Blessed or happy is the righteous man. For a closer look at what righteousness is we can turn to Jesus’ words in Matthew 5. In this passage those who are “blessed” are characterized as being poor in spirit, mourning over sin, meek, hunger and thirsting for righteousness, merciful, pure in heart, peacemaking and persecuted. In addition to these things, the righteous man is also characterized by two things in verses 1-3

Delights in the law of the Lord. The righteous man does not get caught up in the philosophies and counsel of men. Verse one shows a downward spiral that people can make when they associate too closely with the ungodly in walking, standing and sitting. These stages can represent the way that sin can drag us downward. We start out just talking with someone in passing, then we stop and stand with them and discuss deeper, and eventually we are sitting down for longer more involved conversation. A righteous person should never follow the counsel of ungodly people. Counsel is not referring to asking your neighbor how to make a recipe or fix your car. Counsel would be asking or hearing advice or guidance from someone who does not follow God. As one following God, we should seek counsel and guidance from His Word and never heed the man’s advice and worldly wisdom of the ungodly. Worldly advice can be found offered from various people and in radio talk shows, where people call in with questions or television shows such as Dr. Phil or Oprah. These are not always offering bad suggestions to people in terms of relationships or guidance, but the righteous man can be faithful to delight in God’s counsel as sufficient for all of his questions and problems.

The whole idea of delighting in something implies that the person is devoted to something that he finds great joy and satisfaction in. The Psalms are saturated with this attitude toward Scripture. Psalm 119, the longest Psalm and longest chapter in the Bible, is all an expression of the writer regarding the excellencies of God’s Word. It seems a little odd that someone would delight in a law, but in the New Testament God’s law is described as “not burdensome” (1 John 5:3) and “easy” and “light” (Matthew 11:30).

Brings forth fruit. The righteous man is described as a tree. His roots go deep into the law of the Lord as he delights in and meditates on the Word. He is a doer of the word, not just a hearer (James 1:23) and as he obeys God’s law, the Holy Spirit bears His fruit in his life (Galatians 5:22).

Many people long for a more stable life. They have anxiety and seem constantly rocked to and fro by their circumstances. Verse 3 refers to the righteous man as a tree that is “firmly planted.” He isn’t described as a tree that just happened to be there and hopefully will bear something worthwhile, but as one planted intentionally, by streams and yielding fruit in season. This bears in mind the reality that we are chosen by God unto salvation (2 Thessalonians 2:13) and given all the spiritual resources necessary to grow us in Him (2 Peter 1:3).

Studying this Psalm helped me to see that these two aspects of the righteous man can be a good grid for me in times of anxiety, sin or apathy. If I am wavering and being tossed by circumstances and desires I will ask myself, am I delighting in the law of the Lord? And am I doing what it says, not just hearing it? John MacArthur said it well, “The person who walks with God knows stability, but the one who rejects Him flounders in meaningless existence. Which would you rather be?”