Psalm 1 is the “pay me now and pay me later” Psalm of the Bible. In verse 1 it says Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. I guess you can see that “guilty by association” pretty much applies here and shows the heart and commitment of the one who does not have the joy of the Lord. A person who is miserable is a person who is not following God and His Word, but is following the advice and ways of a world that offers empty truths and dead end realities. In verse 2 the writer continues on telling just how “drawn in” to the truth of God’s ways this person will be and the end result will be a person with a strong foundation. Verse 2 But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. As all of this growth happens there is a wonderful result and a new identity that forms and that identity resembles the Lord Jesus Christ, which is the best result ever!! But there is more!! Verse 3 shows the very things we all long for as believers. The evidence!! Verse 3 They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. Yes, the scripture does say the word “prosper” so don’t freak out! It takes us from struggling, weak, and desperate losers to victorious saints of the Most High. Keep in mind that prosperity doesn’t take away the humble element in this simple truth about growing in the Lord. In fact, it only draws us further into a reliant relationship on the One who gives us the undeserved blessing of knowing the God of the Universe. To think that the King of Kings who gave His life for this victory would somehow lessen the effectiveness of it all by making us paupers and ineffective humans who just barely make it through is a thought that doesn’t line up with scripture. In some circles even the thought that God would ever bless us is foreign and unheard of, but the end of verse 3 cannot be negated by our lack of understanding of our heavenly Father. Just think, to bear fruit and never stop bearing fruit is a reality in the joy of the Lord and all He wants to do in our lives. Here is the formula of the verse 3 verses.
Joy ——-follow God and His Word ——–continuous nutrients from God——-bearing eternal fruit
This growing relationship we have with our Lord has results and a strong faith and joyful life are two of those results. These results alone should draw us to a new way of thinking where we are Delighted to Grow! Yes, God does bless and the intent is to draw us closer to Him and thus experience more blessings. God apparently loves blessing us, thus the death of His son on the cross and the victory of the resurrection. If anyone is lessening the blessings of God to His people, it is his people! Our lack of understanding sends us down a long road of disappointment and the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is not seen in our lives because we can’t believe God can be that giving. Wow! The reason many believers don’t draw closer to God is because we totally miss the boat on the abundant life thing and thus live in spiritual squalor. So, many who should see the result of God’s blessings are living in a faithless estate because they cannot wrap their human reasoning around it. If you are a believer, then live like a victorious blood bought believer and not like a wicked person.
In verse 4 it says But not the wicked! They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind. In just the same way that the saved are blessed, the wicked are cursed! So they live like cursed people because they are cursed. A person who hears the gospel and realizes the great love of God should have no problem turning from that life to Christ. Many believers are hesitant to offer salvation to lost people because they really are not experiencing much difference in their lives and the joy of the one gives exceedingly more than we deserve is not there, so their witness lines up more with the result of the wicked than the result of the saved. In verse 5 it says They will be condemned at the time of judgment. Sinners will have no place among the godly. But, that is not the end of those who know Jesus and we should live as those that God protects and saves and blesses. Verse 6 closes the whole thought with For the Lord watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.
Just keep in mind that the misuse of God’s Word has formed different denominational thinking that is man-centered and not God-centered. Some err on the issue of no blessings and some err on the issue of push button blessings, which muddys the water of truth that God gives to each of us through a simple Psalm. Psalm #1. Don’t overthink it. Just receive it.
The Pilgrimage continues…..
David Warren
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