People everywhere are looking for the key(s) to success. Millions of books are sold every year with supposed keys to success in business, relationships, employment, and more. Consider then, the simplicity of what is said in Psalm 1.
Psalm 1:1–3 (ESV) — 1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.
The psalmist first considers the negative side of blessing as he lists the blessed person does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor does he sit in the seat of scoffers. If you want to succeed in life and enjoy a blessed life, there are things to avoid, particularly these three – be careful and discreet about what counsel you are following. It may sound good but if it it’s not counsel grounded in the truth of scripture, it will very likely lead you down the wrong road.
Proverbs 16:25 (ESV) — 25 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.
The second thing to avoid is the wrong crowd. In other words, be careful not to hang out with the wrong crowd. Peer pressure is real at any age and if the people with whom you associate are not on the same page, they will lead you down every time.
1 Corinthians 15:33 (ESV) — 33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”
The third area of regression from the “blessed way of life” is sitting in the seat of the scoffer. Have you ever noticed how people get real negative on everything and the next thing you know everything is wrong and nothing is right? Generally, bitterness is part of this way of life, and the word of God is clear that bitterness leads to missing out on the flow of God’s grace in our lives.
Hebrews 12:15 (ESV) — 15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;
So much for what to avoid. What about the focus of this blessed life?
The Law of the Lord. It’s the delight of the blessed person and it’s the focus of meditation day and night. Most Christians feel that God’s law is harsh and burdensome, and they rejoice that God’s grace has set them free from the law. The fact is, however, that the law should be a joy and delight to anyone who really loves the Lord. Even Paul, the great apostle of grace, said: “For I delight in the law of God after the inward man,” and “the law is holy, righteous, and good.” David said that “the law of the Lord is perfect.”
Romans 7:22 (ESV) — 22 For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being,
Romans 7:12 (ESV) — 12 So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.
Psalm 19:7 (ESV) — 7 The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;
You cannot help but get a very positive take on the law of God if you will take time to read the 176 verses of the 119th Psalm. There you will find at least 25 benefits of the law of the Lord.
Before you blow off anything regarding “the law of the Lord,” remember that one of the purposes of the law was to reveal sin in our lives and drive us to the Lord Jesus Christ as the only solution for our sin. That is a great positive benefit from reading and meditating upon the law of God.
John 8:31–32 (ESV) — 31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Not only does the law show us our helplessness before God from failure after failure, which leads us to the one and only solution in the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ, but the law is a presentation of the divine attributes of God as He displays His holiness and perfection.
Psalm 19:7–11 (ESV) — 7 The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; 8 the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lordis pure, enlightening the eyes; 9 the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. 11 Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.
We find the third point from Psalm 1 – the great reward of meditating upon the law of God during the day and night which results in growth, fruit-bearing, and prosperity. You can’t get to that blessed state by way of a short cut. The way of true prosperity and success runs through avoiding bad counsel, unhealthy relationships, and negativity along with bitterness. On the other hand, true prosperity and success runs through knowing and meditating upon the word of God, namely the law of God so that the truth has a place in your life. The scriptures teach this way of blessing is a blessed state that can only come from God. Since by nature we cannot understand the ways of God, but because of the work of the Lord Jesus Christ and His offering of Himself as an atoning offering to God on our behalf, the blessing of the “new covenant” are ours – including the writing of God’s law upon our heart and upon our mind so that we desire to read it, and meditate upon it.
Romans 3:10–12 (ESV) — 10 as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; 11 no one understands; no one seeks for God. 12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”
Hebrews 10:14–17 (ESV) — 14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. 15 And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying, 16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds,” 17 then he adds, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.”
God blesses us with the inward desire, and He has blessed us with easy access to His law and His word. Therefore, let us be diligent in pursuing the pathway of blessing as described in Psalm 1 – “delighting in the law of the Lord.”
Godspeed,
Bob Brubaker, Pastor
Christ Community Presbyterian Church
Clearwater, FL
