Psalm One
prologue to the Psalms 02
Next, the righteous is considered in regard to the positive elements of his life.
Ps 1:2
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. (KJV)
Though this issue is mentioned second, it is actually first since this is the core reason that the believer does not do the things mentions in v.1. “His ‘delight’ in the law of the Lord” speaks not only of his joyful appreciation of it but also in his diligent adherence to the law.
John 14:15
15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. (KJV)
It is the deep love for God that causes the saint to devote himself to the commands of God. The willingness to obey God springs from a devotion to Him which is fashioned in the heart by the New Birth.
Ezek 36:26-27
26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. (KJV)
Verse 3 begins a description of the blessed state of such a person, with contrasts to the fate of those who chose to walk in the counsel of, stand in the way of, and sit in the seat of the scornful.
Ps 1:3
3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. (KJV)
Spiritually, he is compared to a tree which lives in a place of plenty of water. We all know that such trees prosper, yielding fruit in a timely fashion and are maintained in continual health and well-being.
There is a river of life which springs from the throne of God which ‘waters’ those who love Him, expressing that love by obedience to Him.
Rev 22:1-2
1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. (KJV)
The important work that he does, that which he does in love for and obedience to God, will prosper, being watered and tended by God Himself.
Isa 55:10-11
10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. (KJV)
Prosperity must be measured in spiritual terms and not physical. Though the lives of many millions of saints have not been prosperous by the world’s standard, the spiritual work which they have done still abides and
yields fruit.
By contrast, the wicked know of no such blessing.
Ps 1:4
4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. (KJV)
Though their lives are prosperous and comfortable often in many ways, the brevity of life causes all their accomplishments to be blown away like the chaff. Human history is replete with the labors of men which were successful for a while but then collapsed along with all the benefits of their work.
Ps 1:5
5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. (KJV)
The ungodly shall perish under the scrutiny of the judgment of God and they will not be allowed to enjoy the blessings of eternity with the faithful. They will be excluded for all eternity from all that is good and blessed and lovely.
But not so the saint. His blessing is eternally guaranteed by God Himself.
Ps 1:6
6 For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish. (KJV)
He ‘knows’ the way of the righteous, to keep him and bless him. God even keeps track of his decaying body so as to resurrect it in glory on the last day. He keeps track of even the smallest of deeds done in obedience to God, making sure that they will be noted and rewarded.
But everything that is good in the future of the saint can be turned on its head and affirmed as the fate of the ungodly.
So, why would anyone walk in the counsel of the ungodly?
— March 30, 2020