Psalm 1 :1-2(NKJV)
Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
St. Hilary of Poitiers
The Holy Spirit made choice of this magnificent and noble introduction to the Psalter, in order to stir up weak man to a pure zeal for piety by the hope of happiness, to teach him the mystery of the Incarnate God, to promise him participation in heavenly glory, to declare the penalty of the judgment, to proclaim the two-fold resurrection, to shew forth the counsel of God as seen in His award.
Meditation in the law, therefore, does not lie in reading its words, but in pious performance of its injunctions; not in a mere perusal of the books and writings, but in a practical meditation and exercise in their respective contents, and in a fulfilment of the law by the works we do by night and day, as the Apostle says: ‘Whether ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God’ (1 Cor. 10:31).
-St. Hilary of Poitiers. Homilies on the Psalms, Psalm I
In our constant pursuit of happiness, we often find ourselves chasing after worldly pleasures, achievements, and recognition. Yet, ancient wisdom points us toward a different path—one that leads to a deeper, more lasting form of happiness.
The Blessed Life
The opening words of the Book of Psalms offer us a powerful glimpse into what true blessedness looks like:
“Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night.” (Psalm 1:1-2, NKJV)
This passage begins by telling us what the blessed person does not do—they don’t follow ungodly advice, participate in sinful behavior, or join in with those who mock what is good. Instead, they find their joy in God’s law, making it the focus of their continuous meditation.
Beyond Mere Reading
But what does it mean to meditate on God’s law day and night? St. Hilary of Poitiers, a 4th-century theologian, offers profound insight into this question. He explains that the Holy Spirit chose this magnificent introduction to the Psalter deliberately—to inspire us toward piety with the promise of happiness, to teach us about the Incarnate God, and to invite us to participate in heavenly glory.
St. Hilary goes on to clarify that true meditation on God’s law involves much more than reading words on a page:
“Meditation in the law, therefore, does not lie in reading its words, but in pious performance of its injunctions; not in a mere perusal of the books and writings, but in a practical meditation and exercise in their respective contents, and in a fulfilment of the law by the works we do by night and day.”
In essence, meditation must lead to transformation. It’s not enough to intellectually understand God’s teachings—we must embody them in our daily lives.
Living Scripture
This understanding completely reframes how we should approach spiritual texts. Reading becomes not an end in itself but a beginning—a doorway to a life lived in accordance with divine principles.
When St. Hilary quotes the Apostle Paul—”Whether ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31)—he’s emphasizing that every aspect of our lives can and should reflect this meditation. Our work, our relationships, our leisure activities, even the mundane tasks of eating and drinking—all become opportunities to live out the teachings we’ve internalized.
The Art of Practical Meditation
So how do we practice this deeper form of meditation?
- Begin with thoughtful reading. Take time to understand the meaning and context of spiritual texts.
- Move from understanding to application. Ask yourself: “How does this teaching apply to my life today?”
- Look for opportunities to practice. Each day presents countless moments where we can choose to embody divine principles.
- See every action as sacred. Remember that there is no separation between the “spiritual” and “ordinary” parts of life.
- Reflect regularly. Take time to consider how well your actions align with the teachings you value.
The Promise of Blessedness
The beauty of this approach is that it carries with it the promise of true happiness—not the fleeting happiness of worldly success, but the deep, abiding joy that comes from living in harmony with divine purpose.
When we step away from ungodly counsel, sinful paths, and scornful attitudes, and instead find our delight in God’s law—living it out day by day—we position ourselves to experience the blessedness described in Psalm 1.
In our fast-paced world of endless information and constant distraction, perhaps this ancient wisdom is more relevant than ever. True meditation isn’t adding one more activity to our busy schedules; it’s transforming how we approach everything we already do.
As St. Hilary reminds us, the goal isn’t just to read more spiritual content—it’s to live more spiritual lives. And in that living, we find the happiness we’ve been seeking all along.