Psalm 1 - 9.11.26
Scripture: Psalm 1:1-6
1 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers,
2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law, day and night.
3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither — whatever they do prospers.
4 Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
6 For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.
Observation
This psalm is a contrast between the righteous and the ungodly. Blessed means supremely happy or fulfilled. In fact, in Hebrew the word is actually a plural, which denotes either a multiplicity of blessings or an intensification of them.” (Boice)
The righteous man does not go the way of the ungodly, we can say these speak of thinking, behaving and belonging. The righteous man and the ungodly man are different in how they think, how they behave and to whom they belong.
The righteous man is not afraid to take a less-traveled road, because he knows it leads to blessing, happiness, and eternal life.
Matthew 7:13 - Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.
The righteous man delights in the law of the Lord or loves to read the word of God and meditate on it. He reads God’s word and applies it to his life. The righteous man only has God’s word on his mind two times a day…Day and Night.
The righteous man digs his roots deep into the stream of Living Water and his life is full, alive, happy and prosperous.
Not so for the ungodly, they are like chaff. Chaff is the light shell around a kernel of grain, which must be stripped away before the kernel of grain can be ground into flour. Chaff is light enough that it could be separated from the grain by throwing a scoopful into the wind and letting the wind drive away the chaff. The ungodly are unstable, worthless, lacking in substance, no life, dead leaves. Sinners don’t share the same glorious future of the righteous. They also don’t want to hang out with the righteous if they insist on remaining sinners.
The Lord watches over the righteous and covers us in peace and protection.
The ungodly walk on the broad path, they have lots of company, but in the end they will perish.
Application
This chapter gives us a clear contrast on the righteous, who walk with God, and the ungodly, who don’t. God watches over the righteous and they KNOW HIM. He prunes, chastens and molds us into His prize possessions. He covers us with protection, peace and blessings. Everything good and perfect gift comes from Him. Where are you walking? Are you walking daily with the Lord, reading His word, meditating on His truths and trusting Him to guide your path? Or are you walking on the broad path, worried about the cares of this world, only caring about your fleshly desires and not walking with God. It’s time to make a choice…Blessed Life or Death…it’s up to you.
Prayer
Dear Lord,
I pray for all those who are struggling with sin and can’t quite jump off the fence. I pray you make yourself so real to them that their heart burns with a longing to be in your presence. I pray for an awakening in their spirit and in their heart and a realization that better is one day in Your courts, then one thousand elsewhere.
Psalm 84:10 – Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper inthe house of my God than dwell inthe tents of the wicked.
- Michelle Craig
