It wasn't the first Psalm I learned as a child. That would have been Psalm 23, or perhaps Psalm 100. But, when I was old enough to start comprehending the truth about this life in Christ, it was a Psalm 1 that taught me about the blessed life he intended. I remember our teacher then, Bill Norman, teaching a group of wild young teens at Edwards Road Baptist Church what he called the man's Psalm. He told us it was the instruction for men who wanted to be spiritually successful.
Today it is most precious as a guide for life. Please read Psalm 1 with the heart of a learner. Then worship him today.
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.
The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
for the Lord knows the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.
It's too bad the proponents of the health-wealth gospel have so co-opted the meaning of this beautiful Psalm by making it about material prosperity. Certainly this Psalm gives the promise of prospering in all that we do. Still, the meaning is mostly thought to be about treasures in heaven and not earthly things. It is a powerhouse promise nevertheless. Our leaf will not wither and we will be like a tree planted by water regardless of our material accomplishments in this life. I'm thinking WOW!.
To know that he wants to bless me is what I take into worship today.
Praise him!