins in with them]
2. “but [a contrast] his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on God’s law he meditates day and night.”
How many people do you know who are on this path? Possibly they have come out of an evil lifestyle, but as they go about their daily lives they come in contact with the wicked, and not only do they stop and listen, but before long they are sitting among them and joining in with their evil ways.
He ends in verse 2 with a contrast to this trap set by so many evil people. He teaches us how to avoid such behavior. We need to learn to get our head in the game! If I want to be blessed by God, I need to be in His guidebook – the Bible – and not listening to those in the world through Facebook, Instagram, TV, movies, and many more sources of sinful things. How many hours do we sit and scroll through FB? How much of that is helpful when you walk through life as a Christian?
The next two verses (3-4) remind me of a beautiful song many love to sing – “I Shall Not Be Moved.” They read this way…
3. “He is like a tree planted by streams of water [always nourished]
that yields it fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does he prospers.
4. The wicked are not so,
But are like the chaff that the wind drives away.”
It presents a beautiful picture of what a life of service is like. The picture is of a lush tree planted by water so that it never withers, but produces fruit in its season. He further states that in all he does, he prospers. When we stay connected to God and His Son, Jesus Christ, through His word we produce fruit for the Kingdom of God, and will prosper in the end as well as in our life here on earth.
However, notice the contrast. Those wicked people on the earth are weak and easily blown away by whatever puff of trouble comes their way. How many people do we know who cling to worldly standards and when trouble comes they feel alone and weak?
The last two verses tell of a great separation that is coming.
5. “Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
6. For the Lord knows the way of the righteous;
but the way of the wicked will perish.”
Verse 5 reminds me of Philippians 2:10-11: “…so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (emphasis added). Those who are wicked and sinful will bow before God, and they will perish.
However, very simply put, “the Lord know the way of the righteous.”
There are only two ways. You are either doing your best to grow in faith and obedience to God, or you are on a path to destruction.
My prayer is that you are like that tree, planted by the water of life.
AUTHOR: Donna Faughn