Musings on Psalm 1

I have often wondered why Psalm 1 begins with describing all the places a blessed/happy person avoids: advice of the wicked, where the wicked travel, and where they settle (sit).  I wonder about this because I am troubled when I get caught up in pointing fingers and dividing folks into opposing camps of righteous and wicked.   If i do this with Psalm 1, I will have missed its wisdom.

The passage, however, reminds me that I am/we are shaped and formed by what we connect ourselves to, where we spend our mental, emotional, spiritual and physical time.  What I give my mind, heart, soul, and strength to become those influences that make and shape me.

In short, this Psalm challenges me to consider those places and environments where I spend the most time.  It is hard to taste blessing when I am consuming bitterness and sour wisdom.  Thus, the wisdom gleaned from tasting God's instructions should be more than a bittler pill to swallow.  Rather, they are teachings that breathe life!