Psalm 1: Life in the Word

Psalm 1 ESV

1 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; 2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 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. 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 knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

Passage of Comparison

We see in this passage a description being given and a comparison being drawn between the righteous and unrighteous. The first statement in this passage is that the the person who avoids the activities, behaviors and lifestyles of the unrighteous are blessed. Other translations call the righteous person happy even. This speaks to the state of being that comes from living a life in fear of the Lord and clinging to his word in obedience. The Second part of this passage is that the wicked (disobedient) fall to destruction.

The Blessing of Obedience

the one who loves God’s word and abides in it and by it, is:

Psalm 1:3 ESV

3 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.

Planted Tree

Rooted and stable, not easily moved.

By being obedient to God’s word we make ourselves to be stable. Jesus said it like this:

Matthew 7:24–25 ESV

24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.

Psalm 119:92 ESV

92 If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.

When the storms of life come against you, you have something that you can stand on to find yourself secure. You can be secure in your identity, your marriage, finances, family, faith and all other areas of life by being rooted in God’s word. His word provides answers to all of these things!

Streams of Water

planted in a place of life

These “streams of water” in the original Hebrew are referring to manmade irrigation channels. In other words, these streams have been purposely and strategically designed to nurture the tree that has been planted. God has intentionally given his word to us as a way to bring forth life in us.

Psalm 119:93 ESV

93 I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have given me life.

Like a tree pulls from the streams of water to live so we pull from the word of God to have spiritual life in us!

I believe it is important for us to note that a stream is a moving body of water that flows with the landscape. I am not saying that God’s word changes but what it does provide is life for us no matter if we are on the mountain or in the valley. Its the same water no matter where its at, but it flows to all the places that life takes us.

The word that sustains you on the mountain will also sustain you in the valley

Fruitful

Obedience to his word produces spiritual fruit in our life

The streams of water are designed to nurture us so that we can produce fruit in our life. There is going to come a season when you are expected to produce fruit and supposed to produce fruit.

The purpose of faith is not for us to just sit and receive, it is to produce something as a result of what we receive.

The production of fruit is not for the tree to eat but for those around it. The purpose of fruit is to also produce more seed in order to get more trees. In other words we produce spiritual fruit so that we can see more trees grow by the streams of life. We are to make disciples and making disciples starts with planting seeds of faith and fostering growth.

Leaf will not wither

The seasons will not determine the life that exists in the tree

Unlike the other plants and trees, the one who is rooted in God’s word can maintain life no matter the season they are in. We should not shift with the seasons of the world. I am not talking about lacking feeling for the season you are in. What I mean is you don’t die spiritually. When the winter comes you stay alive in your faith.

Isaiah 40:8 ESV

8 The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.

When all else fades his word does not. If we are attached to his word, we won’t fade either.

The Unrighteous is complete opposite

Psalm 1:4–6 ESV

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 knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

Chaff Driven by the wind

The wicked are completely different in that they lack life all together because they aren’t rooted in anything. The passage tells us they are driven by the wind. I think that is interesting imagery because the bible describes satan as the “prince of the power of the air”

Ephesians 2:2 ESV

2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—

The wicked are driven by the ruling of satan. Whether you realize it or want to admit it. If you are not rooted in Christ you are easily blown all over by the wind of his lives. this is why so many people walk around confused and lost, they “just go where the wind takes them”. This is why society is always shifting in absolutely insane directions.

The less rooted we are in God and his word the more we can be driven by the wind of Satan’s lies.

Progression of Wickedness

In the first verse we see 3 different stages of wickedness:

Psalm 1:1 ESV

1 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;

The Teacher’s Bible Commentary The Two Life-Styles (Psalm 1)

“walk,” “stand,” “sit.” These verbs describe a process whereby the man who only walks with the wicked at first, soon begins to “stand” with the wicked, and eventually feels at home enough to “sit” with those that scorn God. The nouns in the verse also show this progressive seriousness of sin: “ungodly” describes a man who occasionally is out of step with right conduct. “Sinner” is a man whose wicked misconduct has become habitual. “Scorners” means the hardened, arrogant man who mocks God.

This is a path of compromise. when we start taking steps in this direction, it becomes a downward spiral.

The Destiny of the wicked

Psalm 1:5–6 ESV

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.

In verse 5 it is very clear that the wicked will find themselves in complete separation from the righteous, both in judgement (treatment) and in fellowship (blessing, eternity). The righteous will be judged and treated well by God. The righteous will experience blessing and eternal life. where those that follow the path of the wicked shall only see destruction.

There is still hope

Psalm 130:7 CSB

7 Israel, put your hope in the Lord. For there is faithful love with the Lord, and with him is redemption in abundance.