What does it mean that whatever he does shall prosper in Psalm 1:3?

In present result, judged by any human or earthly standard, this statement would not seem to be verified. When we hear the psalmist himself exclaiming, "Thou hast made void the covenant of thy servant, broken down all his hedges, brought his strongholds to ruin, set up the right hand of his adversaries, made all his enemies to rejoice": when we hear him asking, "Wherefore hast thou made all men in vain?" (Psa. 89:39-47): and when we hear Christ Himself saying, "I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought and in vain" (Isa. 49:4; see also Matt. 23:37) it is evident that, "whatsoever he doeth shall prosper" is not to be taken as an absolute promise to be fulfilled in every sense, and in every case, and at all times. "What things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law" (Rom. 3:19). This follows on a number of quotations from the book of Psalms; so that this book would seem to be included in the term "the law." it was Israel to whom "the law" was given, whether in its narrower or wider sense; and we have seen that the name of covenant relation with Israel is the name here used. Now it was part of Jehovah's covenant with Israel, that obedience should be attended with prosperity. "Blessed shalt thou be in the city, in the field, the fruit of thy body, the fruit of thy ground, cattle, kine, and the flocks of thy sheep" (see Deut. 28:3-4). The first thirteen verses indeed may be read as an exposition of the words before us, "whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."

But then these promises are to the nation in case of their obedience. Jehovah's government would secure all this blessedness and prosperity to His nation, if obedient. But the First Psalm treats of a godly man, not an obedient nation; nay, of a godly man, in contrast with the wicked. This, as to character, we have seen in the first two verses, we are to see it shortly in results. But the very presence of the ungodly, and even of scorners, implies a testing time for the faithful; and, as unfolded largely in other Psalms, the great test is the suspension of this word as to any present fulfilment, so that instead of the godly man prospering in all he does, it seems as though the wicked were in prosperity and the godly persecuted and forsaken. But this is not brought out here, and where it is, it is only for the present. There is a judgment impending, the effect of which will be to remove the ungodly, and leave only those as the righteous congregation, who, in the presence of the ungodly, and of the trial inseparable therefrom, have sustained the character of the man here described. In other words, a remnant, distinguished from the wicked part of the nation, by the character here given as that of an individual godly man, will become the nation, when the judgment has swept the ungodly away; and then of each such person it will indeed be true, "whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."

But then these promises are to the nation in case of their obedience. Jehovah's government would secure all this blessedness and prosperity to His nation, if obedient. But the First Psalm treats of a godly man, not an obedient nation; nay, of a godly man, in contrast with the wicked. This, as to character, we have seen in the first two verses, we are to see it shortly in results. But the very presence of the ungodly, and even of scorners, implies a testing time for the faithful; and, as unfolded largely in other Psalms, the great test is the suspension of this word as to any present fulfilment, so that instead of the godly man prospering in all he does, it seems as though the wicked were in prosperity and the godly persecuted and forsaken. But this is not brought out here, and where it is, it is only for the present. There is a judgment impending, the effect of which will be to remove the ungodly, and leave only those as the righteous congregation, who, in the presence of the ungodly, and of the trial inseparable therefrom, have sustained the character of the man here described. In other words, a remnant, distinguished from the wicked part of the nation, by the character here given as that of an individual godly man, will become the nation, when the judgment has swept the ungodly away; and then of each such person it will indeed be true, "whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."

Verse 3 tells the results of meditation on the word of God. The individual will be like a tree planted by the rivers of water. The water speaks of the word of God (Eph. 5:26), and flowing water denotes the power of the Spirit of God in making the word vital and precious to us. More than this, the tree is a fruit tree, producing fruit in its proper season, for there are times of rest also as the fruit is developing. Fruit is primarily for God, while the leaves speak of the profession of faith, and these in a devoted believer do not wither, as they do in one who is merely a professor with no reality. Revelation 22:2 speaking of the tree of life (symbolizing the Lord Jesus) says, "The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations." Thus, the outward profession or declaration of God's glory in Christ, will have wonderful effect in the outward condition of the Gentile nations in the millennium.

"And whatever he does shall prosper." How absolutely true this is of the Lord Jesus. While His sufferings and death seemed to be His defeat, this was a sacrifice that He accomplished that has prospered amazingly in the salvation of countless souls. Let us therefore not be discouraged by any troubling setbacks, for whatever God enables us to do for Him will prosper. "Your labor is not in vain in the Lord" (1 Cor. 15:58).

In the Millennium there will doubtless be a large and triumphant illustration of the doctrine of this Psalm. Israel will then be known and honoured as the righteous nation of Jehovah — His elect (Isa. 65:21-23). Their work will prosper, because they will themselves be standing in the full results of that which God had wrought for them, through the gracious obedience of the Just One unto death (Isa. 45:26). This subject will be amply opened as we advance further in the Psalms. Meanwhile, in the expression, "whatsoever he does shall prosper," the Church already finds her blessed place as the first-fruits of the travail of Him who seemed to spend His strength for nought. Earthly rather than heavenly results are, however, here presented. The proper interest of the Church in these things, as the anointed bride of the Lamb, will appear more distinctly in the sequel.

Verse 3 expresses the result of this perfect righteousness, according to the just award of God. Already we see Jesus crowned with glory and honour (Heb. 2:9). The Psalm which follows will open this more fully. We have here the indefinite, because absolute, promise of perpetual peace and blessing. Quietness and assurance for ever, with all prosperity, and comely and abundant praise, are the portion of sustained obedience. Blessing and being blessed is the abiding estate of the just Man, whom God honours with a worthy recompence. But,

(v. 2) His separation, however, is not merely outward and formal; it is accompanied by an inner life of devotedness to God. His delight is in the law of the Lord; and the Word that he delights in becomes the subject of his meditation day and night.

(v. 3) Further, his life is one of dependence upon the unfailing sources of supply in God like a tree drawing its sustenance from the rivers of water. Moreover, this separation from evil, devotedness to God, and dependence upon God, leads to a fruitful life. It develops a beautiful character that is fruit in the sight of God. Further, before man, his profession of godliness, set forth by the “leaf,” is not marred, or withered, by any inconsistencies. Finally, he is blessed in all that he does.

As a result, "the Lord was with Joseph and he was a prosperous man" (verse 2). The submissive man will ever be a prosperous man. Nature would say that slavery and prosperity must be an impossible combination, but if we submit to His ways, the presence of the Lord can turn days of adversity into days of prosperity. All the world would admit that Joseph was a prosperous man in the day of his exaltation, but faith sees, and God declares, that he was a prosperous man in the day of his humiliation. He will, in due time ride prosperously as the ruler of Egypt, but first he must live prosperously as the slave of an Egyptian. The prosperity of the prison must precede the prosperity of the palace. The trials and the sorrows, the losses and the crosses, the rough ways and the dark valleys, will all become occasions of the greatest soul prosperity if we remember that God has a settled purpose for us in glory, and in the meantime all His ways with us are in view of His purpose for us. In the light of His purpose we shall be able to submit to His ways, and submitting we shall find the Lord with us, and if the Lord is with us we shall prosper with that prosperity that is above all — the prosperity of the soul. "Beloved," says the aged apostle, "I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper, and be in health, even as thy soul prospers" (3 John 2).

The Man contemplated in Psalm 1 is the exact antithesis of this. He is wholly separate from the ungodly, their thoughts and their ways. His delight and his meditation is in the law of the Lord. The very law, which the natural man finds to be an intolerable restraint, He finds to be a perfect delight. As a consequence He is like a tree planted by the softly flowing river, full of prosperity and fruitfulness — a simile which conveys no thought of agitation and tumult but the reverse, placidity and prosperity.

And do not let us forget that though He alone fully answered to the beautiful description of the godly in Psalm 1, yet that we are left to tread in His steps. The godliness there described is to characterize us today. We are to be marked by a careful avoidance of all that is evil, and of the evil men in whom these things find expression. We are to find our delight in the will of God our Father. We are to make His Word our continual meditation so that we may be instructed in His thoughts, and in His will in which we delight. Then we too — in the measure in which these things do characterize us — shall be like trees that are fruitful for God, and be prospered in the things that concern His Name.

Positively, "His delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law doth he meditate day and night."

Such an one, it is said "Shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, That bringeth forth his fruit in his season; His leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."

There is a deep lesson for this day in all this. The source of all true prosperity, of all spiritual prosperity, is here unfolded: "His delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law doth he meditate day and night."