Psalm 1:1-6 Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. (2) But they delight in the law of the LORD, meditating on it day and night. (3) They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. (4) But not the wicked! They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind. (5) They will be condemned at the time of judgment. Sinners will have no place among the godly. (6) For the LORD watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.
Do you find joy in avoiding the wicked, sinners and mockers as verse 1 says?
Avoiding people like this is not enough. Verse 1 goes hand in hand with verse 2. It's not enough to simply be a good person, and how do we define goodness anyway? Goodness is something God gets to define as He is The Creator of all things, but not just that, He is also The Sustainer of all things. If we want to know goodness, then we have to be one of His children. Verse 3 tells us that those who delight in Him are like trees planted by the riverbank. They bear fruit, their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. He sustains His children. Not so for the wicked however, as judgment will come.
Notice in verse 6 that God watches the path of the godly but that the path of the wicked leads to destruction. God is always working for His people as they walk through life. That is the consequence of belonging to Him, but the wicked get their consequences at the end. They don't see it coming and may think everything is fine.
The simple message in this first of all Psalms is to walk with God. Study His Word and find the joy this Psalm speaks of. Find the joy in being one of His children.
May God bless you.
Richard