Psalm 1 - Life's Two Roads

We do not know the author of the first chapter in Psalms.  The theme is showing the life of a faithful person contrasting with the life of a faithless person.  The writer begins his psalm extolling the joys of obeying God and refusing to listen to those who discredit or ridicule him.  Our friends & associates can have a profound influence on us, often in very subtle ways.  If we insist on friendships with those who mock what God considers important, we might sin by becoming indifferent to God's will.  This attitude is the same as mocking. 

 

Do your friends build your faith up, or do they tear it down?  True friends should help, not hinder you to draw closer to God.

 

"Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers." ~Psalm 1:1

 

There are only two paths of life before us - God's way of obedience or the way of rebellion and destruction.  Be sure to choose God's path because the path you choose determines how you will spend eternity.

 

"But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night." ~ Psalm 1:2

 

You can learn how to follow God by meditating on his Word.  Meditating means spending time reading and thinking about what you have read. It means asking yourself how you should change so your living as God wants.  If you want to follow God more closely, you must know what he says.

"He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruits in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers"

There is simple wisdom in verses 2 and 3 - the more we delight in God's Presence, the more fruitful we are.  On the other hand, the more we allow those who ridicule God to affect our thoughts and attitudes, the more we separate ourselves from our source of nourishment.  When Scripture says, "Whatever he does prospers", it does not mean immunity from failure or difficulties.  Nor is it a guarantee of health, wealth and happiness.  What the Bible means by prosperity is this: when we apply God's wisdom, the fruit we bear will be good and receive God's approval.  Just as a tree soaks up water and bears luscious fruit, we also are to soak up God's Word, producing actions and attitudes that honor God. 

To achieve anything worthwhile, we must have God's Word in our hearts!