"Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. 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, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prosper" (Psalm 1:1-3).
The Book of Psalms is one of the most beloved books in the Bible. Many Psalms have been used at funerals and read for comfort and peace. King David wrote more than 72 of the Psalms. Asaph is attributed to 12, the sons of Korah wrote over 9, Solomon is accredited for 2, Moses wrote 1, Ethan wrote 1, and there are over 40 Psalms whose authors are unknown. Jesus frequently quoted from the Psalms.
Psalm 1 is a wisdom psalm and it is an introduction to the entire Book of Psalms. Verses 1-3 depicts a picture of the Godly. The key word is "Blessed." It is a contrast between good and evil. It is a mirror for many of us, for we can see ourselves in our old nature. It is the foundational Psalm to all the other Psalms.
Blessed means happy, fortunate, or inward joy. In the New Testament it is define as the kind of happiness that come from receiving favor from God. Blessed can also be translated as, "Favored." It also means being "blessed by God." Jesus' Sermon on the Mount begin with the word "blessed," found in the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12; Luke 6:20-23).
Blessings are the results of right conduct or right living. You see, the Spiritual person is a blessed person. That means that they have a spiritual and emotionally content with our God. Why is this person blessed? It's about their relationship with God. They have been pardoned by God's love and grace. The windows of heavens continuously pours favor upon them. Listen to the words of the Apostle Paul, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me" (Galatians 2:20).
A Spiritual person is a discerning person. They walk not in the counsel of the ungodly. Their steps are now ordered by the Word of God. They shun that which is morally wrong. They operate within the boundaries of what is pleasing to God. They now seek wise counsel. They do not stand in the way of sinners. A sinner is one who has no regard for the righteousness of God. We have been warned not to fellowship with unbelievers, because light and darkness cannot prevail in the same place. Scripture says, "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?" (2 Corinthians 6:14).
The godly avoid the cunning and wicked devices of the world. They refused to sit in the seat of mockers. A mocker is one who makes light of God, and everything associated with him is scorn and derision. The progression here is, the person who desire not to have a relationship with the Lord and they look to the world for their direction. He walks for awhile, he stands for awhile, and he sits for awhile. The result is abounding trouble and a life of downward spiraling.
The Spiritual person delights in the things of God. They find the Word of God pleasing, desirable, and valuable. When we delight in God's Word, the Holy Spirit teaches us the hidden things of the Word. To be a child of God is the most wonderful thing that could ever happen to your life.
The Spiritual person meditates continually in the things of God. David said, "Thou word have I hidden in my heart that I might not sin against thee" (Psalm 119:11). We must take the Word and internalize it. We must think on it day and night. When the Bible says day and night, it is telling us that not only should we "study and show ourselves approved," but that we should take God's Word with us wherever we go. All our waking thoughts should be guided by the Word of God. We can never separate ourselves from the Word.
The Spiritual person is like a tree. Not any kind of tree. You are God's tree planted and watered by the Holy Spirit. Your tree foundation is God. Your roots are deeply planted in God. Can you image you as a tree with a constant supply of water? God is the Supplier and He supplies us with grace. Grace is what sustains us. When you place your roots down in scripture, you draw strength from God. You do not produce before your season. Your fruit can be seen and taste by others. "That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word" (Ephesians 5:26).
I do not know where you are in your walk of faith, but I encourage you to walk the Spiritual walk. Be that light among all people. Read and become knowledgable about what God expects of you. Get involve in the church. Use the gift that the Lord blessed you with. Make a difference, wherever you are. Choose right over wrong, choose spiritual over the flesh. You know Christianity is just like poison-ivy, it is extremely contagious, during your walk, you would be surprised by how widely it spread and who you touched.
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