When There Are Two Paths to Choose. Part 1.
“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.”
Psalm 1:1-3 ESV
In this Psalm of David, we’re presented with two individuals, two natures, and two paths to choose from. Today, let’s focus on the Blessed One. As we study this passage, I encourage you to look for Jesus. He is woven into every book of the Old Testament, and His presence is especially vivid in the Psalms.
The Psalms don’t just reflect David’s heart—they reflect the heart of our Savior. As we walk through this study, ask yourself: How does this point to Jesus? How does it reveal His character, His purpose, or His love? He is here, waiting to be found.
Let’s dive in and discover how this Psalm draws us closer to Him, the true Blessed Man, who shows us the way to life.
THE BLESSED MAN
Jesus is the Blessed One of Psalm 1, and as always, He is our example for life. The word blessed in verse 1 can be translated as happy in Hebrew. So we could read it this way:
“Happy is the one who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers.”
But the happiness described in Psalm 1 isn’t tied to circumstances like money, wealth, or power. It’s not about material blessings. The greatest blessing any of us can experience is a right relationship with God Almighty. When we live in alignment with Him, we are truly blessed, finding deep and lasting joy.
Our Lord Jesus perfectly exemplifies this. He had an unbroken, perfect relationship with His Father (John 5:30), and that is why He was the truly Happy One. His joy and blessing came not from worldly circumstances but from the intimacy and connection He shared with His Father.
As we move through this Psalm, we’ll see some incredible characteristics of the Blessed One. Let’s study these together and ask how we can apply them to our lives, following the example Jesus has set for us.
1. He Walks Not in the Counsel of the Wicked.
This Blessed One—our Lord Jesus—is the perfect example we are called to emulate. He doesn’t walk in the counsel of the ungodly, and neither should we.
So let me ask you: Who do you turn to for advice? Is it an ungodly friend or coworker? A trendy new-age self-help book? Maybe an unrighteous internet blog? If so, you are walking in the counsel of the wicked. You might think, “It’s just advice. It’s only words. How bad can it be?”
Good question. Let’s consider it. What happens when you casually walk alongside the advice of the ungodly? It’s subtle at first—just a conversation, just a suggestion—but soon, it starts shaping your thoughts, influencing your decisions, and directing your steps.
Psalm 1 warns us against this because the advice we follow determines the path we take. The Blessed One avoids the counsel of the ungodly altogether, choosing instead to walk in the wisdom of God’s Word. Let’s reflect on this truth and ask ourselves where we’re seeking guidance—and whether it’s drawing us closer to God or pulling us away.
2. He Doesn't Stand in the Way of Sinners.
This Blessed One doesn’t end up standing in the way of sinners because He never sought the advice of the ungodly in the first place. Instead, He only did what He saw His Father doing (John 5:19). His steps were guided by His perfect relationship with the Father, not by the fleeting counsel of the world.
But here’s the problem for us: what begins as a casual stroll through ungodly counsel can cause us to stop and stand. Do you see the shift in posture? Walking through the advice of the immoral slowly draws us in, until we’re no longer just passing by—we’ve stopped to listen.
Once we open our hearts and spirits to ungodly counsel, we risk being rooted in their ways. The wisdom of the world begins to shape our thinking, and soon we find ourselves standing in agreement with the very things that lead us away from God.
The Blessed One avoids this entirely, choosing instead to be guided by the truth of God’s Word. Let’s take this warning seriously and examine where we’ve allowed ungodly influences to stop us in our tracks.
3. He Doesn't Sit with Mockers.
Finally, the Blessed Man doesn't sit in the seat of scorners or mockers. Do you see the picture? We go from walking along seeking advice from the ungodly. Then we stop, listen, and stand in the ways of the sinner. Finally, we take a seat at the table of those who mock the way of the Most High God.
For those thinking that this can't possibly be you Let me give you an example . . . Because it has been me!
You go online to find out how to have a better relationship with your spouse. (The Blessed Man would have gone to The Father.) You find a blog from an unsaved woman telling you to do x, y, and z to fix your marriage. You overlook her vulgar language and the fact that she isn't saved because she has such a great personality and cute clothes; so you gobble up the advice.
Next, you like her advice and quirky personality so much; you begin following her on social media. You stop and stand in her ways even implementing some of her advice. And finally, you've become the ultimate fan, even following her ungodly recommendations, friends, and lifestyle. You've sat with those who mock the Lord, and you don't even realize it. You just wanted marriage advice.
4. He Delights and Meditates on the Law of the Lord.
In my darkest hours, the Word of God is the only thing that has brought me comfort. On my brightest days, it is the only place I have been able to find joy. The Word "meditate" in the Hebrew is hâgâh. It means to ponder, to speak aloud, to think about, to utter. The Blessed Man is speaking the Word of the Lord to Himself day and night. It is where His focus lies. Just read through the New Testament and see how many times the Lord quotes the Old Testament. His delight was in the words of His Father.
So it should be with us. When we are meditating and delighting on the Word of the Lord, there isn't anything that can come against us. This is a picture of one who is blessed and happy.
5. He is Planted.
In Psalm 1:3, we read, "And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither, and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."
The blessed man or woman is planted. They are not wildly growing wherever they wish. When we are saved in Christ, we become planted in His garden. We are rooted in Him.
My Friend, when we have given our lives to Christ, we are planted by rivers of water. These waters represent the Word of God. We are planted in His garden by His Word. Thank you, Jesus! The water of God's Word provides cleansing of our sinful nature. It gives us refreshment in our times of drought. The water of the Word sustains us.
6. He Brings Forth Fruit and Prospers.
When we delight and meditate on God's Word, whatever we do will prosper, and we will bear fruit. Don't think of prospering in the material sense or as in success or power. The prosperity in verse 3 is a relationship with Jesus. If we have that, we have everything we could ever want or need.
As you read through Psalm 1, let it guide you to find your blessing and happiness in your relationship with Jesus—not in the advice or ways of the ungodly. Take a moment to check your heart. Are you walking, standing, or sitting with the ungodly, sinners, or mockers? If so, now is the time to repent, turn around, and run back into the arms of the Blessed One—Jesus.
If there’s one takeaway from this Bible study, let it be this: Meditate on His Word day and night. Let it be your source of joy, your greatest delight, and the foundation of your life. In His Word, you will find everything you need.
