June 9. Psalm 1

June 9. Psalm 1

The very first psalm in the 150-psalm collection known as Psalms. It’s a short little psalm. Only six verses. Oh, but it holds a lot of wisdom out to us, doesn’t it? It starts out warning us about the dangers of hanging out with wicked people. If we make those who disdain God our closest friends, we will end up not just walking with them, but sitting down and becoming like them. As believers in Christ, we love everyone and desire all to turn to Him. However, those with whom we enjoy closest friendships need to be worshippers of God as well, so they steer us always toward Him and His good guidance.

I love that the wise person in this psalm is the person who plants themselves right next to living water. They’re the one who wants to drink and drink again of all the knowledge and love God pours out to us through His Word. They are thirsty for what satisfies – eternal truths about life here and life in eternity! Verses two and three of Psalm 1 truly teach us how to live. When we plant ourselves and grow our roots deep into God’s good soil, we don’t wither. We bear fruit. We are able to share the good news with others and bring others with us into Heaven some day!

The description of those without God is so sadly true. Unmoored, not anchored, blowing this way and that, without any roots or foundation to hold them still and upright. At the whim of the latest fashion or creed of the moment. Chaff. I don’t want to be chaff, untethered and not held close by the God who longs to be close to us. Instead, let’s plant ourselves and drink deep of His Word and His truths, shall we? Then the storms can blow and the tides can rise, but our house will stand firm and unmoved, secure in the love of Christ!

My verse: Psalm 1:3 “They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit in each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.”

My response: If you are planted by a river, your source of water is reliable and constant. Living, moving water that ceaselessly flows! Just as Jesus is our reliable, constant living Water. We’re unique in that we can then bear fruit in each season of life, with no permanent death. We won’t wither. Hallelujah! We step out of an old body and are clothed in immortality someday. I love how there are also trees of life in Heaven, on each side of a flowing river that starts at the throne of God: “It flowed down the center of the main street. On each side of the river grew a tree of life, bearing 12 crops of fruit, with a fresh crop each month. The leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations”(Revelation 22:2). Keep me by the river, Lord, and give me strong roots drinking deep of all that is good in Your Word to me!