Psalm 1- Blessedness
This psalm talks about the man who is objectively blessed. The writer talks about his character, behaviour and attitude.
This picture is painted in heavy contrasts. He compares this blessed man to the one who is wicked and opposed to God, these descriptions show the reader what it means to know blessedness and also what kind of approach to God they should have.
Firstly, the writer uses negatives to explain the behaviour of the blessed one. To begin, he doesn’t walk in the counsel of the wicked. He doesn’t listen to the advice of those who are against God. His path is not surrounded by thoughts of that which would displease God. Next, he doesn’t stand in the way of sinners. He doesn’t loiter around with sinners. He keeps moving forward. And finally he doesn’t sit in the seat of scoffers. He doesn’t find comfort among them to keep their company. He is separated from the ungodly.
Speaking positively, he has a greater delight which is God’s law or in other words, the word of God. He sits and ponders over God’s word both day and night. He derives a special pleasure in the word. He is happy to grow in his understanding of God and his ways. It’s the way of God’s word in which he walks. He stands under God’s law to be examined and instructed. He sits down to contemplate biblical truth and examines the mind of God. This is what takes up the bulk of his time.
What’s interesting is how the writer describes this man like a tree besides the river of God’s truth. This word is bringing him deep and satisfying nourishment. Just as a tree needs water to grow large and sturdy, so too does this man grow and flourish in blessedness because of the Law of God. God’s word has breathed life into this man’s soul and so like a tree with evergreen leaves, he stands strong also bearing his fruit in seasons. The life of the blessed man is flourishing in such a bountiful way. However, in stark contrast, the wicked are seen as chaff. They are like dust, which a gentle breeze can blow away easily.
The wicked have no lasting foundation. Nature rejects them as useless dust and drives them away with its gust of wind. They have nowhere to stay within the company of God’s people. They can’t stand among the blessed ones as they have rejected God and His Law.
Therefore, the Lord acknowledges the way of the righteous, but sinners will forever perish.
These are two ways to live, the question is, which way will you live? Will you find comfort and delight in God’s word. Will it be on your mind and heart, day and night, to counsel you and accompany you, as you sit and meditate. Or are you like the unrighteous who scoffs at God’s word and accepts the advice of the ungodly. Will you be someone who flourishes like a tree, always glistening with fruits of faith and righteousness. Or are you unstable with no solid foundation, blown too and fro by the winds of life, driven to be lost without a place to stand among God’s people. The thing is God knows the way of the righteous. He is acutely aware of their going in and coming out. Their ups and downs, the struggles they face and their victories because they remain in God’s counsel. But unbelief and wickedness only lead to destruction. There is no refuge for the wicked only a fearful looking to judgement.
Yet there is a way for men to find access to this true blessedness. It’s by Looking to The Blessed One, Jesus Christ. Only He perfectly walked in God’s ways and obeyed the Law of the Lord.
His truest delight was to fulfil the will of his father. Day and night he kept company with the Lord and like a tree he bore bountiful fruits of righteousness and great works of salvation.
Yet even though he was righteous he was taken by mockers and scoffers and was killed by wicked hands. Yet all this was according to God’s will. He faced the Judgment due to the ungodly.
He died in the sinners place and took his righteousness and clothed them in it. The sinner who hopes in Christ can find forgiveness for their sins and a new way to walk. One filled with truth and love. They can keep company with those who are blessed. The way the righteous is open to them and they can find refuge among the company of saints, whose head is the Lord Jesus Christ. Believe in The Lord Jesus who gave his life for you and me and we can know lasting peace and genuine blessedness.
-Henry Onwordi