A Life of Blessing 

Psalm 1 

with John Calvin 

Today we begin our final series of studies, looking at the Psalms with the aid of John Calvin. He begins by saying: “instead of allowing ourselves to be deceived by the imaginary happiness of the ungodly, let us keep God’s word and providence ever before our eyes”. 

Read Psalm 1 

What does the blessed person delight in, that the ungodly do not? 

What do the various contrasts between the two kinds of people mean? 

Delight in the Word 

Whoever collected the Psalms into one volume appears to have placed this psalm at the beginning, by way of preface. It impresses on all the godly the duty of meditating on the law of God. The sum and substance of the whole is that those who apply their hearts to the pursuit of heavenly wisdom are blessed; whereas the un- believing despisers of God, although for a time they may reckon themselves happy, shall at length have a most miserable end. 

It shall always be well with God’s devout servants, whose constant endeavour it is to make progress in the study of his law. The greater part of mankind are accustomed to deride the conduct of the saints as mere childish simplicity, and to regard their labour as entirely thrown away. So it is important that the righteous should be confirmed in the way of holiness, by the consideration of the miserable condition of all those without the blessing of God. 

God is favourable to none but those who zealously devote themselves to the study of divine truth. So before asserting the blessedness of such students of the divine law, the psalm writer warns them to beware of being carried away by the ungodliness of the multitude around them. 

Hate Ungodliness 

All people naturally desire and seek after happiness, and those who have departed farthest from righteousness in the gratification of their lusts are often accounted happy, because they obtain the desires of their heart. This psalm, on the contrary, teaches that the ungodly are miserable, and that those who do not withdraw from their company shall be involved in the same destruction with them. 

Servants of God must endeavour utterly to hate the life of the ungodly. The psalm writer does not keep his eye on the prosperous condition they boast about for a short time, but his mind is seriously pondering the destruction which awaits them. Although the ungodly now live prosperously, yet by-and-by they shall be like chaff. By this form of speech, the Holy Spirit teaches us to contemplate things with the eye of faith. 

Apply

What would you say to someone who said that unbelievers are the strong and happy ones whereas Christians just seem to be wasting their time and effort? How can you delight in and meditate on God’s word more? 

Pray

Thank God for his word, the Bible, and for graciously revealing himself and his ways to us in the pages of this amazing book. 

Ask God to help you see things in this world with the eyes of faith, from the perspective of eternity.