True Blessedness – Psalm 1

Psalm 1 is a wisdom psalm, a psalm designed to instruct in the fear of Yahweh.  The psalm is structured as a contrast between the righteous and the wicked, the  two kinds of people in the world.  The big idea of this psalm is, The way to avoid judgment from Yahweh and receive blessing instead is to follow His teaching and not the instruction and example of the wicked.

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.

He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither.  In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.  (Psalm 1 ESV)

I am thirsting for life so I send out my roots.  I long to bear fruit so that others might be blessed.  When I draw in poisonous rebellion and become hardened to truth I wither.  When I draw in Yahweh’s instruction I prosper.  It courses through me and heals, giving life where there was none, and it causes me to bud and sprout life for others.  I turn its truth over and over in my mind and it finds its way out of my mouth and my body.  Yahweh will therefore choose me to stand among the righteous at the last judgment.  I am anchored.