Psalm 1 counsels us to be careful of the way we choose to walk. There really is a right way.
“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.” Psalm 1:1-2
Ultimately, as we walk through this journey called life we have choices to make or ways to choose. Paths. Decisions. Trajectories. Don’t choose to walk with the wicked. Don’t stop long enough to even stand with sinners. Never set up camp and sit down with scoffers. Instead, delight in the law of the Lord. Meditate, pore over his law day and night.
“We are deeply rooted through years of consistent meditation, memorization, reading, and study of God’s Word.” J. Josh Smith, The Titus Ten
As I have walked through grief, I have been riveted to a significant lesson: There really is a right way.
“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.” Psalm 1:3-4
If you’re going to be the kind of person who doesn’t walk with the wicked, or stand with sinners, or sit with scoffers you need to be planted by the stream of God’s word. Prospering, even in great trial, is possible. You have to be intentional in where you plant your heart. Many psalms reveal a pattern called lament. Lament begins with turning to God and not away from him. You and I have choices. We either plant ourselves among the wicked, sinners, and scoffers or we plant ourselves in his law. His ways. Streams of water yield fruit. Your leaves, even in desperate times, do not have to wither. Prospering is not determined by your circumstances; prospering is determined by where you’re planted. There really is a right way.
“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…” Psalm 2:5-6
The wicked do not choose the right way. And no matter how successful they appear to be in the short term, in the long term they are like blowing chaff. The wicked will not stand when they face judgment. Sinners will not stand among the righteous. James 1:6 says, “…for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.” Winds and waves in the judgment will accost the wicked. Sinners will be blown by winds as chaff. Unanchored. Driven.
Because there really is a right way.
“…for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.” Psalm 1:6
Bottom line. The Lord is clear in his word. He knows the way of the righteous. The way of the wicked will perish. For there really is a right way.
Choosing the right way is of inestimable importance when you are facing loss. Embrace his ways by seeking him in his word, by trusting in him, and by not trusting in yourself.
There really is a right way. And I choose to trust his ways over my ways. I choose to trust his ways over any temporally tempting or attractive ways of the world.
There really is a right way.
“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” Proverbs 16:25
Thank you, D. Ray. I’ve lost two close people in the past month. My heart is hurting, but the Lord has pointed out that there is a right way.
Amen, Mark! I am so sorry for your recent and close losses. I found that the journey is difficult and you have to go through it. And that is why walking the right path is so important.
I’ve always loved Psalm 1. My dad committed it to memory, and so did I. Thank you for your valuable insights.
Thanks, Greg. It’s a powerful lesson that helps us recognize the importance of where we walk, stand, and sit.