The Inner Life

Reflection on Psalm 1
By Ryan Chia

As I was reading, memorizing, meditating and reflecting through the Psalm, I discover that the Psalmist is essentially talking about 2 paths that a man can take: The blessed or the destructive way. (see Ps 1:6) This contrast is also found in Sermon on the Mount (Matt 7): We can either enter the narrow gate or enter the wide and easy gate that leads to destruction; we can be a tree that bears good fruit or a diseased tree that bears bad fruit (notice the connection with Ps1:3); we can choose to be like the wise man who chooses to build his house on rock while the foolish man chooses to build his house on the sand. Back to Psalm 1: Do we want to live the life of the blessed or to live the life of the wicked?

Firstly, I would like to make some observations about the wicked. It seems to me that the wicked has no point of reference in their lives. They are not rooted in anything. They are easily blown away by the wind. It gives a picture of unrest. Many was easily swayed by the way of the world : one simply follows what’s popular in the society; one simply follows the consumerist, self-centered path of the modern world , one simply reacts out of fear in accordance to the latest fad or circumstances ( eg. Bad economy and terrorism). They simply follow the worries and the solution as suggested by the world. There is a deep sense of insecurity and one cannot help but fend for oneself first. Eventually, sin seeps in and we start to walk on the wicked path. But somewhere inside us tells us that it is not right: we simply feel out of place when we stand among the righteous ones and those who believe in the truth.

Next, I like to talk about the inner life. The art of meditation is mentioned elsewhere in the bible (Joshua 1:8) and we have been invited to think about God’s law and His ways every moment of our lives. We are to write the law unto our hearts. There is rooted-ness that out of such meditation. Here is a picture of someone whose life is build upon the Word of the LORD : An inner strength, peace, joy (v2.his delight…) , fruitfulness (which is a mark of someone who is faithful), healthy in spiritual, emotional and *hopefully physical terms(the leaf that does not wither). There is no way one can possibly force his way to such maturity because it does depends on God’s timing (v3.in its season). There is a sense of confidence in what he does. It is not an arrogant kind of confidence, but one that is of grace. He succeeds in what he does simply because he is doing what God has led him to do.

There are many troubles in life. I recall a sermon illustration not too long ago: a believer and a non-beliver can go through the same life problems, but with different outcomes. We attempt to give quick solutions to complex problems in life. However, we must dig deeper and examine the inner roots issues. Psalm 1 helps me to rethink about what’s important in my life and indeed, the inner life takes utmost importance. Time and again, in quietness, my spiritual and emotional life gets re-align with God’s purpose and agenda.


Personally, in this season, I am still trusting God in many aspects of life: job-searching and family situations. Thank God for this season, I am enjoying pure rest: spending time with mum and dad (something I did not manage to do while in school and army), spending time with Christians, and reading bible and the books that I like. On certain days, I do have pangs of whys, sadness and impatience. But, it is in times like these, I am invited to relook at what really bothers me inside. Joy despite the circumstances.