A portrait of successfully applying of the Word to our life is in Psalm 1. It’s both easy to memorize and easy to recall for future reference:

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

v1 Blessed is the man

• Walk. Steers clear of wicked council. This world and all its intellect does not point to Christ. It’s not that the unrepentant world doesn’t have councilors. There are some well-meaning and helpful people providing guidance to don’t believe the Gospel.
• Nor stands in the way of sinners. An inanimate object in the middle of a 5K road race is going to get hit by the onslought of runners. A small animal, e.g. squirrel, will a least have enough sense to avoid the path of the runners. The runners are the dominate force; the squirrel will concede to whatever claim it had on the road and get out of the way. An unregistered person, standing in the middle of the 5K course, has the option to behave with less self-interest than the squirrel:
  1. They could go against the tide (as school children are encourage to do). This will increase the velocity of impact.
  2. The individual could stand in the middle of the road and get trampled; or at least bumped into repeatedly like the inanimate object.
  3. Or as one does when navigating a crowded airport terminal, the ‘bystander’ will likely move in the same direction as the runners at least until a opportunity to exit the course has been found. And that’s the catch – even if it’s a short period of time – when your on the path that other people are on, you’ll move in their direction. The small animal lives in a reality that requires no thought to survive, the way is really their way; the runners own the path. Humans want consensus, or reach a negotiated solution on the road use.
• Nor sit in the seat of scoffers. Sitting implies a comfort level, an immersion in scoffing. Proverbs 12:15 – The way of the fool is right in his own eyes.

v2 but his delight is on the law of the Lord, and on his law, he meditates day and night.

• Since ‘All have fallen short of the law,’ how can it be a delight to us?
  • God is faithful to forgive and knowing his standard makes me humble and delight in him.
  • The question implies delight can occur outside God’s law. Abraham received the promise (the covenant), but the law wasn’t given until Moses comes along 450 years later. God first gives grace to Abraham (assurance of salvation); then after showing grace doesn’t improve their life on this Earth, God provides the law to show the world the type of relationship God ordains between humans and Himself.
• Is the law perfect, or did it have to be dumbed-down so man could write it down?
  • God wrote the Bible, it was transcribed by man. The inspiration of the Holy Spirit doesn’t require that Moses or Isaiah understood every word. (They may have, but understanding is not a prerequisite for taking dictation, or recounting a vision.)

v3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water…

Can any one verse be more inspiring to live for God?

• A tree – Recall, Israel is an arid country, a strong tree would stick out.
• planted – literally: Transplanted. Trees do not plant themselves.
  • Salvation is brought to us by God, a work of grace
  • Jeremiah 17:7-8 Blessed is the man who trust in the Lord, whose trust is in the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the streams and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.
  • Numbers 24:6 Refers to these as cedar trees and re-affirms God did the planting.
• yields its fruit – A cedar tree produces cones and green shoots. Produce the fruit you were given to produce.
  • You will be known by your fruit. Matt 7:16
• season – a reminder to not be discourage by seasons: winter, spring summer. The cedar tree needs all three to have a harvest season. Our focus remains on being nourished by streams of living water.
• Prosper – again a season of winter does not mean the cedar tree isn’t prosperous. The prosperous cedar endures winder correctly.
• delight in the law
  • Go instructs Joshua three times to be strong and courageous before the Israelites cross the river coming from wilderness into the promised land. God is clear on how Joshua is to to be strong and courageous:

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. – Joshua 1:8