Blessed is the man — the door verse of the Psalms.
The very first lines of the Psalms set out two ways to live. Only one ends well.
The episode in a glance.
- 01Psalm 1 is the gateway to the whole Psalter.
- 02Three negatives, then a positive — what you avoid matters.
- 03Delight in God's law is the engine of the blessed life.
- 04Two ways, two ends — the psalm forces a choice.
Read along.
'Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.' These are the first words of the Psalms.
Notice the verbs: walks, stands, sits. They get more settled. First you stroll past, then you stand still, then you sit down. Drift is gradual.
And notice what gets avoided: the counsel, the way, the seat — advice, lifestyle, identity. The blessed life starts by being careful where you take your cues.
Then the positive: 'his delight is in the law of the Lord.' Not duty. Delight. The blessed person genuinely enjoys what God has said.
The psalm goes on to compare this person to a tree planted by water, and to contrast them with chaff blown away in the wind. Two ways. Two ends. The Psalms open by asking you to pick one.