The Word: Psalm One

How blessed is the man
who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
nor stand in the path of sinners
nor sit in the seat of scoffers
But his delight is in the Law of the Lord
and in His law he meditates days and night
He will be like a tree firmly planted by stream of water
which yields its fruit in its season
and its leaf does not wither
and in whatever he does, he prospers.

The wicked are not so,
but they are like chaff which the wind drives away
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous

For the LORD knows the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish. (NASB1995)

Psalm One, likely along with Psalm Two, serves as an introduction to the book of Psalms. Although we do not often think of the Psalms as a whole having a purpose, modern scholars have been able to recognize intentionality in how the Psalms are arranged. This first Psalm is known as a wisdom Psalm, which means its meaning provides understanding for how one should live. Its message serves as a fitting introduction to a book that encompasses various expressions of faith from the people of God, both individually and corporately. The Psalms includes praises, lamentations, confessions, declarations of trust, and many other aspects of the believer’s life. Psalm One serves as a reminder that no matter the circumstances of life, the only life worth living is the life lived according to God’s Word. A simple reading of this Psalm makes this point evident, but a further examination will draw out some richer truths. Three people are involved in the message: The righteous, the wicked, and the LORD.

1) The Righteous (Psalm 1:1-3)

The Psalm begins by describing the righteous person which is evident by the description given, but also by the eventual mention of the righteous in verse five. The Psalmist provides the declaration that the righteous person is “blessed,” a term which is rich with meaning in the Bible. Although God’s Word does speak of earthly blessings such as wealth, health, and reputation, these are not the primary focus in Psalm One. After all, Scripture is filled with examples of people who did not have earthly means, but were still blessed; likewise, some were blessed with earthly riches and yet were under God’s judgment. So, blessing here is something far more valuable and meaningful than fleeting earthly glories. The blessing spoken of here is the blessing of being in God’s favor, no matter what life’s circumstances may be.

So, the righteous person is blessed, but what identifies the righteous person? The Psalmist provides both what does (1:2) and does not characterize the righteous person (1:1). As verse one reveals, the righteous person is someone who is not devoted to sin. Of course, Scripture is clear that no one is perfectly sinless, but again the truth here is general: The righteous person does not devote their lives to sin nor strongly associate with those who do. The three-fold description of the wicked/sinners/scoffers and walk/stand/sit communicates strong association or fellowship with such people. They do not share the same way of life as the wicked.

Instead, the righteous person finds joy in God’s Word. Two notable points in the passage are the words “delight” and “meditate.” Delight reveals that the righteous person enjoys God’s Word; their joy is found in what God has spoken. Additionally, the righteous person “meditates” on God law (a term that can also be translated “instruction” and does not have to be limited to just the Law/Torah). Meditation requires ongoing devotion and committing God’s Word to memory. A good description of meditation is found in Psalm 119:11: “Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You” (NASB1995).

Both concepts of delighting and meditating in the context of Psalm One reveal something significant: The righteous person does not simply enjoy and devote themselves to the knowledge of God’s Word, but also to obeying God. After all, if a person has knowledge of God’s Word, but does not live according to it, then they are in the same place as the wicked/sinner/scoffers. What sets the righteous apart from those who are not is their obedience to God’s will. Yet, delight and meditation also reveal that this obedience is not the mere performance of duty. The righteous person joyfully does what God has commanded. In simple terms, nothing makes the righteous person happier than doing what God requires of them. Genuine faith is marked by this attitude towards God’s Word. Jesus said: “If you love Me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15; also 14:21, 23). Jesus said that love for Him is found in obedience to Him – a joy-filled obedience (John 15:10-11).

Finally, in verse three, an illustration is given to describe the righteous person. They are like a tree which is planted in an environment that allows for growth and fruitfulness. This picture is connected to the previous description of devotion to God’s Word. The person rooted in God’s Word is a tree rooted in resource-rich soil. Their life will demonstrate three realities: First, consistent growth in the knowledge of and obedience to God (“planted by streams of water”). Second, consistent expression of the virtues and works that God’s desires from His people (“yields its fruit in its season”), and third, consistent endurance of life’s circumstance (“and its leaf does not wither”). In other words, the righteous person is prosperous is all that the Lord requires of them. Their prosperity is the result of their perseverance (“consistent”) in His Word.

To summarize, the righteous can be defined by three characteristics: holiness, joyful obedience, and perseverance. These same three characteristics are emphasized in various ways throughout the New Testament to describe believers in Jesus.

2) The Wicked (1:4-5)

Next, the Psalmist discusses the wicked introduced previously in verse one. In a strong contrast to the righteous person’s prosperity, the wicked as “not so!” (1:4) In a reversal of the vibrant imagery of the tree, the wicked are like the dried-out, lifeless tumbleweed that is blown around wherever the wind blows. The Psalmist does not devote much attention to the wicked, and this feature of the Psalm appears intentional; the wicked lead a life that is devoid of any real substance, and thus little focus needs to be given to them. By contrast, we know for certain that they are not like the righteous; they do not delight in God’s Word nor order their way of life according to it. Their way of life is contrary to God’s authority and will. As a result, they will find themselves under God’s judgment and excluded from the blessings of the righteous (1:5).

3) The LORD (1:6)

In a final word, the Psalmist reveals the perspective of the LORD (1:6). The covenant name of God revealed to Moses in Exodus 3 is used here, calling to mind God’s faithfulness to His people. The Psalmist says that the LORD “knows” the way of the righteous. This word emphasizes intimacy which is understood as a loving embrace. God loves the righteous and His favor is with them. They ultimately prosper and are blessed because of their connection with Him. He is the true source that they draw their life from. On the contrary, the wicked do not share in this intimate relationship with the Lord. They are separated from God and thus have no life, no blessing, no prosperity. Their way of life perishes with their life, leaving nothing behind. They prepare themselves to receive nothing but the LORD’s judgment. This is God’s assessment of the righteous and the wicked.

The Confrontation

Psalm One is both simple and profound in the truth that it declares. Let’s draw on a few points of application:

First, the righteous person’s devotion is not simply to a text, but a being. God has revealed Himself through His spoken Word; therefore, the purpose of Bible reading/study/devotion is to know God. Too often our Bible study can be diminished to a mere pursuit of Bible facts, theological niches, or other trivial endeavors. Yet, the Bible’s purpose does not lie in these pursuits, but in the pursuit of the God who is revealed through the truth of Scripture. A common cliche captures this point well: We know a lot about God, but do we know God? The righteous person is not merely on a quest for knowledge of the Bible, but to know the God of the Bible. This distinction is important to maintain as we delight and meditate in God’s Word. The purpose is to delight in Him. So, read your Bible, but do not fail to recognize and obey God as you grow in knowledge.

Second, this passage contains two promises by implication. The first is that the righteous person can rest in the guarantee of God’s blessing over their lives in every circumstance. Again, this blessing is not primarily earthly, although God does bless in this way as He wills. The point here is guard against the lie that people often fall into: My earthly circumstances are always an indicator of my relationship with God. If you are walking righteously by faith in the Lord, then you have the security of God’s favor over your life no matter what. Continue to rejoice in all circumstances with Paul (Philippians 4:4)! The second promise is that the LORD is with the righteous and intimately involved in their lives. He is ordering their steps and watching over them with protection (Psalm 37:23). As a result of these promises, the righteous need to rest assured that God is with them and for them, no matter what! This truth should produce joy and confidence in living faithfully for the Lord, no matter what!

Third, the righteous must rest assured that God will do what is right concerning the wicked. This point is important, because often in the Psalms and the Old Testament, the oppression/persecution of the righteous by the wicked is a common theme. Sometimes, situations can become so dark that the righteous begin to wonder where about God’s faithfulness and justice (cf. Psalm 13:1-2). Psalm One serves as a reminder that the Lord is not ignorant about the wicked; He sees their evil deeds and will bring judgment upon them in His timing. That judgment may occur in this life or may be reserved for eternal judgment. This decision is left to the Lord’s wisdom. What the righteous need to do is remember God’s covenant faithfulness to them and rest in His promises. He will take care of the rest!