Psalm 1 - The Law of the Lord

Chaff

“ Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away.” (4) Chaff is the husk of the wheat this is separated from the kernel by throwing it into the wind. It is then gathered together and burned as it has no value to the farmer. Each time it is mentioned in scripture it is in association with wind or fire alluding to the emptiness of a life lived on this earth without God and eternal separation from him. “ His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” (Mt. 3:12) • Eternal judgment- “ Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment…” (5) Right at the beginning of the worship book of God a date is set for an appearance in the courtroom of heaven and there will be no acquittal for the crimes of the wicked. The very laws that they have scorned condemn the wicked. “ For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” (2 Cor. 5:10) • Temporal judgment- “ …nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.” (5) Sin separates us from everyone and everything that is good; in the end the one who persists in sin is completely alone. Judgment This psalm presents two road signs at the beginning of life’s journey. One says: “ THE WAY OF THE WICKED - Beware! This path leads to an empty life of meaningless chaff, lost court battles with the laws that they resisted, withered fruit in the seasons of life, expulsion from the congregation of those who love God, and the destruction of everything they have lived for.” The second and more preferable sign says: “THE WAY OF THE RIGHTEOUS- Welcome! This path leads to innumerable blessings, days and nights of total delight in God, roots that go deep into the river of life, fruitfulness in every season of life, prosperity, continual guidance from the Almighty and an eternal place among the assembly of righteous persons in heaven.” Two Ways - (6) “ For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. ”

The choice to ‘delight in the law of God’ is obvious!