Rooted in God's Word
Psalm 1 (ESV)
"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."
I’ve read Psalm 1 countless times and have never noticed the depth of comparison between the wicked man and the righteous man in how they orient their lives. There is an obvious progression in verse 1 of the man who walks, stands, and sits in defiance to the ways of the Lord. The picture is clear of a gradual progression toward obstinance to the counsel of the Lord and a self-reliant arrogance. This is contrasted with the man who delights in the Law of the Lord and meditates on it day and night. This picture is vibrant with life. This man walks with the Lord. He stands with those who do the same. And he sits in humility while putting others first. He does all of this because his life is rooted in the Law of the Lord.
In the same way, let us strive to be those rooted in God’s Word and put our trust only in Him. Looking forward to worshipping with you Sunday. - Matt Bowen