“Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, 2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. 3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers. 4 Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. 6 For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.” Psalm 1

“Psalm 1 is a psalm of comfort. It admonishes us to gladly hear and learn God’s Word and brings us the comfort that, in so doing, we will have many and great benefits. Just as a palm tree by the water grows green and brings fruit despite all heat and cold and the like, so also all our words and works will prosper despite all enemies. Human doctrines do not have this benefit, and, as the wind blows the chaff away, so they also pass away. For God says that those who study His Word please Him, but the others He allows to perish. This psalm flows from the Third Commandment; indeed, it is part of that commandment, for the command to honor the Sabbath is itself the command to hear and learn of God’s Word. Psalm 1 is also included in the Second and Third Petitions of the Lord’s Prayer, for in these we pray for God’s kingdom and His will, both of which are conveyed by His Word.” (Martin Luther, Reading the Psalms with Luther)

“The wicked” of Psalm 1 are those who seek independence from G-d, those who live according to the world’s standards and not G-d’s. At times this way of life may appear to be the way to happiness and prosperity. However, Psalm 1 helps us see things in ultimate perspective: the prosperity of the wicked is fleeting, for they are like chaff blown away by the wind.

So, what makes you happy? What gets you excited? This is a good way to see what is important to you. If personal pleasure is the only thing that makes you happy, then you are a selfish, self-centered person. If being with your family or friends delights you, that can be better, but it still falls short. The righteous finds their delight in the ways of G-d — not in the ways of this earth and its pleasures.

Martin Luther said that he could not live in paradise without the word of God, but he could live well enough in hell with it.

Prayer

O God, thanks and praise belong to You because You have given us Your Holy Word. Enlighten us by Your Holy Spirit to understand Your counsel of grace in Jesus Christ, to love Your Word, and to take delight in learning Your statutes and walking in Your Law. Bestow Your blessing and prosperity on the works of our hands in our Christian calling and all our conversation. Amen.