A Psalm of Strength

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;

2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord, 

  and on his law he meditates day and night.

3 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.

4 The wicked are not so, 

  but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,

    nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;

6 for the Lord knows the way of the righteous,

    but the way of the wicked will perish.

The first psalm lays out the tone for the rest of the book. God’s Word is our source for our “daily bread,” our sustenance, our strength. Pastor Eric has noted the progression of sin as it grows in our lives – from active (walking) to passive (sitting). Sin grows through counsel, along the way, or with scoffers (v 1).

Our delight is in none of those. Earthly ways perish. Our delight comes from God’s Word (v 2). A believer is like a tree planted by a stream where water and nourishment are plentiful (v 3). Rely on God’s Word for sustenance. God’s Word is our “living water” in whom we have “eternal life” (John 4).

We pray: Heavenly Father, we come to You for strength. From the waters of our baptism, Your Spirit gives us strength and sustenance daily through Your Word. Give me the strength necessary to do Your will. In Christ’s name, Amen.