January 7 Psalm 1-2
The entire collection of Psalms is called “Praises” in the Hebrew text. The Greek Septuagint called it Psalmos - “songs sung with musical accompaniment.” It was the hymnbook of the ancient Jews.
The Psalms are a divinely inspired collection of worship, lament, thanksgiving, and prophecy. They teach us how to pray, how to worship, and how to trust God in every circumstance. Above all, they point us to the coming of Jesus Christ and the fullness of life found in Him.
Psalm 1 introduces the entire collection of Psalms. It contrasts the two types of people in the world - the wicked (chaff) and the righteous (trees). There are two ways of life: the blessed life of the righteous and the perishing way of the wicked. It’s the choice between God’s way and man’s way.
What about those who choose God’s way? They are like trees planted by rivers of water. We receive constant nourishment from the Word of God and are fruitful unto the Lord. Also, because we are well rooted, we are able to endure the storms of life.
The Psalmist also tells us what the righteous man avoids: • He does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly - he refuses to let the world set his direction. • He does not stand in the way of sinners - he does not settle down in a lifestyle of disobedience. • He does not sit in the seat of scoffers - he refuses to belong to those who mock God.
Bottom line, the righteous are different. They are not shaped by the voices of the culture, but by the Word of God.
In contrast, the wicked are like chaff, which is light, rootless, and worthless. Chaff is blown by the wind - no stability, no fruit, no endurance. Also, the Psalmist said that the wicked will not be able to stand in the Day of God’s judgment. They will be destroyed in God’s wrath.
Psalm 1:6 For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish.
No question is more important than the question of “final destiny.” There are only two options before us - the path of the righteous which leads to salvation, and the path of the wicked that leads to destruction. Which path are you on? Psalm 1 leads us to choose. Only one path leads to life and salvation. Psalm 1 is not just a poem but a call to decide which path you will travel.
Jesus echoed this Psalm in Matthew 7:13-14 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” Two ways, two roads, two destinies.
I can testify that walking the straight and narrow way leads to abundant life.