How To Be Happy

Psalm 1 is a beautiful and powerful passage that offers guidance on how we
can live a fulfilling life. Everyone wants to be happy and fulfilled but it would
appear that few actually are. Why is that? This opening psalm provides the
answer. The only way to be truly happy is to have a deep and committed
relationship with God. Hearing and abiding in the word of God plays a major
part in developing such a relationship.

Psalm one begins with the statement, “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.” This is a call to avoid the advice and actions of those who
do not follow God’s ways. The word “blessed” here means happy or fortunate.
The passage is telling us that we will find happiness only when we avoid
being influenced by those who do not follow God.

Listening to the advice of the world, marching in lockstep to their drumbeat
will surely lead to unhappiness.

The second verse reads, “But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his
law he meditates day and night.” This verse is a call to focus on the word of
God and to find joy and fulfillment in it. The law of the Lord is not just a set of
rules to follow, but it is a guide for living a fulfilling life. By meditating on it day
and night, we can internalize its teachings and live according to God’s ways.
Verse three continues the theme of the second verse, saying “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.” What a beautiful metaphor!
That’s an image we should fix in our minds. It can serve as a beacon to guide
us whenever we are tempted to follow the path of the world. Just as the tree
is well-nourished by the water it receives, the person who delights in God’s
word is nourished by it. And just as the tree produces fruit and remains
healthy, the person who follows God’s ways will prosper in all that they do.
The next three verses explain the fate of the wicked. They are not strong, nor
are they securely planted in fertile ground. They are like the chaff that the
wind drives away (see Matthew 3:12). They will not stand among God’s
people on Judgement Day, but will perish.

Overall, Psalm 1 is a powerful reminder of the importance of following God’s
ways and finding joy and fulfillment in His word. It tells us that we will find true
happiness only when we avoid the advice and actions of those who do not
follow God and focus on His teachings. It encourages us to be like a tree
planted by the river, well-nourished and fruitful, by following God’s ways and
meditating on His word.
– Kurt Paquette