DELIGHT IN THE LAW OF THE LORD

Passage: Psalms 1:1-6

Key verse: 1:2

NIV

BOOK I

Psalms 1–41

Psalm 1

1 Blessed is the one(A)
    who does not walk(B) in step with the wicked(C)
or stand in the way(D) that sinners take(E)
    or sit(F) in the company of mockers,(G)
2 but whose delight(H) is in the law of the Lord,(I)
    and who meditates(J) on his law day and night.
3 That person is like a tree(K) planted by streams(L) of water,(M)
    which yields its fruit(N) in season
and whose leaf(O) does not wither—
    whatever they do prospers.(P)

4 Not so the wicked!
    They are like chaff(Q)
    that the wind blows away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand(R) in the judgment,(S)
    nor sinners in the assembly(T) of the righteous.

6 For the Lord watches over(U) the way of the righteous,
    but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.(V)

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Book One

The Way of the Righteous and the Wicked

1 Blessed is the man[a]
    who (A)walks not in (B)the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in (C)the way of sinners,
    nor (D)sits in (E)the seat of (F)scoffers;
2 but his (G)delight is in the law[b] of the Lord,
    and on his (H)law he meditates day and night.

3 He is like (I)a tree
    planted by (J)streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
    and its (K)leaf does not wither.
(L)In all that he does, he prospers.
4 The wicked are not so,
    but are like (M)chaff that the wind drives away.

5 Therefore the wicked (N)will not stand in the judgment,
    nor sinners in (O)the congregation of the righteous;
6 for the Lord (P)knows (Q)the way of the righteous,
    but the way of the wicked will perish.

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Footnotes
  1. Psalm 1:1 The singular Hebrew word for man (ish) is used here to portray a representative example of a godly person; see Preface
  2. Psalm 1:2 Or instruction
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. Delight in the law of the Lord (1-3) This Psalm describes two kinds of people. The first is blessed because he guards his steps not to walk in the way of the wicked or to join in with godless sinners or intellectual sounding mockers. Today, this is important especially while traversing the Internet highway. The blessed person delights in the word of God. Like a fruitful tree that puts down deep roots by a stream of water, the blessed person puts down roots in God's word. He fills his mind and heart with God's word. The word of God is the source of life. (Dt 32:47) A tree bears fruit in season because its roots drink from an ever-flowing stream. Similarly, a person is physically and spiritually healthy and prosperous if his inner life is rooted in the word of God. 2. Like chaff (4-6) But not so the wicked! Those who hate God's word and treat it lightly or disrespectfully have no inner roots. They become spiritually and physically weak and wither away like chaff. Though once strong, they disappear with the wind! Especially, on the Day of Judgment, they will perish. The Lord watches over the righteous and blesses them. But the wicked forfeit God's grace by ignoring and despising God's word.

Prayer: Lord, I delight in your law and I trust you to make my life fruitful. Help me to guard my steps.

One Word: Delight in God's word