According to the Indonesian dictionary, the word wicked means ignorant of God's commands. Thus the wicked are a group of people who ignore His commands and wallow in sin. Thus the antithesis of the wicked are the righteous who live according to His will and strive to always heed His commands. These are the two comparisons highlighted in the first chapter of Psalms.

The book of Psalms is a collection of poems that were mostly used in the context of public worship in the past. Among the many poems, which are classified as 150 chapters, there are actually some similar patterns. Certain poems are hymns and express praise to God while others are glorifications of God's power/omnipotence over the universe. Other types of verse are truly personal whether it is in the form of laments, thanksgiving to God, to Psalms that express advice on the wisdom of life.

The first chapter of Psalms reveals the wisdom of life. The psalmist reveals the typology of the wicked and the righteous. Those who are considered righteous by God are those who meditate on His word continually. Like a tree planted by streams of water, such a tree will bear abundant fruit and grow well. The wicked, on the other hand, are like chaff that is blown away by even the slightest breeze. The psalmist then invites the reader to be far-sighted about judgment and eternity and offers them a choice. Walking in ungodliness will lead to destruction, while the righteous will be favored by God.

Friends of the Bible, God's word today reminds us to be resolute in making the choices that unfold in our lives. There may be a variety of choices but broadly speaking we can categorize them into two things, namely what God wants and is in accordance with His Torah or something that He does not want and leads to sin. With the intellect that He has given us, God trusts us to be able to make the right choice, which is to live as righteous people by obeying His word. May God guide us to make the right choices in life.