# 2 2017 Dev. Ps. 1:1-6. “Blessed”. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw closer to God by memorizing selected passages of Scripture. Further, to view the passage in context and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living with family, friends and others. All passages are taken from the NIV.
Psalm 1:3 “That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers”.
There is much to be said about the Psalms but most of it is beyond the scope of this devotional. Suffice it say that the Psalms are divided into 5 books of which Psalm 1 and 2 is an introduction and Psalms 146 -150 are a series of Psalms beginning with and ending with “Praise the Lord” that most likely is the conclusion to the book. The Psalms are mostly a collection of hymns consisting of prayers, petitions and praise.
We look at verse 3 but Ps. 1 is best read as a whole. This Psalm is a stark contrast of the two ways of the world; one of righteousness and one of wickedness already obvious in the first two verses. The first verse is a “negative progression”, one who does not, in that if one walks in the council of the wicked long enough you will stop in the way of sinners and if you linger long enough you will also sit down. Wickedness is like that eventually taking over one’s whole life.
In contrast is the positive way of righteousness, one who does delight in the law of the Lord, more so, one who meditates on God’s law (God’s will) day and night. This person is one who does what is right in God’s sight. Righteousness, continually practiced eventually takes over his or her whole life.
There is more, a promise of blessing. V.3 That person is like a tree planted near a clear and pure stream (God’s will). There is nothing like a healthy well watered mango tree for fruit, and for shade; a metaphor for a multitudes of blessings for those enjoying the fruit and shade. That person is blessed and a blessing to others, “whatever they do prospers”.
This Psalm will be offensive to some I expect because there is no alternative, there is no middle way. There is the way of the righteous and the way of the wicked; not with standing our human short comings. God forgives if we desire His Grace. In God’s economy one walks in righteousness or wickedness one or the other. Do what is right, seek His Grace and be blessed!
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