Psalm 1:1-3
The Blessings of the Law

Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked,
      or take the path that sinners tread,
      or sit in the seat of scoffers;
   but their delight is in the law of the LORD,
      and on his law they meditate day and night.

They are like trees planted by streams of water,
   which yield their fruit in its season,
      and their leaves do not wither.
   In all that they do, they prosper.

New Revised Standard Version

We rarely think of "law" as a source of joy. We see it as an "OK / not OK" choice where if we break the law, we lose, but if we follow the law, nothing happens to us.

The Law of God is fundamental to our being in ways far beyond traffic laws, however. God's Law is really God's plan for how we can live the most fulfilled, complete life by living in harmony with God's power, wisdom, and eternal blessings.

The psalmist captures the nature of our attachment to God's will in the image of a tree. In the arid climate of the Middle East, trees won't and can't grow and flourish without the right conditions, including a reliable, abundant source of fresh water. When we ignore God's way for our life, we're as hopeless as a tree in a sand dune. When we accept what God wants to give us, we sink our roots into an abundant river and we grow to our full, healthy, fruitful -- joyful -- potential.