Bible Verse of the day Thursday March 23rd, 2023

 Psalm 1:1-6 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night. 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. Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. Therefore, the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.

Psalm 1, with its six verses, is not the shortest in the Bible; that distinction goes to the 117th Psalm, with only two verses. Furthermore, there is no evidence in this Psalm (Psalm 1) to indicate who the writer might be.

Psalm 1 contrasts the righteous or Godly person and the wicked or the ungodly person. Verse 1 is a downward spiral toward being out of touch or step with God. This decline does not happen in one stage; it happens gradually. First, one walks with the wicked, then getting more in step with the ungodly, one might stand or take a stand with the evil that is part of the worldly ways. Then finally, one would "sit in the company of the mockers," meaning they would be more comfortable surrounding themselves with the evil or wicked than in the company of God's people. There are certain things that the blessed person will not do. There is a path they will not tread on, certain places they will not even stand, and seats they will not sit upon.

The word blessed, which the Psalm starts with, describes what is in store for those who choose the path that leads to God instead of the course that ends in destruction. The word (blessed) itself means joy, happiness, hallowed, and peace, which is in store for the ones whose "delight is in the law of the LORD" and "meditate on his law, day and night." This Psalm does not say blessed is the rulers of the land are the intellectuals or the wealthy; it says blessed is anyone following the path of Christ Jesus's righteousness.

Charles Spurgeon writes: "Instead, we should be honored to follow Jesus Christ. Be out-and-out for him; unfurl your colors, never hide them, but nail them to the mast, and say to all who ridicule the saints, If you have any ill words for the followers of Christ, pour them out upon me, but know this, you shall hear it whether you like it or not, I love Christ."

In Palestine, you will find mostly desert conditions; the only plant or tree growth grows along riverbanks. The blessed are the people of God, who the Psalmist compares to one of these trees that grow by streams of water, who will flourish, thrive, and succeed in God's calling for their lives. The last verse puts this all together, God will always be there for His people, but the wicked, being out of the protection of God, will only find destruction.