I’ve been using a pretty comprehensive plan for reading through the Bible for a few years now. This plan exposes me to every single word of God’s message to mankind at least once per year, and many passages much more than that. In fact, some parts get read once a month, or once every couple of months.
When I started using this strategy to read the Bible, I had the foresight to purchase a new Bible at the same time. I did this, because I wanted a good study Bible, with good notes and references, to go along with my reading. An unexpected benefit of this purchase has been seeing how many notes and thoughts I’ve added to the margins since starting this plan.
There is a large amount of my own notes, highlights, underlines, and references that have been added over the past few years. It’s kind of cool to look through this Bible and realize that all of this is from the past three years. It’s amazing to see just how much God’s word has impacted my life as a result.
Looking back through this Bible, one of the most impacting portions of Scripture on my life has been the book of Psalms. There are notes and highlights and scribbles and thoughts scattered all throughout these pages. Simply looking back through my own notes in this one book is somewhat overwhelming.
The Psalms have always held a special place in my love for God’s word. As a kid, my parents purchased a series of wooden plaques with the name of each family member on one, and a passage that served as an encouragement for each of us. Mine had Psalm 1:3 printed on it:
He is like a tree planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither.
As a kid, I had a hard time understanding how this fit my own life. How am I like a tree? But as I grew older, I began to see the implications for my life hidden in those short phrases.
During my childhood, these signs hung for a while in our living room, near the front door. Later, they hung in the hallway, where they were visible every time I went to my bedroom. I still have that plaque with my name on it.
When I got married, I discovered that my wife had one just like that, with her own name on it, from when she was a child. As a result, these two pieces have been placed on the wall in our bedroom in every place we’ve lived. I don’t know how many memories my wife has that build upon this little sign, but mine is significant.
As a result, Psalm 1 has long been a favorite passage for me. As I read it over and over throughout my life, I began to know it intimately. And as I became more familiar with these six short verses, one day it hit me; Psalm 1 is really a simple study in contrasts. It shows the contrast between right and wrong, between the righteous and the unrighteous.
A Contrast In Individuals – Verses 1-2
The Psalm begins with a look at two different individuals, the righteous man and the wicked man. The implication from the very first words is that the obvious choice is to be like the righteous man. Such a person does not keep counsel with those who are wicked, or sinners, or scoffers. I love the progression imagery in this passage. Going the wrong direction may begin incrementally, but results in being far from where you started. The unrighteous begin simply by walking with the wicked. But soon they find themselves stopping and standing with sinners. And finally they end up sitting down and getting comfortable in the seats of scoffers. This certainly isn’t where he intended on being when he started, but that is where he ended up nonetheless.
The blessed man, however, avoids all of this, and does so by giving attention to one discipline. He soaks up the word of God. God’s message to us, in the Bible, has incredible power to strengthen us and keep us from wandering in the wrong directions. I love the word the psalmist uses here, the blessed man delights in the Law of the Lord. God’s Word is a passion for the righteous.
A Contrast In Settings – Verses 3-4
The choice presented in the first two verses aren’t simply theoretical. One of the people described here will see benefits and blessings. The other won’t. The one who chooses to drink in the waters of God’s Word will be like a fruitful tree, planted on the banks of a life-nourishing stream, producing fruit and impacting those around him
However, the unrighteous won’t see such prosperity. Instead, the chaff represents something that is unsubstantial, without value, and worthy only of being thrown out as rubbish.
A Contrast In Results – Verses 5-6
Finally, the end result of each of these individuals is revealed in the last two verses. One will stand in the presence of the Lord, and the other will perish. One will experience life, the other will come to ruin. The choices of life usher us toward our eventual destinies, the logical results of our choices.
Psalm 1 is, essentially, a worldview description. Either we will build our lives upon the authority of God and his Word,or we will seek other sources and give them the opportunity to influence our lives and choices. But the choice is ours, at least for now. There will come a time when we will no longer have the opportunity to choose. We had best choose now, while there is still time.
That way, when the tough times hit us, we will have the foundation that we need to remain firm and steadfast, holding on to the only promises that can sustain us.
Question: Which of the two descriptions fits your life best? What do you need to do to become more like the better description? You can leave a comment by clicking here.