Psalm 1
The Two Way
Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked or take the path that sinners tread or sit in the seat of scoffers, but their delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law they meditate day and night. They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper. The wicked are not so but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous, for the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. Psalm 1 (NRSVUE)
The Psalms were written hundreds of years before Jesus came on the scene. The authors had no knowledge of Christ and his teachings, but were observant Jews who believed that faith in God and following the 613 laws of the Torah were the keys to happy Jewish living.
According to this psalm, the basis of happiness is avoiding the path of sinners, and “…their delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law, they meditate day and night. They are like trees planted by streams of water…” No cares or worries, just warm sunny days, eating grapes on the banks of the stream as the cool waters flow calmly past, pondering God’s law and all his magnificent creation. Birds sing in the trees, butterflies flit between the flowers, and bunnies hop placidly nearby. As a nature nerd, this vision of communing with God resonates with me.
The psalm continues, “[they] yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper.” Is the author implying that living a perfect sinless life of contemplation frees us from anything bad? Back then, when bad things happened, they were thought to be God’s retribution for sin.
As I read this psalm through the lens of Jesus and his teaching to love God and others, it can give a different interpretation to these verses. By faithful contemplation of God’s Word, we open ourselves to the Holy Spirit working within us. This expresses itself in the Fruits of the Spirit described by Paul in Galatians 5:22: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Using these “fruits” gives us the ability to be God’s hands and feet to tend to His people. Expecting nothing in return, they are an expression of our close relationship with God.
As I’ve written these devotions for the last 12 years (since Oct 5, 2013), I’ve learned that just pondering (meditating) over the words helps me to see their meaning. This psalm, written 3,000 years ago, is still speaking to me. That’s the beauty of the Bible.
Questions for Reflection:
- How/where do you meditate on the Bible?
- Would you be interested in joining the team of writers for these devotions? (See Andrea – we really could use your help)
Prayer:
Hey God, Your Word still speaks to me after thousands of years. Who’d ‘a thought! Lead me to understand Your meaning and share it with others. Amen.
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