1 Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
3 He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.
4 The ungodly are not so,
But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.
5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment,
Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
6 For the LORD knows the way of the righteous,
But the way of the ungodly shall perish.
(Psalm 1)
Notice the differences between the saved and unsaved in Psalm 1.
The unsaved are:
- Separated from God (v4-6).
- Sinning against God (v1).
- Scorning at the truth of God (v1).
The saved are:
- Separated to God (v2-3,6).
- Serving only God (v1).
- Searching for the truth (v2).
We often read Psalm 1 looking for imperatives—commands—to follow (i.e., do not walk with sinners, delight in the law, meditate upon it, etc). We seldom read Psalm 1 looking for reasons to thank God. The best news in Psalm 1 is not what we have done but what what God has done—and also what He is doing and what He’ll be faithful to do.
If you are a Christian today, Jesus has saved you from separation, sin, and scorning the truth. Instead, you are set apart to know and serve Him. His Truth has been revealed in the work of Jesus Christ.
So next time you read Psalm 1, be thankful for Jesus’ work in you.
Chris is a Christian, husband to Alyssa, works as Executive Director of The Gospel for OC and Writer and Editor at Blue Letter Bible. Chris and his wife Alyssa worship and serve at Reverence Bible Church in Mission Viejo, California. He is the author of The Two Fears: Tremble Before God Alone.
