On Psalm 1

Summer Psalms - On Psalm 1

August 26, 2022

Pray for Illumination - Heavenly Father, help me to know your ways; teach me your paths and lead me into your truth. Amen.

Read 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.  Psalm 1:1-2

It seemed so clear to me then.  I was baptized at the age of 14, realizing that this was my decision to follow the way of Jesus.  Immediately following my baptism it was clear to me that I was exactly where I needed to be.  Everything seemed to make sense.  I felt blessed!  But as I progressed through the teen years and even into adulthood, my journey of faith was anything but simple.  There were times that I knew I was not the faithful person that God called me to be.  And there were also many times when I didn’t always feel so blessed.  And yet, it is easy for me to look back over my life and see how God has always remained faithful to me and watched over my life because of my commitment as a young teen.  Despite difficult times and my own shortcomings, God has always kept me rooted in Christ and His righteousness.  I know I am blessed.  

For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous   Psalm 1:6

Psalm 1 seems to paint an idyllic picture of those who remain faithful to God.  It seems clear and the choice obvious.  Well, when it comes to one way being right and one way being wrong, or one way leading to life and the other to death - then the choice is clear.  Those who belong to God ultimately choose life.  Those who reject God, choose destruction.  Psalm 1 gives us the big picture.  But it also paves the way for the remaining Psalms.  Voices of joy and despair.  Songs of victory and lament.  Expressions of anger and confusion, but also deep conviction.  These are the smaller pictures of life that each of us will face.  But we can know that if we remain in Christ, his way will always produce life - everlasting, blessed life.  

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.  Psalm 1:3