 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. Meditation Christian is the pilgrim in John Bunyan’s epic allegory, Pilgrim’s Progress. Realizing the city he inhabits is doomed for destruction, Christian sets off for the Celestial City. Early in his journey he comes to a gate, posing two options and two paths. Christian can go through the gate and continue his pilgrimage to the Celestial City or he can take the path back to the city of destruction- there is no third way (Bruce Waltke uses this illustration when teaching on Psalms). Psalm 1 offers two paths without a third way, cobbling together contrasting corridors and forcing worshippers to make a decision. Blessing is promised to the one whose delight is in the law of the Lord, a fruitful tree with deep roots which bears fruit in season and out of season. Not so for the way of the wicked, which leads down a path of dry and withered living, blown in the wind like chaff, to ultimately descend into God’s just judgement. There is no third way. The two ways of either the wicked or the righteous paths are reinforced with two images of either a rooted tree or a rootless chaff and two different ends, joyous fellowship with the righteous or just judgement for the wicked. God’s grace invites every reader to experience the blessing of the righteous path through Jesus who is The Way (John 14:6). Through Jesus God’s just judgement is satisfied. In Jesus is the fullness of all God’s promises. Richly Dwelling -Why is the contrast of ways so significant for an introduction to the Psalms? -Where does your heart seek to make a third way? -How does knowing the path of the righteous is found in Christ alone not only fuel your faith but also your endurance and hope, simplifying wisdom and way in the person and work of Jesus Christ? Key Verse 6 for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish Comments are closed.
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