Psalm 1 - Choose Life

A tree planted by water, full of life

Introduction

Psalm 1 serves as an introduction to the whole Psalter, not just because it is first, but by its content. It acts like a gatekeeper, causing the reader to pause and identify with one of the two lifestyles outlined. Only those who desire to meditate on God's word should continue into the literary sanctuary of the Psalms.

In this Psalm we see a pattern often used in Old Testament wisdom literature, the image of life as a journey. There is a choice, two different paths we can take, two different options for how to live life. The way of the righteous or the way of the wicked.

Let’s look together at what this Psalm says about these different options.

The Wicked

If we first look at what this Psalm says about the wicked it will help us see more clearly the contrast with the way of the righteous.

The first thing we notice is three positions in the opening verse; walk, stand, and sit. Each of these conveys a different picture and shows us that the wicked, the sinners, and the mockers are found across all of life. The imagery also speaks of different levels of relationship, getting more intimate and becoming deeper as we go from walking to sitting. There are also three words used for this pathway - wicked, sinners, and mockers.

“The first colon describes one who does not walk in step with the wicked. To walk with someone is to be associated with them, but not as deeply as to stand with them (colon 2) or sit with them (colon 3). Each colon intensifies the relationship with evil and also uses more forceful terms for evil (wicked, sinners, mockers). Mockers are the most egregiously evil people. Since they not only sin, but they also turn around and mock the innocent.”

(Longman III, T. Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, Psalms 2014, p36)

Jumping down to verse 4 we see the end result of such choices, to be blown like chaff. The chaff is the part of wheat or other grain that is not edible. It is light, and easily blown away. The Psalmist is saying this is what the life of the wicked is like; lacking substance, without permanence. In verse 6 this is made very clear.

“For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.”

Psalm 1: 6

A life without substance that will ultimately perish, this is the result of choosing this path for life’s journey.

The Righteous

When we look at the path of the righteous we see a very different lifestyle and a very different outcome. At the very outset of Psalm 1 we read that this person is blessed. We could translate this verse as “Happy and blessed is the Godly person”. As we read on we see why this person is blessed, why they are considered Godly.

“But his delight is in the law of the LORD,

and on his law he meditates day and night.”

Psalm 1: 2

This focus on God and HIs word is the reason for this happiness. We have to contrast this with the alternative of walking, standing, and sitting with the wicked, the sinners, and the mockers.

I think all too often people view Christianity as a set of laws to follow. Certainly when I was younger a lot of my friends considered it as a set of rules that stopped your fun. What we see here is totally different. Yes, there is the law, the word of God to meditate on (most likely referencing the whole set of divine requirements, and we can now think of it as the whole Bible, see Longman III, p 57) but the outcome is a blessed life. This is not talking about worldly or material prosperity, as we read on we see the picture the Psalmist uses.

“He is like a tree planted 

by streams of water, 

which yields its fruit in season

and whose leaf does not wither.

Whatever he does prospers.”

Psalm 1: 3

We can unpack this image a bit to help us gain a better understanding, and to see more clearly the contrast with the life of the wicked that we saw when looking at verse 4.

The tree, planted by a stream is a simile for the person following God and meditating on His word. The direct result is the life that comes from a deep, ongoing relationship with God. As the verse closes it talks of prosperity and we must be careful here. It is best to think of this and the blessing the Psalm opened with, in the way Paul appears to in Ephesians.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.”

Ephesians 1: 3

It is not about material blessing or prosperity, though God can do that, it is about something of greater significance. The way of the righteous is to follow Jesus, and those who do can truly know the fullness of life.

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

John 10: 10

You see, when we acknowledge Jesus is God, and when we commit to following in Him we are really committing to a fullness of life, a life that looks like a tree planted by a stream.

The blessing of following Jesus is not that life will always be easy, but that He will always be there. This is true in the here and now, and it also speaks of something more lasting, something eternal.

Those who follow God, who believe in Jesus, who put Him first receive an eternity with Him. As we read into verse 4 this perspective becomes clear. Those with roots elsewhere are blown away like chaff.

“For the LORD watches over

the way of the righteous,

but the way of the wicked

will perish.”

Psalm 1: 6

The Choice

Reading this Psalm, reading it in light of Jesus we see that the two ways presented are to follow Jesus or not. The terms used in the Psalm are particularly strong, difficult to read even, but this is the choice in a nutshell. 

In choosing Jesus, in choosing to follow Him, to meditate on His word we become like a tree planted by a stream. If we ignore Jesus, if we commit to anything else, including nothing at all, we become like chaff, the opposite of a fruitful thriving tree.

Have you made a decision, which route will you choose?