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.
Psalm 1:1-3
“Is this really wrong?” Sometimes we find ourselves asking this question as we pursue godliness in this fallen world. The grey areas of life can be attractive, the thrill of toeing the line exhilarating. In Psalm 1, however, there are two roads for our choosing, and they diverge greatly.
In this psalm, we are presented with the way of the world and the way of the Word. The Scripture today centres on the first three verses, which describes the one who has chosen the way of the Word, the path of blessedness.
Interestingly, the psalmist opens with advice on what not to do: walk in step with the wicked, stand in the path of sinners, and sit in the company of mockers. That is the way of the world, one we would be wise to avoid. Walking, standing, sitting – the psalmist is writing not whole-life living, who we are as we go about our day, as we work, make decisions and manage relationships.
The life we build is not shaped by the big moments, but our daily choices, and our choices are driven by what we find joy and fulfilment in. In this psalm, blessed is the one who finds delight in God’s Word, devoting time and energy to understand His ways and His heart.
This is the way of the Word. It is lined with the whole-life blessedness of knowing God, and the abundant life promised to all who choose Him.