Blessed is the Man: Help to Choose the Right Path (Psalm 1)

Read Psalm 1

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.

⁴ The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. ⁵ Therefore the wicked will 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 wicked will perish.

Understand Psalm 1

Blessed is the man (or woman) who meditates on God’s Word like a tea bag seeping in hot water or meat soaking in a marinade. Such a man remains separate from the world (v. 1) because he does not consider sin (walking), contemplate sin (standing), or become comfortable with sin (sitting). He is “blessable” because he watches his steps.[1] Each person must choose between either the way of blessing (vv. 1-3) or the way of perishing (vv. 4-6).

I. Blessings abound for the man of God (vv. 1-3)

He grows in his delight for God’s Word.
He increases in his knowledge of God’s Word.
He escapes the consequences of sin.
He is planted, by God’s grace, beside a life-giving stream (see Deut 11:10-12).
He receives the assurance of a constant source of strength.
His roots stretch both deep and wide to weather life’s storms.
He bears the fruit of the Spirit even in the dry season (see Gal 5:22-23).
He is a spiritual evergreen (see Jer 17:7-8).
In all that he does, he prospers.
He provides comforting shade for others.
His way and his future are known by the sovereign God.

II. Not so, however, for the wicked who despise God’s Word (vv. 4-6)

His counselors are unwise and his companions are fools.
He mocks God instead of delighting in God’s Word.
His life is of less substance than chaff.
He is shown to be lacking in comparison to the righteous.
His way leads to eternal death.
He will not stand in the final judgment.

Apply Psalm 1

Put Psalm 1 to memory.
Cultivate a daily practice of meditating on God’s Word.
Confess any ways you have begun walking down the wrong path.
Take practical steps to put on the fruit of the Spirit in your life today.
Meditate on Jesus Christ as the only blessed man to perfectly live out Psalm 1.

Pray Psalm 1

Lord, help me to walk in the way of blessedness (vv. 1-3) instead of the way of perishing (vv. 4-6).
Teach me to delight in your law and meditate on it day and night (v. 2).
Show me how to yield spiritual fruit in every season (v. 3).
Bring the unrighteous to justice in your time and in your way (vv. 4-5).
Thank you, O Lord, for knowing me, loving me, and planning out my life (v. 6).

Counsel Psalm 1

Psalm 1 is a good place to start with any counselee to help them choose their path. Will they root themselves in sin and its thorny consequences or be planted in the living water of God’s Word and bear spiritual fruit? Counselors must show the difference between deep-rooted heart change and mere behavior modification that ties fruit to the tree.

Projects for Growth

Do you want to be happy (or as the psalmist writes, “blessed”)? What is your definition of happiness in this life? What do you know about God’s definition?
Read Psalm 1 three times slowly and contemplate its meaning. Write down your observations and questions.
Make two columns. Write down all of the blessings which God promises to the righteous and all of the judgments he promises to the wicked.
Draw a picture of a tree with its roots, leaves, and fruit. What do each of the metaphors in verse 3 depict spiritually? How does your own life compare?
Meditation means “to chew” on God’s Word. In an ordinary week, how often do you intake God’s Word and chew on its meaning? Make a schedule for Scripture reading and meditation that you would like to practice.
List the names of your five closest companions. Do they lead you closer to Christ or farther away? Are they instrumental in helping you understand and apply God’s Word? If you don’t have a discipler, find a more mature believer in the church to meet with on a regular basis.
Consider the life and character of Jesus. How was he the only perfectly righteous man? What hope does the person and work of Christ offer to those who trust in him?
Do you have any sin you need to confess regarding your thoughts, words, or behavior? If so, speak it to the Lord and receive his forgiveness today.
Memorize Psalm 1 this week and make it your daily prayer.
For further study, read Jay E. Adams, The Road to Happiness: Psalm One (Simpsonville, SC: INS, 2020).

[1] See William Varner, Awake O Harp: A Devotional Commentary on the Psalms (The Woodlands, TX: Kress Biblical Resources, 2014), 11.