This Sunday we started a new series called Psalms of Thanksgiving. The word “psalms” means praise or song. The book of Psalms is the Hebrew hymnbook. God inhabits praise. Wherever He shows up His blessing shows up. Today, we will look at Psalm 1 and what it says about living a blessed life.
God’s Way
Psalm 1:1 says, “How happy is the one who does not walk in the advice of the wicked or stand in the pathway with sinners or sit in the company of mockers!” Blessed is the Hebrew word for happy. If you are happy it is because you have been blessed, and if you are blessed, you are happy! Happiness is what everyone is looking for. There are only two approaches to life – man’s way or God’s way. Sin is a downward spiral. If you listen to fools you will start to think like a fool. When you start thinking like a fool you will act like and live like a fool. Notice the term “pathway.” People often think we are all travelling a neutral road. At some point on that road there is a fork where we must decide if we’ll go God’s way or not. There are not three paths. The Bible makes it clear that there are only two paths. The broad road where everyone appears to be happy, but they are really miserable, leads to death. The narrow path has its share of hardships and difficulties, but is filled with happiness, peace, and joy, that leads to life everlasting. We are all on the wide path until we choose to follow Jesus. There is no neutral ground. You will miss God’s blessing if you walk the wrong path. Don’t let others rob you of a blessing!
God’s Word
Verse 2 says, “Instead, his delight is in the Lord’s instruction, and he meditates on it day and night.” We go to the written Word to encounter Jesus, the living Word. Luther said, “We go to the Bible as the Shepherds went to the manger to find Christ.” The Bible is a book about Jesus. In the Old Testament, He is predicted. In the Gospels, He is revealed. In Acts, He is preached. In the Epistles, He is explained. In Revelation, He is expected. Why do you need to be in the Word every day? You can backslide going to church, singing, preaching, praying, and witnessing. The only thing you can do and not backslide is stay in the Word. You will either get out of sin or sin will get you out of the word. “Meditate” here is talking about bringing Scripture to mind throughout the day. Meditate is the same word as plot/imagine in Psalm 2. It means to fix your mind. Hide God’s Word in your heart so that you night not sin against God. Dwell on the Bible not your burdens. Dwell on the Word not your worries! Bring every thought under the influence and control of God. Take every opportunity to experience God’s blessing.
God’s Wealth
“He is like a tree planted beside flowing streams that bears its fruit in its season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers” (v. 3). God’s prosperity includes money, but it is more than money. God will prosper you with a life that really matters. God desires to bless His children. Never be jealous of someone else’s blessing. God has enough blessings for all His children. His well never runs dry! God plants and God prospers. A tree does not plant itself. God plants us where He wants us to live and serve. Bloom where you are planted. The tree has a constant supply of water by the river. It is a picture of the Holy Spirit pouring in us to produce His fruit in us. He gives us what we have for His glory. God blesses us to be a blessing! Don’t let your blessings become an idol. Don’t spend all your life trying to make a dollar that will burn up in the end. You are not carrying it with you. What matters most in life is God and people. Be generous with your time, talent, skills. Let your life bear fruit that will last forever. Let it bear seed that will produce further fruit.
There is a judgment day. “Therefore the wicked will not stand up in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to ruin” (v.5-6). The righteous prosper and the wicked perish. Which way are you going?