Day 39
Psalm 1:1-6 NKJV
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; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. 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. The ungodly are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish.
Psalm 1:16- Message
How well God must like you— you don’t hang out at Sin Saloon, you don’t slink along Dead-End Road, you don’t go to Smart-Mouth College. Instead you thrill to God’s Word, you chew on Scripture day and night. You’re a tree replanted in Eden, bearing fresh fruit every month, Never dropping a leaf, always in blossom. You’re not at all like the wicked, who are mere wind-blown dust— Without defense in court, unfit company for innocent people. God charts the road you take. The road they take is Skid Row.
Today we do the paraphrase method.
How full and rich is the life of the man or woman who chooses not to journey on the road that does not lead to life. They are intentional in seeking their counsel and direction for their lives from the one who gives life. They refuse the instruction and guidance of those who do what is wrong in God’s eyes, knowing that the unrighteous cannot bring righteous choices to those seeking to live and do right. This man or woman will not walk, stand, or sit in a place that does not glorify God.
They instead choose to sit where they can delight his heart. They look to His Words, and abandon themselves to his law knowing that in doing so they will experience a fullness that can be found nowhere else. They join their hearts with him and make him their full and complete delight.
This full and rich life is firmly planted. Those who capture this and experience it are like a tree planted by streams of water. Their water source is continual, their roots are deep, and they display beauty and majesty. They are fixed and a true picture of divine stability. They live fruitful lives. Lives so rich in the Truth that others can pick the fruit from their lives and be fed, and become rich as well. This man or woman’s life does not dry up. It is continuous and prosperous. Life, full life everywhere.
However, those who choose to live outside of God’s richness and fullness are the complete opposite. The one who rejects truth will find that their choice has come with grave consequences. Their life has no life, no fruit, and in the end will face the judgement of their wrong choice.
God’s eyes see everything. He misses nothing. He will set everything right according to His Righteousness. He makes no mistakes.
Personal Thoughts.
This passage is full of life for anyone who wants to apply it. May I find my life applying this word and living in the fruit of its application in my life. May I walk in truth, stand for truth, and sit where truth reigns.
Comments(5)
Pat McRae says:
February 12, 2014 at 5:42 pmHappy is Pat when she does not seek the counsel of this world; when she does not wander down and stand-up for the ways of the not yet saved; and when she sits in heavenly places instead of sitting with those that scorn the things of God.
Oh Pat how you delight in God’s Word and how the Holy Spirit gives you such wonderful insight as you mull the Word over in your mind and heart. You are a tree strong and straight not easily blown over because you are planted by rivers of life. The waters of heaven nourish you so that you bring forth sweet, nourishing fruit for those who are hungry and green leaves that provide shade to the weary traveller. Yes because God is with you, you prosper in all your ways. It is so sad that the not yet saved don’t see the difference. You are so solidly planted in the Rock that can not be moved and they are reeds blown away by everything just like chaff.
If only those choosing to go their own way could understand they will not get to stand before the lover of their souls Who has given so much for them. They have no idea how wonderful the robe of righteousness is and that it is a wonderful gift, given to them free for faith.
Isn’t it wonderful Pat that God knows your ways for you belong to the family of God and you wear His robe of righteousness. Oh Pat you need to speak to those who have chosen the wrong paths for they are perishing in their ungodly ways.
Sue says:
February 12, 2014 at 10:02 pmConditions well suited for happiness includes not walking out your life according to the so-called wisdom of those who ignore God, not stopping to pay attention to the road that sinners take and not settling down beside those who mock God.
Let the Word be your comfort food. Go back to it day and night and let it nurture you. You will live a strong and productive life.
Those who don’t live this way are like the worthless fluff blown in every direction. They won’t have a leg to stand when it matters.
God will direct your path but those who reject God will depart from this life disappointed and lost.
Application:
The path is clearly marked in this Psalm. One way leads to eternal happiness and the other to a destitute lonely end. My path needs to be a progressive one toward God and that path is through His Word … through Truth.
Jim Holmes says:
February 12, 2014 at 10:08 pmParaphrasing Ps. 1:1-6 which reads…
1 Blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the way 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 doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth 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.
Happy is the man or woman who refuses to live by what others who are outside of Christ point out to us how we should conduct our lives, or to find ourselves acting like the world, or takes their side and voice as opposed to what God desires of you. You are a new creation in Christ Jesus whose delight is in the law of the Lord. God’s laws are good, and Christ Jesus fulfilled the law, that same Christ Jesus that is in you, so that you have eternal Life. You delight in this, and you meditate all the time on what God did for you and all who come to Him for salvation. This makes you like a tree, drinking a river of living water, making you fruitful in God’s Way. Your leaf doesn’t wither as you have eternal Life, and you prosper with God. Outside of God, the disobedient have no root in Him and are blown away…and they have no part in God’s kingdom. They will perish. But the Lord knows the direction taken by those made right in Christ. These will be blessed, happy in the Lord.
Jim Holmes says:
February 12, 2014 at 10:43 pmFreda…
I just love the way you expressed Ps.1:1-6. I could just “taste” the word as I read it…and it was so good, I had to re-read it a number of times. Ya’ll got to read it….”Taste the word” and see that it is indeed, good. 🙂
Susan Craig says:
February 13, 2014 at 12:00 amIn your search for happiness, you need to be careful to choose the right road,the right companions and the right advice. There are really just 2 choices/2 roads/2 outcomes. As Christians,our source of happiness is in the Word of God which we read and think about and make a part of our everyday lives under the guidance/instruction of the Holy Spirit. Non-Christians seem like they live on another planet as compared to Christians and since we actually share one planet, we need to separate ourselves from their influence and be careful that their point of view does not become ours. To do this we must not seek their advice over God’s counsel,we must take the narrow road less travelled and not make their worldly ways our own. The ways of the ‘worldly wisemen’ are subtile-they seem like they know truth but the reality is that they live in a world of half-truths and lies. Christians need to stand strong in the battles of life with our armour on-we must set our roots down deep into the truth of God’s Word and allow it to become our guide for every problem we face in life. It may seem that the road Christians travel is an uphill battle that has many twists and turns and seemingly unbearable hardships along the way. But we are never alone on our road because God is always with us on our journey and He knows everything about us – He is eager to show us the way of true and lasting happiness and always provides what we need to endure.The Non-Christian may be among the majority and seem like they have all they need to be happy and prosperous in this world,but their happiness is short lived-and a cheap imitation that will not stand the test of time when eternity is factored in. They will not stand when they reach the finish line and will be blown away losers on judgement day. Their road has an abrupt and final end.
But Christians may have trials and difficulties in this life but we are known by God-He sees us and stays with us providing the strength,sustinence and endurance to reach the finish line where we not only stand but prosper-bearing much fruit and able to enjoy eternity with God and the saints. So the choice is obvious to those who see life from God’s point of view, short term pain now for long term gain in eternity.