Psalm 1

Psalm 1 provides a contrast between the life of the righteous and the wicked, showing how one path leads to blessing and stability, while the other ends in destruction. It sets the tone for the rest of the Psalms, highlighting the importance of meditating on God’s law and living a life that aligns with His will.

Psalm 1:1 (NKJV)
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;

The righteous person avoids following the advice and lifestyle of the wicked. This verse portrays a progression—first walking with ungodly influences, then standing, and finally sitting comfortably in sin. The message is that true happiness comes from avoiding such paths altogether.

Psalm 1:2 (NKJV)
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.

Rather than following sinful ways, the righteous delight in God’s Word. Meditating on Scripture constantly means filling one’s mind with God's truth and applying it in daily life. This lifestyle brings spiritual fulfillment and growth.

Psalm 1:3 (NKJV)
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.

The righteous are compared to a well-nourished tree, firmly rooted and thriving by a constant water source. Their lives are fruitful and enduring, unaffected by life’s hardships, because they are anchored in God’s Word. Their prosperity refers to spiritual success and fulfillment, not merely material gain.

Psalm 1:4-5 (NKJV)
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.

The wicked, unlike the fruitful tree, are unstable like chaff blown away by the wind. They lack firm roots and direction. When the time of judgment comes, they will not withstand God’s scrutiny and will be separated from the community of the righteous.

Psalm 1:6 (NKJV)
6 For the Lord knows the way of the righteous,
But the way of the ungodly shall perish.

God watches over and blesses the path of the righteous, ensuring their well-being. In contrast, the way of the wicked will ultimately lead to ruin. This final verse emphasizes the eternal outcomes of both paths—life for the righteous and destruction for the wicked.