Psalm 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; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. 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. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
1. God defines the blessed life and invites us into it (1:1)
Blessed in Psalm 1 means flourishing or happy/joyful and is offered not as an automatic formula (if I do “x” than God will give me “y”) but as a model and blueprint of what the blessed life looks like. See also Matthew 5:3-12 for “blessed” and Jesus’ kingdom-people.
“Specifically, Psalm 1 is not making a claim about God’s favor (‘blessing’) at all. Rather, it is an inspirational vision for the wise way of being in the world that will result in what all humans desire—human flourishing. It is a poetically crafted form of implicit invitation to consider what the best way of being in the world is and to pursue it…It is like all the Wisdom literature, such as the book of Proverbs—a vision of human flourishing that is meant to effect change in people’s lives by inspiring them to the good and the benefits that come from living a certain way. Psalm 1 is casting just such a powerful vision in saying ‘[Blessed] is the person …’—that is, ‘flourishing, fortunate, happy’ is the one who doesn’t go along the path of the wicked (cf. Proverbs) but instead focuses on God’s revelation to guide him or her (vv. 1–2).”
Jonathan Pennington, The Sermon on the Mount and Human Flourishing
• Point #1: The blessing God offers isn’t short-term happiness in circumstances but long-term joy found in life with Him.
• Invitation #1: God wants you to know and live the blessed life rather than be tricked into counterfeits.
• Diagnostic Question #1: If I could have what I want in 2024, do I desire the kind of “blessed life” as described by God or the kind of “blessed life” as described by most people?
2. The blessed life is experienced by saturating ourselves in Scripture (1:1-2)
The companions and voices the blessed person does not immerse themselves in:
“who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers.”
Instead, the blessed person delights in, meditates on, and saturates themselves in God’s Word.
Delight—to find joy in.
Meditate—to chew on, consider, and dwell on continually.
Day and night—the whole day, or a life fully saturated in Scripture.
Psalm 119
• “I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. 16 I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.” (Ps. 119:16)
• “Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors.” (Ps. 119:24)
• “Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it.” (Ps. 119:35)
• “I find my delight in your commandments, which I love.” (Ps. 119:47)
• “I delight in your law.” (Ps. 119:70)
• “Trouble and anguish have found me out, but your commandments are my delight.” (Ps. 119:143)
“Meditation is not the setting apart of a special time for personal devotions, whether morning or evening, but it is the reflection on the Word of God in the course of daily activities (Josh 1:8). Regardless of the time of day or the context, the godly respond to life in accordance with God’s word. Even where the word is not explicit, the godly person has trained his heart to speak and act with wisdom (Prov 1:1–7). According to Proverbs 3:1–6, the wise man receives instruction, writes it on his heart, and wholeheartedly trusts in the Lord with all his heart in all his daily activities.” William VanGemeren, Psalms
• Point #2: We will either have our thoughts, desires, and life shaped by saturating ourselves in God’s Word (and those who lead us to God’s Word) or we’ll be shaped by earthly voices and influences.
• Invitation #2: God invites you to know and walk with Him through saturating yourself in His Word.
• Diagnostic Questions #2: How much is God’s Word the daily, ongoing source of wisdom, joy, direction, and strength I turn to versus how much do I let other voices, opinions, and sources of information or entertainment influence my thought life, my desires, my values, my use of time, and how I live? Or, throughout a given day, am I more influenced and shaped by God’s Word or by other voices and opinions?
3. Life with God through His Word leads to fruitfulness and stability (1:3-4)
“These two similes contrast being a planted, stable tree and being directionless chaff blown by the wind, being well-watered and being dried out, bearing fruit and being worthless, being prosperous and being a failure; in short, being alive and being dead.” Sidney Greidanus
The blessed one, delighting in and saturated in Scripture, finds stability in the depth of its roots and bears fruit as they are fed and watered through God’s Word.
The unrighteous lack roots and their ultimately lacks depth, weight, stability, and fruitfulness.
• Point #3: When we root ourselves in the Word, the Spirit produces lasting fruit, depth, and stability.
• Invitation #3: God invites you into a flourishing, fruitful life by abiding in Christ through the Word.
• Diagnostic Questions #3: Am I so rooted in God’s Word that Christ is being formed in me and the Spirit is producing fruit in me, or are my roots planted elsewhere so that my spiritual life feels dry, unstable, and fruitless? Am I growing closer to Christ by going deeper and deeper with him in His Word?
4. The blessed life offers the continual presence and watchful care of our God (1:5-6)
The way of the unrighteous is a road to nowhere but the way of the righteous ultimately is overseen by God and leads to God, now and forever. Those walking with God and in His ways are given God’s continual presence, watchful care, and are kept safe or held fast until we arrive Home.
• Point #4: The Blessed life is overseen by God and leads to God.
• Invitation #4: God invites us into eternal life, both with Him now but also with Him forever.
• Diagnostic Question #4: When I think about the path I’m on and the direction I’m headed, is it leading me toward God and helping me walk with God or is it ultimately a road to nowhere?
5. This blessed life is gifted to us in Jesus
In the Gospels, Jesus repeatedly connects the blessed life of Psalm—knowing God through God’s Word—to being given to us or found in him.
• Jesus offers the blessed life to those who follow him and are in his kingdom (Matt. 5:3-12)
• Jesus says he is the true vine and that all who abide in him and in his words will bear much fruit (John 15:1-17)
• Jesus says there’s a wide road leading destruction and a narrow road that leads to life, all who follow him are on the path that leads to true life (Matt. 7:13-15). He is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6) as well as the shepherd who cares for and leads his sheep safely along the path (John 10:1-21).
• Point #5: The blessed life of Psalm 1 is ultimately fulfilled by and found in Jesus Christ.
• Invitation #5: Jesus invites us to follow him as the Way, find life and fruit in him as the Vine, and live the “blessed life” in his Kingdom. We abide in him by abiding in his words and love.
• Diagnostic Question #5: Am I abiding in and walking Jesus Christ throughout my days or do I look to other things for wisdom, help, answers, satisfaction, and meaning? Am I putting my hope or believing that blessings are to be found by the things of earth or by knowing, abiding in, and following Jesus?
Application: Ways to Engage in Bible Reading in 2024
- Choose a Bible reading plan (that’s realistic). See https://stonescrossing.com/discipleship-resources for two January reading plans and other resources for Bible reading. Jr. High and Sr. High students are reading through God’s Great Story: A Daily Devotional for Teens in 2024.
- Create margin for Bible reading by setting boundaries with social media, the internet, and TV.
- Read the Bible with other Christians. Join a Bible study, adult discipleship class, or small group this upcoming semester.
- Prioritize church attendance and approaching the preached Word with greater hunger.
- Grow in wisdom by reading more solid Christian books and reading less online material.
- Encourage others by sharing what you’re reading and learning from God’s Word.
- Take up journaling to record things you’re learning and ways you’re praying.
Even if you just write down answers to these four questions:
• What am I learning about who God is?
• What is God teaching me or how does He want me to respond to who He is?
• What am I praying about in this season?
• Who can I encourage by sharing what I’m learning about who God is through the Word and/or by praying for them and with them based on what I’m reading in the Word? - Spend more time praying the Bible and responding to God’s Word through honest prayer.
For this week’s sermon application guide, click this URL: https://storage2.snappages.site/QG8D8X/assets/files/Psalm-1-12-31-23.docx