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The Book of Psalms encompasses the full variety of life’s experiences.
It especially chronicles the seasons of life David passed through with the Lord as his Shepherd, Shelter, and God.
Psalm 1 offers us clear instruction as to how we can prosper in each unique season we pass through.
Before we do what’s right, a decision must be made that we’re not going to do what’s wrong. Likewise, before we receive God’s good counsel, a decision must be made not to listen to ungodly counsel.
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. (Psalm 1:1)
The word of God has so much to teach us in each and every time and season of our life.
To discover what God has to say to us we must delight in the magnificence and beauty of the truth of His Word. Our pursuit of gaining His insight cannot be half-hearted.
Day and night we must be on a diligent hunt to gain the precious, specific truth we are in a prime spot to uncover.
But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. (Psalm 1:2)
A tree that is planted by a river, receives the life giving water it needs to insure that fruit will be brought forth in the appropriate season. A person who is devoted to learning from the Word of God what God wants grasped will likewise bear precious fruit and gain valuable treasure in the season at hand.
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. (Psalm 1:3)
The ungodly, who have no desire to hear from God, have the exact opposite outcome. They get nothing of value and become nothing more valuable (i.e., “chaff”) to God, themselves, or others, through the seasons they pass through.
The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. (Psalm 1:4)
Unlike the ungodly who have wasted opportunities to know God and His Word, the righteous have a rich experience of God. Through the varied stages of their life they have been growing in the grace and knowledge of their Lord. His Word has been made flesh to them. He has been intimately acquainted and involved in their way because they have sought His involvement and input.
Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish. (Psalm 1:5,6)
The Lord wants our experience in Him to be broad. Our knowledge of Him is expanded through “divers (various)” trials.
I have seen an end of all perfection: but thy commandment is exceeding broad.
O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day. (Psalm 119:96,97)
God desires that we lack no good thing. He adds to us and perfects us in trials as we look to Him for more wisdom.
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. (James 1:2-5)
If we are to be continually bearing good fruit, there can be no season in our life, or situation we’re going through, where we’re not planted by the rivers of water. We must always be enquiring of the Lord.
One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple. (Psalm 27:4)
God wants His people to enquire as to where He is, and what He’s up to, in every season and situation of their life.
Neither said they, Where is the LORD that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, that led us through the wilderness …The priests said not, Where is the LORD? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit. (Jeremiah 2:6,8)
A “day of adversity” is a prime opportunity for God to give us eyes to see things previously hidden from us.
In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider … (Ecclesiastes 7:14)
consider > Heb. – ra’ ah > see, perceive
Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.
I am a stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments from me.
My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times. (Psalm 119:18-20)
God can bring us down a pitch black path, not because He wants us to stumble and fall, but because He wants to give us light that we never had before.
And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them. (Isaiah 42:16)
God can “set darkness in our paths” because He wants to bring us to a new understanding of Himself.
He hath fenced up my way that I cannot pass, and he hath set darkness in my paths. He hath stripped me of my glory, and taken the crown from my head. (Job 19:8,9)
I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. (Job 42:5)
Paul was an avid learner. In “whatsoever state” he found himself in he was committed to God’s instruction.
Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. (Philippians 4:11-13)
Above all, through it all, Paul wanted to “learn Christ.”
But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus (Eph. 4:20,21)
Jesus invites us to come and learn of Him.
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. (Matthew 11:28,29)
The deepest and fullest knowledge of God is found in Christ.
For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. (John 1:17,18)
That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (Colossians 2:2,3)
The Holy Spirit glorifies Jesus to us because the Father wants us to be changed into His same image as we behold Him.
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. (2 Corinthians 3:18)
“All things” we face give us the opportunity to learn of Christ more deeply, and be conformed to Him in a fuller way.
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. (Romans 8:28,29)