“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).
In his People’s Bible commentary, Psalms 1-72, Dr. John F. Brug wrote this about Psalm 1: “There are only two roads people can travel: the road of obedience to God, which leads to life, and the road of rebellion, which leads to hell. There are no other alternatives. Nothing in life is more important than being sure you are traveling the right road” (Northwestern Publishing House: Milwaukee, 1989, p. 45).
How do you know you’re traveling along the right road?
If the standard is what Psalm 1 says—not walking in step with the wicked or standing in the way that sinners take or sitting in the company of mockers—then I don’t know about you, but I have a problem.
I listen to sinful thoughts, worldly wisdom, and the devil’s whispered lies more often than I’d like to admit. I don’t distance myself from sinful behaviors. I don’t speak out against those who mock others. Sometimes I even join in.
As I continue reading Psalm 1, my delight isn’t in the law of the Lord—not always. His law doesn’t fill my thoughts; it doesn’t rest in the forefront of my mind day and night. I can’t even keep it there for an hour on Sunday; I get distracted during a 20-minute sermon! And yet I’m all too happy to give my time and attention to other things.
I’m not like a tree planted by streams of water. I don’t always yield fruits of faith. Sometimes I feel like my leaves are withered, and everything I do certainly doesn’t prosper. That all leads me to wonder: Am I like the chaff that the wind blows away? Am I traveling on the right road?
Am I going the right way?
Dear Christian, if you’re thinking like I do at times, do not despair. Our Savior Jesus perfectly fulfilled the words of this psalm for me and you because we never could.
Jesus didn’t walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers. He lived perfectly in step with God’s law—his delight. Day and night, he meditated on God’s law; its words were always on his heart and mind. His words and actions were rooted in the Word, overflowing with the fruits of faith. Everything he did prospered.
Jesus gives his perfection and righteousness to me and you, freely out of his love. We are on the right road; we are going the right way because of him—and him alone. We have life—eternal life—because of him. Having freed us from slavery to sin, and having forgiven us of all our sins, Jesus now calls us to live in love for him.
We want to do that! As Christians, our prayer is the same as the apostle Paul’s: “I want to know Christ” (Philippians 3:10). We want to know Christ—what his life, death, and resurrection mean for us.
Prayer:
Lord, our relationship with you is the most important thing in life. Help us delight in hearing your Word. That’s how we know how much you love us. It’s where you tell us what you’ve done to save us from our sins.
Help us live in your Word, obedient to your will for us. Fill us with the assurance of your forgiveness when we don’t walk in your ways, and lead us in paths of righteousness for your name’s sake. Remind us that you watch over us and bless us—all because of Jesus.
We’re going the right way—all because of you.
Amen.
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Alex Brown is the marketing and content copywriter at Northwestern Publishing House. He has his Master of Divinity degree from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary and enjoys reading, writing, and spending time in God’s creation.