Saturday in the Psalms (Psalm 1)

Psalm 1 Amplified Bible (AMP)

¹ Blessed (happy, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly [following their advice, their plans and purposes], nor stands [submissive and inactive] in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down [to relax and rest] where the scornful [and the mockers] gather.

² But his delight and desire are in the law of the Lord, and on His law (the precepts, the instructions, the teachings of God) he habitually meditates (ponders and studies) by day and by night.

³ And he shall be like a tree firmly planted [and tended] by the streams of water, ready to bring forth its fruit in its season; its leaf also shall not fade or wither; and everything he does shall prosper [and come to maturity].

⁴ Not so the wicked [those disobedient and living without God are not so]. But they are like the chaff [worthless, dead, without substance] which the wind drives away.

⁵ Therefore the wicked [those disobedient and living without God] shall not stand [justified] in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous [those who are upright and in right standing with God].

⁶ For the Lord knows and is fully acquainted with the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly [those living outside God’s will] shall perish (end in ruin and come to nought).

Sometimes just reading a different translation of a familiar passage will bring new depth or freshness to it. That is the case for me (and I hope you) when I read Psalm 1 from the Amplified Version.  It is helpful to see the words of the Text literally "amplified"...similar to when an object is placed under the lens of a microscope and magnified.  We are able to zoom in, focus on the words, and understand them more clearly. 
Let's look at some of the truths listed regarding the "blessed" man:
*He does not listen to, submit himself to, or hangout with the ungodly/sinner/scornful.
*He finds pleasure/satisfaction in knowing the law of the Lord.
*He has a routine/discipline of spending time in the scripture.
*He is blessed.
*He never experiences spiritual drought.
This guy has it together spiritually because he takes his own personal discipleship seriously. He does not let his spiritual growth rest in what he gleans from group settings like church services, Sunday school, or small group. He makes spending time alone in the Word a daily priority. He knows that the "word of God is living and active" (Heb. 4:12) and he feeds on it everyday letting it do it's work in him.  His steadfastness is paying off because he is becoming perfect/mature/complete, lacking nothing (James 1:4).  On a scale of 1-10, how serious are you about your own discipleship? What principles taught by the "blessed" man are already a part your life? What new disciplines will you add?  I hope you will take time on your own to focus on the "wicked" man. Who do you know in his position and how can you reach out to them?