TWO PATHS

Life is short, but eternity is forever. God has given every person the choice of which path they will follow. Psalm 1 depicts the path of the righteous, which leads to life, and the path of the wicked, which leads to death. With symbolism and imagery, King David uses Psalm 1 to show the blessing of the righteous, the instability of the wicked, and God’s rule over their destinies.

Psalm 1 shows the blessing of the righteous through the symbolism of a fruitful tree. David uses the image of a tree “planted by streams of water” to describe the righteous man (Psalm 1:3). The righteous man is deeply rooted in truth, like a tree firmly planted. Just as flowing streams of water supply life to the tree, God’s word gives believers spiritual life (Psalm 42:1). Like a well-watered tree, the righteous man prospers rather than withers.

David declares, “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked” (Psalm 1:1). The righteous man does not walk, stand, or sit in the way of the wicked, referring to lifestyle. David warns the reader about the dangerous trap of entertaining sinful thoughts or walking in sinful ways, which lead to ruin. Blessings will come upon the one who separates himself from the evil way of life.

The righteous man also delights in the law of the Lord and meditates on it day and night (Psalm 1:2). Joshua instructs, “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). The righteous man daily feasts on God’s word. God blesses the one who turns from evil, obeys Him, and delights in His word.

Next, Psalm 1 shows the instability of the wicked through the imagery of chaff in the wind. In contrast to the righteous man, the wicked man is not firmly planted in truth. As David points out, “The wicked . . . are like chaff that the wind drives away” (Psalm 1:4). The wicked man’s life is as futile as worthless debris blowing in the wind. He has no foundation because he dishonors and rejects God’s Word. Similarly, Jesus compares this person to someone who builds his house on sinking sand (Matt. 7:26). The one who disobeys God’s word has an unstable foundation which leads to his ruin.

David also describes the wicked as sinners who break God’s law instead of keeping it and scoffers who mock God’s word. The wicked man is unstable because he refuses to walk in obedience. Therefore, the judgment of the Lord is coming for the one who rejects His word.

Finally, Psalm 1 shows God’s rule over the destinies of the righteous and the wicked. As David points out, “the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish” (Psalm 1:6). God will judge each person according to his deeds (Rom. 2:6). He will not allow evil to go unpunished. God is the ruler over everyone’s destinies, and He will judge with righteous judgment.

Furthermore, Psalm 1 shows God’s sovereignty over everyone’s eternal state. David uses parallelism by beginning and ending Psalm 1 with the imagery of a person standing. The one who stands against God in life will not be able to stand against Him in death. He will fall on the day of judgment, but the righteous will stand firm and enter everlasting life. God will honor those who honor Him, but He will turn His back in judgment on those who turn their back against Him.

Psalm 1 is an important reminder that the righteous way leads to blessing, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction. God sees and judges according to man’s actions. God will punish the wicked, but He will reward the one who follows Him with abundant life.

John Bunyan writes in Pilgrim’s Progress, “I perceive the way to life lies here . . . better, though difficult, the right way to go, then wrong, though easy, where the end is woe." Similarly, David wrote in another Psalm, “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11). May every pilgrim choose to journey on the path that leads to life.