Instead, his delight is in the Lord’s instruction: Psalm 1:1-2

Instead, his delight is in the Lord’s instruction

Psalm 1:1-2 Christian Standard Bible

1 How happy is the one who does notwalk in the advice of the wickedor stand in the pathway with sinnersor sit in the company of mockers!2 Instead, his delight is in the Lord’s instruction,and he meditates on it day and night.

            Do you truly desire to be happy? Do you truly desire to be content? The word happy here means happy, blessed is he who. Blessed — characterized by happiness and being highly favored.[1] True happiness and contentment is only found in almighty God. When we come to Jesus Christ the grace of God is poured out upon our lives. His unmerited, unearned favor is covering all that we do in our lives. With God truly nothing is impossible.

            Here we see the Psalmist gives us clear direction. Happiness laid out here is dependent on our ability to delight in the word of God. He says happy is the one who does not walk in the advice of the wicked, or stand in the pathway of sinners, or sit in the company of mockers. The word advice means counsel, advice. Words of instruction provided after consultation and calculation to assist in a decision-making process.[2] When our inner circle is filled with those who have no relationship with God the counsel or advice they give will be influenced by worldly wisdom. It will be no different than seeking out a demon for advice. Here three things are pointed out: walking, standing, and sitting. All these point to relationships with the ungodly in which intimacy exist.

The word stand here means go up before; stand in position, stand respectfully before; remain standing, be motionless; bring to a halt, put down; set in position, set up; cause something to stand, cause to exist; set forth, arrange; erect, establish. To stand (place) — to occupy a place or location.[3] The word sit means sit, sit down, remain sitting; dwell; be inhabited; marry. To dwell — to inhabit or live in; be an inhabitant of.[4] Here is a simple question: who makes up your inner circle? Who is your most intimate relationship with? If it is with the ungodly, whether you realize it or not the darkness that influences them will infect you. Their counsel and world view will be based upon the lies of the devil. God doesn’t call us to live as hermits, but He does call us to use wisdom with who we allow in our inner circle.

But we see the key to true happiness and contentment is based on two things: delighting in the Lord’s instruction and meditating on His word day and night. The word delight means joy, delight; wish; matter, business. Desire (object) — something that is desired.[5] Is God’s word the true desire of our hearts? Are we building our lives daily on God’s word? Are we truly living in obedience, or have we been deceived into justifying rebellion against God and His ways.

The word meditate means coo, growl, mutter; read in an undertone; speak, proclaim.[6] To meditate means to literally chew over something. To speak it over and over gain in an undertone. It means to set our mind upon it. God’s word must become all-consuming in our lives. When His word becomes the focal point and living in obedience becomes the priority, we will indeed find true happiness and contentment. The happiness the world offers is fleeting and fickle. But the happiness, joy, and contentment God offers is eternal.

Prayer

Father thank you for your word. Help me to make your word the focus of my life. Help me each day to delight in your word and meditate upon it. Help me to truly be a disciple that not only grows in my relationship with you but in turn lead me to disciple others. Father take my life and use it for your glory and purpose. Prune from my life anything that would hinder your will and purpose. May everything we surrendered to you. In the mighty name of Jesus, Amen!

[1] Rick Brannan, ed., Lexham Research Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible, Lexham Research Lexicons (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2020).

[2] David M. Emanuel, “Thinking,” ed. Douglas Mangum et al., Lexham Theological Wordbook, Lexham Bible Reference Series (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2014).

[3] Rick Brannan, ed., Lexham Research Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible, Lexham Research Lexicons (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2020).

[4] Rick Brannan, ed., Lexham Research Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible, Lexham Research Lexicons (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2020).

[5] Rick Brannan, ed., Lexham Research Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible, Lexham Research Lexicons (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2020).

[6] Rick Brannan, ed., Lexham Research Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible, Lexham Research Lexicons (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2020).