Living The Blessed Life.

Living the Blessed Life.

Psalm 1:1-6NKJV

The desert is abundant with life, but there is a stark contrast between plants that are near water and plants that are in the drier parts of the landscape. Those plants near the water display abundant growth. Those plants that are near the water display abundant growth, while those plants without water are stunted and withered.

God’s people naturally desire to be like healthy, fruitful plants. We want to experience the heights and depths of the abundant life that is ours through Jesus Christ. The question before us is, “How does this happen?” Psalm 1 is instructive and answers our question.

The book of Psalms could be called the book of passion. -It’s where passionate prayer and passionate praise, ultimately, become the passionate pursuit of God.

I want to look at 9 different Psalms, and each Psalm was chosen for a specific reason.

I will begin with Psalm 1, because of its role as an introduction.

Psalm 1:1-6NKJV Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. 3 He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither;?And whatever he does shall prosper. 4 The ungodly are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind drives away. 5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 6 For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Psalms is sometimes referred to as the songbook of Israel, both Jews and Christians have consistently witnessed to the power of the psalms, to give voice to their prayers, and their expressions of worship.

Psalm 1:1AMP Blessed [fortunate, prosperous, and favored by God] is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked [following their advice and example], Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit [down to rest] in the seat of scoffers (ridiculers).

Happiness is a valued but elusive treasure. Everyone wants to be happy and content.

Psalm 1 does not teach the duty of obedience so much as it invokes affection for the Torah.

In Psalm 1, the righteous are not those who obey the Torah, but are those who delight in the Torah.

We don't practice sin, because we delight in the scripture. -To truly delight in scripture leaves no room for anything inferior. P.H

Psalm 1:2NKJV But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night.

His delight... Love, devotion and passion for God’s word becomes way of life.

Think about this, Everyone is chasing after happiness. Yet how do we achieve happiness? Where is happiness to be found? Does happiness come through material possessions? Does happiness come through personal success? Is our happiness dependent upon others; our parents, our spouse, our children, our friends, or even our employer?

According to scripture, the pursuit of happiness is equivalent to the pursuit of God.

Psalm 1:2..he meditates day and night.

This word, meditate means to exercise the mind in thought or reflection. It might be silent, it might be uttered, sung, prayed etc.

Psalm 1, teaches True happiness and genuine contentment occur only within the context of our covenant relationship with God.

We are created in the image of God, Genesis 1:27NIV So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

In Psalm 1, the righteous are depicted in two ways: First, Psalm 1, reveals what the righteous are not, and second, it reveals what the righteous are.

1 Peter 2:9NKJV But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

Mankind was created for fellowship. I remember one of my favorite movies.

Tom Hanks in, Castaway? Remember ‘Wilson’?

The caption above Psalm 1, in my Bible reads:The Tree Of Life.

Psalm 1:1TPT What delight comes to the one who follows God’s ways! He won’t walk in step with the wicked, nor share the sinner’s way, nor be found sitting in the scorner’s seat.

Delight here means, pleasure. Peace of mind, Blessedness. Assurance. Security. Eternity is on the mind of the person that delights.

The righteous person has not been influenced by the habits and dispositions of the wicked, the sinner, and the scorner.

The way of the righteous depicts one who thrives.

There are similarities between Psalm 1, Deuteronomy 17 and Joshua 1.