The life of a pious sage is briefly yet beautifully demarcated in the first psalm. First, the pious sage (or the godly man of wisdom), is described as blessed or happy. He/she is fortunate and experiences life to the fullest. Secondly, the humble sage does not linger with the wicked. While we are supposed to help and love sinners, we do not belong with them as a part of their group. We need to make sure that we are the ones influencing them to be good and that they are not corrupting our values and moral character.

Third, the wise person delights in and meditates on God’s instruction. He/she does not find it burdensome, but rather finds it to be the source of true enjoyment. The sage meditates and mulls over the words of God’s instruction during the workday but also in the evening when relaxing or lying in bed.

I try to model my life to that of the pious sage found in the first psalm. Jesus himself lived according to this model as he was blessed by the Father, was not corrupted by the wicked, and delighted in God’s instruction. Further blessings of this lifestyle are described in v. 3, where it likens the sage to a fruitful and well-watered tree. I hope that we will choose to live like the wise person rather than as the ungodly fool. However, with God’s grace and our hard work, this life is available for anyone who desires it. Do you?