Blessed is the one whose delight is in the law of the Lord.
The whole book of Psalms opens with a contrast between two roads.
The episode in a glance.
- 01Three downward steps: walk, stand, sit — with the wicked.
- 02The blessed person delights in God's word, not just tolerates it.
- 03'Meditate' means to chew on, mutter, return to.
- 04Two ways to live; only one ends with fruit.
Read along.
Psalm 1 is the introduction to the whole book. It opens with a contrast. On one side, the blessed person — who doesn't walk in the counsel of the wicked, stand in the way of sinners, or sit in the seat of scoffers.
Notice the descent. Walking with bad advice, then standing with bad behavior, then sitting comfortably in mocking everything good. Sin tends to escalate by sitting down.
On the other side: 'His delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.' Delight, not duty. And meditate — the Hebrew word means to mutter, chew on, keep returning to.
Two ways to live. One ends like a tree by water, fruitful in season. The other ends like chaff in the wind. Psalm 1 wants you to know that early.