“For the Lord knows and fully approves the way of the righteous,
But the way of the wicked shall perish.” (Psalm 1:6 AMP)
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. Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction. (Psalm 1 NIV)
Last week my Bible Recap readings took me through Psalm 1. The first of this great book of ancient Hebrew poetry and songs, Psalm 1 focuses on the reality that if we are walking with God in his righteousness, we will be blessed. And if we choose to sin and align our lives with the wicked, we will not endure. In a modern world that generally embraces lots of shades of gray, such a stark contrast between “righteous” and “wicked” seems jarring to our modern ears. Yet, the Psalmist describes the blessings of being connected to God.
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.
Like today, the ancient Middle East was a place of vast dryness and emptiness. Contrast that with the image above – a rich, healthy, beautiful tree that produces good leaves and fruit because it is planted by the waters of Life.
Today, may we, too, be planted in the Holy Spirit’s waters of Life and produce good fruit as we seek God’s righteousness.
Righteous God,
Your Word says that we are blessed if we avoid the ways of the wicked, the sinners, and the mockers. Give us hunger and hearts to be righteous, to be that spiritual tree, planted in Your streams of Living Water. Watch over your children so we do not end up in destruction, but so we walk in your righteousness. May our lives’ fruit be honoring to you, we ask in Jesus’ name. AMEN.
“What delight comes to the one who follows God’s ways!
He won’t walk in step with the wicked,
nor share the sinner’s way,
nor be found sitting in the scorner’s seat.
His passion is to remain true to the Word of “I AM,”
meditating day and night on the true revelation of light.
He will be standing firm like a flourishing tree
planted by God’s design,
deeply rooted by the brooks of bliss,
bearing fruit in every season of life.
He is never dry, never fainting,
ever blessed, ever prosperous.
But how different are the wicked.
They are like chaff blown away by the wind.
The wicked will not endure the day of judgment,
for God will not defend them.
Nothing they do will succeed or endure for long,
for they have no part with those who walk in truth.
But how different it is for the righteous!
The Lord embraces their paths as they move forward
while the way of the wicked leads only to doom.” (Psalm 1 TPT)