PsalmsSample

When we think of the Psalms, we usually imagine songs of praise. But tucked in there are some nuggets of wisdom that hit harder than you’d expect. Psalm 1 is one of them—a roadmap for a blessed life, contrasting the righteous and the wicked with surgical precision.

It starts strong: “Blessed is the man…” Blessed. That’s not a fluffy word. It’s the real deal. Divine favor, fulfillment, joy that sticks. But before we start picturing a life of easy Sundays and Instagram-worthy mornings, the psalmist gives us the negatives: don’t walk in the counsel of the wicked, don’t stand with sinners, don’t sit with scoffers.

Notice the progression—walking, standing, sitting. Sin sneaks up on you slowly, and if you’re not careful, it’ll root itself deep.

But now the positive side: “But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night” (ESV). Here’s the kicker: blessed people don’t just obey God grudgingly. They delight in Him. His Word isn’t a duty; it’s their joy. When was the last time Scripture gave you that kind of thrill? When did meditating on God feel less like homework and more like breathing?

Then comes the imagery that sticks: “He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither" (ESV). Think about it—a tree with deep roots, nourished, thriving even when storms come. That’s what a life rooted in God looks like. Fruitful, stable, evergreen, prosperous in what truly matters.

Contrast that with the wicked, “chaff the wind drives away.” Useless. Weightless. Gone with the first gust. That’s a pretty sobering reality check.

The psalm closes with the ultimate truth: “The Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish” (ESV). God sees you. He knows your choices. And He will act.

So, what’s the takeaway? Keep good company. Delight in God’s Word. Meditate daily. Root yourself in Him. Produce fruit. And rest in the fact that God knows your ways.