April 10, 2023 – Psalm 1

“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, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. 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. Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away.  Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.” Psalm 1

“Verse 2 is the key verse: “but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.” Notice the progression: delight, then meditation. Delight is a response of the heart to the beauty and value of something or someone—in this case, to God’s Word. But meditation involves careful sustained thought—it takes work and involves the will. Meditation done well should serve, strengthen, and sustain delight. Meditation allows the Word to penetrate our minds, hearts, and wills more deeply. Through meditation, we are “transformed by the renewal of our mind” (Romans 12:2). Meditation sends our roots down deep, taking in more and more of the life-giving water of the Word.” (desiringgod.org)

“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 a different 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 perhaps you have a short-sighted view of this life. 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.

It is a difficult life, living in the delight of the law of G-d and meditating on it day and night. But rather than seeing the law as a burden, perhaps we should see it as a sure guide throughout our lives. We cannot “obey” the law – but knowing Jesus fulfills the law for us, we live in the hope and the happiness of Jesus’ love, mercy and grace for all.

Psalm Prayer: Let us pray…

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.

Pastor Dave