How psalms - 1 becomes the miracle gateway to the blessings of the rest of 149 psalms.

Psalm 1 is called the preamble to the book of Psalms. That is, it serves as an introduction to the entire book. What is said in Psalm 1 is relevant to all the rest of the book of Psalms.

Psalm 1 is called a wisdom psalm because we learn that happiness results from our choice to follow God's direction of life. In this psalm, the writer sets forth two ways or two directions in life. One is the right way that leads to happiness, and the other is the wrong way that leads to misery.

Psalm 1, the righteous life and the wicked life, are placed in stark contrast of one another. A righteous person will be blessed and delight in God’s law (Psalm 1:1). The unrighteous ones will be knocked down and led to destruction and death (Psalm 1:6).

The blessed person, the happy man, is having his heart and mind shaped by the words of God. He delights and meditates on the law of God. And this is the fuel that propels the blessed, happy person through life and into eternity. Look - he is strong, steady, and bears fruit, and he has hope as he looks forward.

Choosing the Right Path

First, in Psalm 1:1 we learn that happiness comes by choosing to walk on a righteous path. This determination is directly connected to other people. Each line in this verse tells us to avoid the wrong kinds of interpersonal relationships. Your friends make all the difference in your life.

Notice what this verse says: “Blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly.” Choosing the righteous path includes refusing advice from those who hold godless values and whose moral choices violate the laws of God.

The second line goes a step further: “nor stands in the way of sinners.” It is one thing to listen to wicked counsel. It is another to decisively side with that viewpoint. Instead, the happy person refuses to follow the worldly crowd. You don’t see him “hanging out” with those who pursue sin as a lifestyle.

Finally, he refuses to sit and associate with those whose conversations mock and curse God: “nor in the seat of the scornful.” If you want to be miserable, make your best friends those who are scornful, critical and disrespectful.

The three verbs—walk, stand and sit—show the slippery slope of evil. Evil is not passive. It is ever descending. The longer you go, the worse you get. A pattern of evil choices causes a downward spiral in character that leads to destruction.

Hungering for God’s Word

Second, Psalm 1:2 declares that happiness comes by developing a strong appetite for God’s Word. We learn to enjoy the Bible by nurturing the disciplined habit of meditation.

Meditation involves a 24/7—“day and night”—focus on the Scripture. This means seeking to understand the Bible’s meaning as well as its application to us personally. The Spirit of God makes the Word of God satisfying to the soul of man. The Scriptures are “sweeter than honey” (Psalms. 119:103) and “more to be desired [desirable] are they than gold” (Psalms 19:10).

In some contexts, the word meditate can be translated growl or groan or moan. It conveys the idea of muttering. Perhaps you know someone who walks around mumbling to himself. We tend to view such behavior as socially odd. But the reality is that all of us talk to ourselves inside our heads all the time. There is a mental discussion going on continuously. Some people simply express parts of their dialogue audibly. This mental conversation is meditation. God blesses us as we mull over His words day and night.

The reason this way of life makes one so happy is that it fulfills the purpose for which we were created. God’s first command to man was to be fruitful. Psalm 1 describes the happy man as being “like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he does shall prosper”.

Fruit bearing is the result of deep roots’ finding an abundant supply of nourishment from underground streams of water. God’s Word is an all-sufficient, eternal supply of empowering grace for all of life. Even during difficult, seemingly barren times, the Word will sustain life.

A fruitful life is a blessed life. So David states that God’s way to happiness is being separated from the world, saturated with the Word, and fruitful and successful in doing God’s will.

The Wrong Way

David goes on in verse 4 to contrast the way of the righteous with the way of the ungodly: “the ungodly are not so.” He makes a powerful point when he notes that the Hebrew proposes a double negative: “‘Not so the ungodly, no so.’ Oh! how terrible is it to have a double negative put upon the promises! and yet this is just the condition of the ungodly.”

Ungodliness will never, never prosper! In the end ungodly people’s lives are deemed as “chaff.” In other words, they are worthless, lifeless and useless. They will be driven away by the wind of God’s judgment. They will not dwell with the people of God in the congregation of the righteous.

At the end of the passage, the psalmist sets forth two directions—the way of the righteous and the way of the ungodly; two decisions—to meditate on God’s Word or to listen to ungodly counsel; and two destinies—the righteous will enjoy God’s presence forever, but the ungodly will perish.

5 Things Psalm 1 Says about a Righteous Life

Reading through Psalm 1 will give an important look into what a righteous life is all about. This psalm explains some of the differences between a righteous life and a wicked life. Here are five things Psalm 1 teaches about a righteous life.

1. A Righteous Life Is Blessed

A righteous life is a blessed life. The Hebrew word for blessed in this verse is eshar. It means blessed, happy, or to go or be straight. When we live a life like Christ – a righteous life – we will experience God’s blessings and goodness, we will feel joy and happiness despite our circumstances, and we will be walking the straight path that God has for us.

2. A Righteous Life Avoids Sin and Wickedness

“A righteous life is one that avoids wicked and sinful ways. We live in a time where people mock God, delight in evil, and indulge any desire they have. Yet God’s word remains clear on the matter of sin — it is wrong, it is evil, and it leads us to death. We must confront our sin and repent if we will live a righteous life. In doing so, we will experience the abundance that God has for us (Psalm 1:3).

3. A Righteous Life Is in Sync with God’s Law

A righteous person will delight in God’s law — learning it, meditating on it, and following it. We cannot do this in our own power, but God will give us the strength to follow His ways when we have a genuine desire to do His good rather than evil. Sin and temptation are real, and we have an enemy who is out to destroy God’s people, but when we love God’s word and let it guide our thoughts, word, and actions, we will walk in His righteous ways. This Psalm takes seriously that we cannot compromise the word of God.

4. A Righteous Life Is Fruitful and Prosperous

A righteous life will be productive and flourishing — what a beautiful promise for those who follow the Lord. Life will surely be full of many troubles and trials (see John 16:33), but when we live how God wants us to live, we will reap goodness and abundance. When we are in line with God’s plans, we will see His hand of blessing on what we do rather than the pain of living for ourselves and reaping only the fruit of pride, selfishness, and compromise.

5. A Righteous Life Is Secure in God

What comfort knowing that God is watching over those who live a righteous life. God sees us and what we are going through. He keeps us safe, even when we face seemingly insurmountable situations or go through devastating situations. God is watching over us and will lead us in the right way when we cling to Him and keep our trust in Him. What compassion God has for us, and what perfect love He has for His children, that He watches over those who follow Him.

Psalm 1 shows a beautiful picture of what it means to live a righteous life. God’s word lovingly draws us to righteousness and warns us against sin and wicked ways. We can choose to follow God and experience goodness and abundance in this life. God will show us the way when we ask for His help and turn our hearts to Him. Each day, the choices we make will either place us on the path of righteousness or will lead us further from God. Scripture makes it clear that God loves us and wants us to follow Him. A righteous life is God’s desire and design for His beloved children.

Conclusions.

There you have it. 3 life lessons to learn from Psalms 1. Since there are different ways in life, choose the way that leads to Godly success in this life and ultimately eternal life. Remember what goes into your life determines what comes out so make any changes necessary to get what you want out of life. And given our similarity to trees, keep yourself in the right environment so that you live up to your potential and attract others to the Kingdom of God with your fruits.

If you lead your life as per psalms 1 then the gates of rest of the psalms gets opened for you, and you can enjoy the blessings hidden in the rest of the 149 psalms.