The Life of the Christian

Instead, his delight is in the Lord’s instruction,
and he meditates on it day and night.
³ He is like a tree planted beside streams of water^[d]
that bears its fruit in season^[e]
and whose leaf does not wither. Psalm 1:2-3

In observing the nature of the Psalms we must agree that as it is part of God’s word, collectively they are filled with wisdom, knowledge to be had and powerful in their being. They are not separate to the Lord’s word, but expressions of poetry and song; giving praise to the Lord in times of joy, sorrow and anger. They are a wonderful collection of writings that highlight the life of the Christian through different seasons; with praise to the Lord at the very centre of each Psalm.

The opening of Psalm 1 is arranged carefully; firstly I’d like to say that I believe it’s no co-incidence that Psalm 1 begins with knowing of the separate life between the Christian and the non-believer. Why do I say this? The nature of the Psalms and many scriptures highlights three entities. The first begins with the nature of the believer in verse one

How happy is the man
who does not follow^[a] the advice of the wicked
or take^[b] the path of sinners
or join a group^[c] of mockers! Psalm 1:1

And the contingency of the believer’s joy rests upon the Lord’s instruction in verse 2.

Instead, his delight is in the Lord’s instruction,
and he meditates on it day and night. Psalm 1:2

At Psalm 1:3 we see a change in how the Lord’s instruction manifests itself in the believer’s life.

He is like a tree planted beside streams of water^[d]
that bears its fruit in season^[e]
and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers. Psalm 1:3

This is an amazing imagery of how the Lord’s instruction takes hold of the Christian’s life. The Christian receives it with great joy, feasting on its source of spiritual nutrition, like a tree planted beside streams of water. And the result is nothing short of beautiful; we see the effects of the Lord’s instruction at the end of this verse “Who’s leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.” This is the effect of the Christian who is captivated by the Lord’s instruction; a prosperous work for the Lord! Many may ask the simple question “what is my ministry?” or “what is my calling?” Uncertain of what it is they’re called to achieve for the Lord. It’s as simple as letting the instruction of the Lord take control as in verse 2. The result of the tree bearing fruit with no withering leaves is simply contingent upon the joy of the believer, resting and delighting in the Lord’s instruction. What is your calling? To prosper, and I do not mean that in a monetary way either. I mean in the same way the Psalmist would have it from exactly the same position. Firstly, taking delight in the Lord’s instruction and secondly, allowing the Spirit to so work in your life that it manifests itself into a ministry for the Lord. This is the life of the Christian! Prospering for the Lord, storing up treasures in Heaven! (Matthew 6:20). What of the rest of the Psalm?

The wicked are not like this;
instead, they are like chaff that the wind blows away.
⁵ Therefore the wicked will not survive^[f] the judgment,
and sinners will not be in the community of the righteous.

⁶ For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked leads to ruin. Psalm 1:4-6

The Psalmist tells us how separate the life of the sinner is to the believer; not taking delight in the Lord’s word. As if they were “chaff that the wind blows away”, without direction and without guidance, their life is in the direction of wherever the wind blows them. So as the sinner has no direction and no guidance, it is fitting that the Psalmist notes “sinners will not be in the community of the righteous.” In conclusion than, it is right to say that Christians ought to be guided by the Lord’s instruction, not in obligation but in delight. We ought to take joy that the Lord has given us instruction; a way to live our lives that is worthy before Him. However, the Psalmist has given us a test as well. Two separate lives that are contrary to one another; one that does delight in the Lord’s instruction and thus results in a spiritual growth, manifesting itself in various ministries of praise to the Lord. The other is the sinner who moves with the wind, who is simply without direction and guidance. And so we must ask ourselves this simple question “are we guided by the way of the wind? Or are we guided by the Lord’s instruction?” For the conclusion of these lives is contingent upon what they are guided by. The Lord watches over the righteous, thus He is to be praised for His instruction; for His guidance. And the sinner has eternal punishment and ruin being guided by nothing more than the ways of the wind. How we ought to examine our lives carefully! And repent of sin in our lives so not to be guided like the ways of the wind. Let us therefore consider what the Psalmist is teaching us, the contingency of these two lives and how we as Christians ought to be guided with the Lord’s instruction.