but his delight is in the law of the LORD

Psalm 1:2 ESV

The first verse of Psalm 1 described to us what the blessed man, the one who dwells under the favor of God, is not. Particularly, the psalmist noted that he does not keep company with the wicked. Whether walking, standing, or sitting, the one who loves God does not live according to wicked counsel, does not place himself within sin’s path, and does not encourage scoffers in their scoffing through his presence with them. Yet this negative description is not a sufficient call for godliness. We may rightly believe that the counsel of the wicked leads to destruction, but what good does that knowledge do whenever we are all wicked? In what counsel then shall we walk? Along what path shall we stand? In what company shall we sit?

Thankfully, we are given the answer: but his delight is in the law of the LORD. The blessed man does not follow after the enticements and so-called wisdom of this world because his affection is set upon God’s law. Indeed, there is no other way to rightly flee from the delighting in wickedness than to delight in godliness. Like nature, our affections abhor a vacuum. Thomas Chalmers said it well: “We know of no other way by which to keep the love of the world out of our hearts than to keep in our hearts the love of God.”

Yet why is the blessed man’s delight in God’s law rather than God Himself? God’s law is His Word, the divine revelation of Himself that He has given to mankind. The great aim of Scripture, therefore, is that we may know the LORD and glorify Him. To rightly delight in God’s Word is to delight in God Himself, for His law is how He may be known and loved. Indeed, to delight in the Scriptures is like the psalmist who penned Psalm 119, enraptured with love for the words of our Father.

Blessed are those who delight in God’s law, for by it they behold the Blessed One.