How to be Blessed
Blessed. What does this word mean? The definition of this word is “happy”.
I think that it is not a coincidence that the very first Psalm starts with the idea of happiness or being blessed. The best part of this Psalm is the practical application of the Psalm for us.
Read Psalm 1:1-4.
Psalm 1:1-4 ESV [1] Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; [2] but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. [3] He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. [4] The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
Now that we have read this Psalm we will break it down into its parts.
Blessed or happy is the man who:
These are the things we should avoid to be blessed.
1. Happy is the man who does not walk in the advice of the wicked.
2. Happy is the man who does not stand in the way of sinners.
3. Happy is the man who does not sit in the seat of scoffers.
These are the things we should do to be blessed.
4. Happy is the man who delights in the law of the LORD.
5. Happy is the man who meditates on the law of the LORD day and night.
To delight means to take pleasure in or to long for. It is pleasant to us. To meditate means to imagine, speak, or to mumble. It means to contemplate God’s word.
The idea here in this Psalm is a contrast for where we should find delight and advice? Do we take advice from people who are actively rebelling against God (sinners) or do we take advice from God Himself?
Where do we go for counsel or advice? Do we run to people who are not followers of Jesus Christ or do we run to active living Word of God?
I also want us to think about what it means to delight in something. I have always gotten good advice from my dad. My dad passed away a few years ago. Could you imagine the delight I would have if I got to sit down with him again right now and ask his advice? This is what it leans to delight in the law of the Lord. This is a place where we are loved and have always received good advice and counsel from. What a delight that is to have someone (not just anyone but the God of the universe) who loves us and wants to give us sound counsel. We should run to that. We should take pleasure in that. We should long for that.
Our footsteps are to be ordered by the Word of God not by the world.
When we follow this advice we will be like a thriving a tree that does not wither regardless of the situation and we will bear good fruit.
The contrast between verse 3 and 4 is very visual. A tree firmly planted versus chaff that is blown easily by the wind.
This is a visualization of being prosperous as a follower of God.
To be clear, being prosperous as a follower of God is about bearing fruit. The purpose of the tree is not to be super green and lush for itself but to produce fruit.
We bear fruit by sharing the hope of Jesus with others. We are blessed in order to be a blessing to others.
Step 1 for us today is to turn off the world for a little while and meditate on God’s word.