Psalm 1

Psalm 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;

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 the chaff that the wind drives away.

Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgement,

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.

Verses 1-2

-The Hebrew word for law (torah) primarily refers to instruction from God; it is not solely given to the five books of Moses, but all of God's revelation.

-To meditate on God's word wholly does not necessarily mean setting aside one particular time for study each day, but to live an entire life that is turned God-ward, to reflect on his Word and his law throughout the entire day. Not that having a specific time to study each day is bad, but it should not encompass all one's mediation on God, nor is the only way to have a right relationship with the Father.

Verses 3-5:

-Trees, in wisdom literature, are often a metaphor for wisdom. This tree is not a wild shoot growing somewhere in the desert, but rather one that has been deliberately planted by life-giving water.

-The promised prosperity does not necessarily refer to great wealth (I suspect this is a modern, Western mindset that automatically transfers "prosperity" to "financial benefit"), but rather to God's blessings on word and deed. The righteous person's prosperity is not a reason for living a godly life; rather it is a by-product, another gracious gift from God.

-The wicked do not have the same hope or wisdom; they are here for a moment, then gone. How blessed are we who are in Christ, who are covered by his righteousness. We have assurance that we will stand in judgement, not because of anything in ourselves, but because of his work on our behalf.

Verse 6:

-The Lord watches over his children; he knows their hearts and their ways; he loves, guards, and guides them. The wicked have no such hope; their path leads only to destruction. Yahweh brings his children to life.

Reflections on Wisdom:

-True wisdom begins and ends in the Lord. A person cannot be wise apart from Yahweh. He might be wise in the ways of the world, but none of that matters biblically. Adam and Eve thought to gain wisdom from eating the forbidden fruit, but true wisdom lies in trusting and obeying Yahweh. It is an opposite mindset from the world's: there we are told that wisdom comes in thinking for oneself and making ones own decisions. God tells us that is folly, because only he is the source for the deepest and truest wisdom.

-Wisdom does not consist, primarily, of following a set of rules and ethics. Wisdom comes in devotion to the living God, in living every area of life with one goal in mind: loving and pleasing him. Ethics and laws can help guide us, but only a heart turned toward God can make the right choices.

-Biblical wisdom calls for a response: one who hears God’s call to follow and answers, who sacrifices his own life to live the life God desires.

-Biblical wisdom opens the door to living in imitation of God. “Creation unfolds the manifest wisdom of God. Everything coheres in him and through him. Because he is one, there is one way of living in coherence in this world - the way of God.” The wise person sees how God cares for his creation, both the world and its people, and responds in kind.

-Biblical wisdom submits to divine revelation. In love for the Lord, the godly person finds fullest freedom in obeying God’s law. He does not obey out of fear of punishment, but because he recognizes that God’s law shows the best way of life, and the best way to please the Lord.

-Biblical wisdom is blessed by the Lord. Though the godly person may suffer for his godliness here and now, the Lord will always be his companion and guide, and will lead him to eternal life at the end of time. God’s promises are always true and trustworthy; he will not abandon his children.

-Biblical wisdom depends on God’s guidance, love, and favor. The godly despise the attitude of self-reliance; rather, they are aware of their own weakness and pray to God to bring them help and strength. The wise are vigilant in temptation, guarding against sin in their own hearts.

The Psalms acknowledge the cost of a life that follows Yahweh, but they also recognize that in the end, the benefit far outweighs the cost. True wisdom comes, not from ignoring the danger, but by putting it in its proper place. Living for God will be difficult, but the rewards are beyond comprehension.

(I have started studying the Psalms recently, and wanted to share some of my thoughts from them. I doubt I will be doing posts for every Psalm, but you can expect to see a few, at least. I am indebted in this study to The Expositor's Bible Commentary on the Psalms.)