Two Ways

Psalm 1 English Standard Version (ESV)

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,

nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;

but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.

"He is like a tree planted by streams of water

that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither.

In all that he does, he prospers.

The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

"Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.”

This psalm reminds me of Proverbs Chapter One and Joshua Chapter One (you might want to compare them).

How shall we walk and stand and sit? Whose words and thoughts will mold our souls? What will our minds absorb? How shall we live this coming year?

Certainly our Lord Jesus is “the Way of the righteous” (John 14:6). Is Jesus truly our way of life?

Yes, we do battle “spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:13), all the more reason to know the Lord Jesus as our refuge, all the more reason to mediate on the Law of Yahweh both day and night.

We are called to “delight in the Law of Yahweh”, to treasure His Law above gold or silver or position or fame or any such thing – for to delight in God’s Word is to delight in Christ, and we cannot delight in Christ, the Word, except we also delight in His commandments; if we love Him we will obey Him (John 14:15; 1 John 5:3; 2 John 6).

Make no mistake, there is only One Who is Holy; then there is evil and wickedness. Which way shall we live in? Which path will we walk? Whose words shall we obey, speak, and ponder?

May I suggest that we meditate on Psalm One for the remainder of this week? Perhaps we might memorize it? I hear memorization is good for the brain. I know that knowing and living in this psalm is good for the soul.