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 first Psalm proclaims that the blessings of God fall on the righteous, those who walk in accordance with the Lord’s commands. And as it does, it shows the sharp contrast between those who are righteous and those who are wicked. The unrighteous lack wisdom because they ignore the Lord and all He has said. They ridicule and mock Him as well as those who put their trust in Him. The Lord commands the righteous to avoid associating with such people, imitating them or seeking their counsel. The wisdom and strength of the righteous come from the Lord.
The righteous put their trust in the Lord and find that He gives them life and peace. They stand like a fruitful tree which is watered by His wisdom and grace. Their confidence and trust is deeply rooted in the Lord. He is a sure comfort who upholds and carries them through the bitter storms of life.
Not so the wicked. They put their confidence in themselves and in the wisdom of man. Unfortunately, they have placed their trust in shifting sands. The wicked may prosper in this life, but they are not prepared for its storms. They will be blown away by strife, fear and adversity unless they turn to God. Those who scorn the Lord, who seek to do things their own way will lose the eternal joy that comes in being in fellowship with God. He rules the world despite what rulers, politicians, presidents, generals, kings, and armies think. He determines the course of world events and history. What ultimately matters is following His way, seeking His counsel and serving Him alone. Nothing else counts for eternity.