The two ways
What you sow in life you will harvest. Those who keep God’s law will be happy here and in the next life. Whoever refuses it will not prosper.
1 Blessed is the one
who does not go where the wicked gather,
or stand in the way of sinners,
or sit where the scoffers sit!
2 Instead, he finds delight in the law of the Lord
and meditates day and night
on his commandments.
3 He is like a tree beside a brook
producing its fruit in due season,
its leaves never withering.
Everything he does is a success.
4 But it is different with the wick ed.
They are like chaff
driven away by the wind.
5 The wicked will not stand when judgment comes,
nor the sinners when the righteous assemble.
6 For the Lord knows the way of the righteous
but cuts off the way of the wick ed.
The first psalm speaks of happiness, just as Jesus' first discourse began with "Happy!" (or being blessed "Fortunate").
We often find the theme of two ways in the Bible (Dt 30:15; Jer 21:8; Prov 4:18; Mt 7:13). It expresses our personal responsibility which will be clearly seen on the day of judgment. Whatever the appearances may be at times, true happiness is for those who are faithful to the will of God.
Jesus is the green and productive tree, par excellence. All that is good, great, beautiful and holy in the heart of a person blossoms on the tree of the cross.
