Psalm 1
1 Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked,
or take the path that sinners tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers;
2 but their delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law they meditate day and night.
3 They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season,
and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do they prosper.
4 The wicked are not so,
but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous,
6 for the Lord watches over the way of the righteous
but the way of the wicked will perish.
Americans are passionate about how to figure out how to be happy. Psalm 1 holds one of the secrets to being happy, beginning with a beattitude type statement in verse one, “Happy are who do not follow the advice of the wicked.”
Each of us can define “the advice of the wicked” in our own way. How would you define “the advice of the wicked” in your own life and experience?
The psalmist writes that those who are happy delight in the law of the Lord and meditate on the law of the Lord.
What images come to mind when you think of God’s law?
The word “law” as it is used in this passage is not used to simply talk about the commandments, although it does refer to the commandments. In this context the word law means “instruction”. The idea of God instructing us can feel a bit heavy and oppressive. The old image that comes to mind is the image of a God who is sitting up in heaven with a clipboard that has a sheet of paper on it with your name written at the top. The thought is that God is holding that clipboard and watching our every move, specifically waiting for us to make a wrong move. When we do make a wrong move- God will then “instruct” us through reprimands and punishment. That doesn’t sound like the key to happiness to me.
The psalmist gives us a different view of the law stating that those that know God’s law will “delight” in it.
What does it look like to “delight” in God’s law? Write down some examples.
Pause to pray and ask God to reveal to you what it means for you to delight in his law.
Those who do delight in the law of the Lord are compared to trees planted by streams of water.
What characteristics are true of a tree planted by a stream of water?
Verse 3 says that these trees and those who are happy will “prosper”. What does the world communicate about what it means to “prosper”? How do you think God defines what it looks like to “prosper” as a follower of His?
The word prosper is often interpreted as being materially rewarded by God. In this context, to prosper means that those who trust in God and are open to his teachings have a deep well from which to draw hope and encouragement in the midst of any and every situation.
The conversation about what it looks like to be happy is set alongside what it looks like to be wicked. While those that delight in God’s law are compared to thriving trees that are bearing fruit and prospering, the wicked are compared to chaff.
Chaff is the waste product of wheat that is simply blown away by the wind. It is not usable for much, and tends to literally “go where the wind blows.” While the righteous have rootedness and stability the wicked have no stability, no rootedness, and no place to stand.
How would you define the “wicked”?
Any of us could be considered wicked when we cut ourselves off from the source of life, God, and when we simply “go where the wind blows”. What are some things you can do or spiritual disciplines you could practice to keep you from being tempted to simply “go where the wind blows”?
The last two verses of this Psalm describe the wicked as those who will not stand judgement and will ultimately perish whereas those who are righteous will be watched over by God. James L. Mays writes that the way of the righteous “is not so much a reward as a result of life’s connection with the source of life.”
When we are cut off God, which is the source of life, we quickly find ourselves falling into the ways of the wicked. This psalm reminds us to seek the happiness that comes from delighting in the laws of the Lord. As we make ourselves open to God’s word making an impact on how we live our lives we are reminded that we will prosper as we find our purpose and hope in God alone, the source of true happiness.
Spend a few minutes in prayer asking God to give you deep roots and praying that you will bear much fruit.
Feel free to add comments and prayers below in response to this text.