Psalm 1 describes two opposing ways of life. God offers us a choice—we can “walk in the counsel of the wicked, stand in the path of sinners, and sit in the seat of scoffers” (verse 1). Or, in contrast, we can choose to find “delight in” and “meditate on” God’s law and be firmly planted, fruitful, and prosperous in whatever we do (verses 2-3).

What do these words mean: delight and meditate? One is a noun, an attitude. The other is a verb.

Delight is the Hebrew word ḥēp̄eṣ. It is a noun describing good pleasure or longing. To take delight in something is to find satisfaction and joy in it. Interestingly, the first use of this word in the Bible is found in 1 Samuel 15:22.

Samuel said, “Has the Lord as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams.”

It gives God great pleasure and joy—it delights Him—when we find satisfaction in His Word, understanding it requires and deserves our obedience.

Meditate is a Hebrew verb, hāḡâ.  In this context, it means to “speak with oneself, murmuring in a low voice; to muse, to ponder; to contemplate—to read syllable by syllable.” Again, God’s Word is so detailed in its construction…here is the first verse in which we find this Hebrew word translated as “meditate.”

Joshua 1:8 – This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.

Centuries separated the authors of the 1 Samuel, Joshua, and the Psalms, yet the message is the same. God consistently reminds His people in every generation of the importance of delighting in and meditating on His Word. He gives us the secret of a prosperous and successful life—something everyone desires.

We must remind ourselves that success and prosperity are to be understood from God’s perspective. It does not necessarily refer to physical things. God is always concerned about our spiritual success and prosperity first. He desires our hearts and souls to prosper and our spirit to successfully be brought to eternal life through His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. However, God did create us to live in a physical world, and His Word is filled with wisdom and insight that helps us manage and enjoy this life as we follow the principles of work, money, and relationships that He lays out for us in His Word. God’s ways work!

As a follower of Jesus, I will tell you that my spiritual, physical, emotional, and mental state of well-being suffers when I am not often and consistently delighting in and meditating on God’s Word. I can also tell you how rich and meaningful and yes, successful and prosperous my life is–in every way–when the Bible has its proper place in both my time and my heart.

While this psalm is an encouragement it also has a warning for us.

Ignoring God’s Word leads us to listen to wicked people’s counsel. We will find ourselves standing with sinners and sitting with scoffers. Ultimately, all our efforts will be like chaff driven by the wind, and we will perish when we stand before God at the final judgment.

Let’s determine to delight in and meditate on God’s Word. We all need constant encouragement and reminders to make it a priority in our lives and teach our children to love it by our example. May it delight our souls, transform our minds daily, and bring delight to the One who wrote it and preserved it for us.