Psalm 1

Shalom is a Hebrew word meaning peace, harmony, wholeness, completeness, prosperity, welfare, and tranquility (Merriam-Webster Dictionary). This is what God, the Father of Abraham wanted for his people. Everyday, God wanted his people to live in shalom, a blessed life in which God himself ordained for each of them.

The book of Psalm has been studied to show that it was written over a period of about one thousand years. Although many contribute David with writing the book of Psalm, studies show that there may be about five or six other authors of the book. Most who read the Bible come to

understand the book of Psalm to be a set of do’s and don’ts as it tends to express the diversity of human emotion. The Israelites praised God when times were good and

feared their enemies when times were bad. Basically, if a person does what God requires then they will not suffer dire consequences.

Psalm 1 opens with; blessed is the man. As the reader continues, they are met with a few things to stay away from on their journey as well as some things they will be blessed with if they choose to follow God instead. The blessing David, the author of Psalm 1, is attempting to describe is shalom. It is God’s desire to bless his people with the good things in life. The blessing is in living an overall good, kind, and peaceful life.

These blessings come from knowing and having a relationship with God. A relationship that is built on trust and faith. Joy, happiness, peace, love, wholeness, and completeness come from within. Once people come to know God, these things are simply added to their lives. They are not necessarily a reward for following God but a blessing. A reward is usually given because of one’s service, efforts, or achievements. Rewards are often expected because of doing and the truth of the matter is, God does not need us to do anything for him.

The wisdom God speaks about in Psalm 1 is so that we can live happy, healthy lives here on earth. The result of choosing God is the blessing. The blessing is not a promise but a natural flow of God’s love to his people. God gave us the freedom to choose how we would like to live and conduct our own lives. Similar as when parents want to have children, they do it out of love, wanting to be loved and wanting to give love. God created his children out of love. God wants to be loved by his children and he wants his children to love him.

God does not need his children to do anything to earn his love. What God knows and what his children do not is that life on earth is nothing like what God has created in the heavens. God knows our journeys. He has already walked each of our paths before us. Psalm 1 offers God’s people an opportunity to live life a bit easier. He offers advice to helps us navigate pitfalls, challenges, and struggles as any loving parent would.

God loves each of us and all he wants is to have a relationship with us. A blessing is God’s favor and protection of those he loves. Just as a parent gives, blesses their children out of a natural love for the child, God does the same for his children.