Gospel Reflections #1188: The supreme joy of God’s Word

Psalm 1:1–2 ‘Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sit in the seat of the scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.’

This is an important prologue that encapsulates the wisdom of the entire Bible and teaches us ‘what true happiness (blessing) is’. 

It serves to open the door to the entire Book of Psalms, contrasting the two ways of life that humanity must choose: ‘the path of the righteous who follow God’ and ‘the path of the wicked who rebel against God’.

These two verses clearly set out ‘what should be avoided’ and ‘what should be actively practised’.

Verse 1 emphasises the things that a happy person ‘never approaches’ by repeating the negative form ‘blessed is the one who does not…’ three times.

The Hebrew word for ‘blessed’ does not refer merely to a fleeting emotion, but signifies ‘a state of being within God’s blessing and moving in the right direction’.

The three actions described here represent the stages through which a person becomes tainted by evil.

‘Walking according to their counsel’ refers to the stage where one listens to the opinions and values of those who do not acknowledge God, and unconsciously begins to align one’s lifestyle with theirs.

 ‘Staying on the path’ refers to the stage where a sinful way of life becomes routine, and one comes to stand still (remain) in that place and share one’s life with it.

‘Sitting down with them’ refers to the stage where one fully joins their ranks, settles in firmly, and adopts an arrogant stance that mocks God and what is right.

The influence of evil begins with small ‘steps’ at first, but if left unchecked, one ‘comes to a standstill’ and eventually becomes ‘deeply entrenched (sits down)’.

The blessed person resolutely rejects this very first step.

Furthermore, verse 2 explains not only how to keep evil at bay, but also what one should fill oneself with instead: namely, ‘the Lord’s teaching’.

‘Loving the teaching’ does not mean obeying out of a sense of duty or because of rules; rather, it refers to finding love and wisdom in God’s word and delighting in it from the heart.

‘Murmuring’ implies not merely thinking about it in one’s head, but ‘repeating it softly to oneself, like a dove cooing or a lion roaring before its prey’.

In other words, it is a state in which one constantly (day and night) ruminates on God’s Word in one’s heart, making it part of one’s very being.

It teaches us that the greatest secret to breaking free from a harmful environment is not to rely solely on our own willpower, but to fill our hearts with ‘the supreme joy of God’s Word’.

Every day, we live surrounded by countless ‘values’—from social media to the opinions of those around us.

Psalm 1 challenges us not to drift through life, but to make a choice regarding ‘the standards by which we live’.

In verse 3, which follows verses 1 and 2, it likens those who live in this way to ‘a tree planted by streams of water’, promising that they will not wither but will bear abundant fruit, whatever the season (even in times of difficulty).

Furthermore, the Bible records that three blessings are bestowed upon those who joyfully obey God.

These are the blessings of living a fruitful life, bearing the fruit of the Spirit, and remaining ever fresh and vigorous.

Ultimately, these efforts lead to the maturity of character.

When we choose God, He provides all the strength necessary to make this a reality.

AUTHOR'S BIO: This Gospel Reflections page is written by Masae San, who resides in Hiroshima, Japan. Masae is a dedicated student of the Bible with a deep passion for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She shares her daily reflections on Gospel perspectives to reach out to others and spread the message of God's true love through a Christ-centered approach. We are sharing her insights here so that you, too, can experience the joy that comes from knowing and understanding the true Gospel and the love of God through Jesus Christ.