Psalm 1
Sunday, 18 February 2024
“Blessed is the man….” –Psalm 1:1
The very first Psalm serves as an introduction for the rest of the Psalms that follow with its focus on the distinction of character and the different destinies of the righteous and the wicked [NKJV Study Bible]. The godly life is compared with the ungodly and the final outcome of the two.
A life of blessing does not come to one easily…it has to do with making the right choices and walking in them. The first and wisest choice a man who wants his life to be blessed is to choose the right path of life—there are only two ways—one that leads to life everlasting and the other to eternal destruction. Jesus made it clear when He said, “I am the way, the truth and the life…” (John 14:6). Once a person makes the choice to have his life under the reign of Christ Jesus, the course of his life is set in the right direction!
Such a person who has given his life to Christ then makes a decision not to follow the way of the ungodly. Three regressive steps to involving into wicked ways is seen V.1 itself: when a person decides to walk alongside, listening to the advice of the ungodly, it leads to standing around with sinners and a while later sitting beside and joining in with those who mock and ridicule. The path of sin goes spiraling down when a foothold for sin is first allowed and then it slowly settles down to a way of life—sin is no more considered sin. But the believer who takes a stand and is not sucked in by the world around him, will have a blessing following him for the right choice he makes.
The next few verses (Vs.2&3) show how his right choice of delighting in God’s Word and meditating (going over it in his mind) habitually gets the right results. God’s Word is the compass for a believer showing him the right directions. Hence his daily walk becomes clearer: “The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.” (Prov.4:17). Such a person is compared to a tree well-watered and fruitful! The godly man’s life prospers as his decisions and actions are directed by God’s Word.
Compared to the fullness or productive life of the godly man is the emptiness and unprofitable life of the ungodly- it’s like chaff blown in all directions by the wind (v.4). Instead of being “purpose-driven” his life is driven in all directions according to the whims and fancies of the world. An ungodly man lacks substance as his life lacks God and His Word. He stands condemned during Judgment Day having no place with the godly (v.5) and his end is destruction (V.6).
The Psalm culminates with—“For the LORD knows the way of the righteous…” (v.6). It points not just to God’s intimate knowledge of his ways but also to the believer’s intimate relationship with his Lord and His guarding and guiding his life. The end is eternal life through Christ Jesus! Having your life been set free from sin, “…you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.”(Rom.6:22).
A look into each of our lives can determine which choices we have made. Is it one of an intimate relationship with Christ Jesus that is productive OR one leaving Him out of your life, being carried away by the ways of the world? Has it been a spiraling down with no conviction of sin? Then think of this: “There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.”(Prov.14:12). Would you instead choose to be the “blessed man” whose life has found purpose in Christ Jesus and its final destiny—eternal life?
Pray to the LORD: “You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.” – Psalm 16:11[NLT]
Listen: 'Blessed is the man'