Living in righteousness
"Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sit in company with scoffers. Rather, the law of the LORD is his joy, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted near streams of water, that yields its fruit in season; its leaves never wither; whatever he does prospers." (Psalm 1:1–3) The opening lines of the Psalter present a powerful portrait of the righteous person, not by means of abstract doctrine, but through vivid imagery and contrasting life paths. Psalm 1 serves as a theological gateway to the entire Book of Psalms, framing all subsequent prayer and reflection in terms of two diverging destinies—the way of the righteous and the way of the wicked. The one who is “blessed” (ashrei, in Hebrew) is not simply fortunate, but one who lives in accordance with divine wisdom and enjoys God’s favor. The psalm begins with a triple renunciation—avoiding the counsel, path, and companionship of the wi...