Living a contentment filled, happy life isn't easy, but it is simple.
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Psalm 1 Summary
Psalm 1 & 2 form a table of contents for the rest of the Psalms. In fact, for many centuries, Psalm 1 wasn't numbered, as it was considered the prologue for the Psalter.
The first half describes the life of a blessed man, a word we often misunderstand to mean having lots of material blessings, but which describes a state of true contentment, joy and peace.
The second half portrays the wicked as being as fleeting and worthless as wind driven chaff. They will amount to nothing.
This psalm ends with a reminder of a basic fact that's so easily forgotten or skeptically dismissed: God is closely watching the way of the righteous, and although it often seems the wicked have found temporary blessing, their path is actually bringing them straight to destruction.
Dig Deeper
Notice how subtle the process of being entrapped by wickedness is:
The falling process begins by just casually walking alongside the wicked;
Soon the walking gives way to standing with the sinners;
Finally the standing gives way to sitting amongst the mockers, fully sucked into a life of sin.
Certainly it's good to avoid this risk altogether, but this opening Psalm reminds us that just avoiding sin doesn't make a person righteous.
In addition to avoiding sin, you need to delight in the law of the Lord (v2). Whenever you read about God's law in the Psalms, it's not just referring to some specific commands, but the entire Bible. The Psalms point us to delight in the Word of God (literally: to make it our business). Of course Jesus Christ is the ultimate manifestation of the Word!
You're called to meditate on God's law day and night, which is the same word the Old Testament uses to describe a lion growling over her prey or a cow chewing her cud over and over. The words of scripture are to be continually present in your mind as you go about your daily activities.
AAA Prayer:
ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father watches over the way of the righteous (v6)
ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that you will have the presence of mind to be constantly meditating on God's Word.
ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:
