A Blessed Man
Scripture: Psalm 1:1-3; 106:3; Second Timothy 3:16-17; 4:3-4
As some of you know, my brother Barry and I started recording Bible study lessons that people can review at home as part of their personal Bible study time. One of the lessons that we recorded last month was on Psalm One which talks about a blessed man (or woman) as defined by their relationship with God and His Word. The message you will hear this morning was birthed out of that lesson so if you received the lesson that Barry and I did, parts of this will be a review for you. The title of my message this morning is “A Blessed Man.”
Martin Luther called the Psalms “a little Bible, and the summary of the Old Testament.” The overarching presentation of God is as King. Two corollaries to God as King in the Psalms are God as Creator and God as Redeemer, which run like a golden thread throughout the entire Psalm. Therefore, the book of Psalms give us one of the most complete and comprehensive revelations of the character of God in the entire Bible. If we want to know who God is, what He has done, and how we should respond to Him, the book of Psalms is one of the best places to start. Now the first two psalms introduce us to the main themes of the book: the life of holiness and happiness under the reign of the divine King and His Messiah. The first psalm gives us the purpose of the book: to provide a manual for meditating on the instruction of the Lord, so that we can experience the “blessed” life, a life of abundant holiness and happiness. The very first psalm makes it clear that the man who loves God and His word is a blessed man.
Psalm 1:1-3 says, “Blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful. 2But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in His law does he meditate day and night. 3And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he does shall prosper.”
The very first word in the book of Psalms is “blessed.” It is the Hebrew word “esher” and it means happy. The original word translated as “blessed” is plural which means that the person who chooses to walk with God versus not choosing to walk with God will live a life filled with “blessings.” So the first thing we need to see is that the blessing is not singular, it is the definition of the life of the person. Blessed will define the person based on their relationship with God. Then David tells us why the person will be blessed. They are blessed because, they “walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful.” Before I go further, I want to give you some background on the three words: walk, stand, and sit. When David used the word “walks” it defines someone making a choice to not only do something, but to continue doing it. He is not speaking of a one and done; he is speaking of a lifestyle. So the person who chooses to walk in their flesh enjoys it and therefore they have no motivation to stop. Once they have walked for so long in this manner, the person begins to get hardened in the wicked lifestyle they are living. The joy they receive from a lifestyle characterized by sin is so fulfilling that they are hardened to any counsel that would require them to change. This hardness is defined as “standing in the way of sinners.” Finally the person becomes stubborn (obstinate), refusing to change, which is expressed by the figure of someone sitting. The process that David describes is one choosing to walk a certain way; getting so much enjoyment from walking that way that they make a firm stand to remain the way they are; to finally sitting, becoming unmovable. When someone sits, they are no longer willing to move. I want you to keep this “process” in mind as we examine what David says about the blessed person.
In verse one David says, “Blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly.” The ungodly represent those individual who are actively living morally corrupt lives. These are individuals who love sin and have no desire to live righteously. So if you are wondering why a Christian would ever ask advice of this person, you might be surprised to find that it happens all the time. Remember, we do not value people by their relationship with God and their knowledge of the Word. We value them based on their experiences and expertise – based on what they can do for us. So Christians often ask advice of non-Christians because the non-Christian might have expertise in an area that they need help with. Also, we ask advice of family members and/or good friend who just might not be saved because they are family and good friends and we trust them. But, to walk in the counsel of the ungodly goes a step further than just asking for someone’s advice because they might be an expert in a certain area or because we trust them. Walking in the counsel of the ungodly actually means a person chooses to accept the counsel of an ungodly person versus the counsel of the Lord. It would be similar to you coming to me and asking my opinion on a matter after you read what the Bible said. You didn’t necessarily like or agree with what the Bible said so you sought out a second opinion – “MY” opinion. When you came to me and I told you something different from what the Bible said, you accepted my opinion because you liked it better and it was easier to do. Now do you want to know why? It’s because my counsel was more in line of what you wanted to hear. For example, you have a friend that offends you and you know the Bible says you need to forgive them. Because you do not want to forgive, you come to me and ask what I would do in your situation hoping that I would agree with your feelings. When I do, you latch on to my counsel and forget about what the Bible says because I understand your situation and agree that you should stay the course. This is a very dangerous position to be in.
God knew that the days would come when people would gladly shy away from His word (sound doctrine) preferring to hear something that makes them happy. Second Timothy 4:3-4 says, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they draw to themselves teachers, having itching ears. 4And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto myths.” I am not going to go off on a rabbit trail but I want you to understand that this is talking about people in the Church being led astray by wrong doctrine. Now, Psalm one says that a man will be blessed when he does not do this – but walks in the counsel of God. He takes wise counsel and walks in the commandments of God. To this man his footsteps are ordered by the Word of God and he does not live his life according to the counsel, or manner of living of the wicked. He does not associate himself with them, nor follow their evil encouragements or examples. Psalm 106:3 says “Blessed are they that keep justice, and he that does righteousness at all times.” This is impossible to do if you’re walking in the counsel of the ungodly, especially when you see the phrase “does righteousness at all times.” How many times have we lowered God’s standard from “all the time” to “most of the time” to “some of the time”? If we are going to be the person described in the first psalm, we have to live a committed life where we are striving to walk righteously all the time. Let’s continue.
“Nor stands in the way of sinners.” The word sinners denote a person who is missing the mark as it relates to living according to the Word of God. The blessed man does not take part in or enjoy the actions of sinners. I want you to understand what David is saying. A person who lives a life of sin is a sinner. This person chooses to live this way. Now we know that Christians will occasionally sin, but it should be the exception, not the rule. Sin cannot characterize the life of Christians because we have been delivered from sin. So when you hear someone say, “I am a sinner saved by grace” you need to correct them. They ceased being a sinner when they were truly saved. The correct “verbiage” would be “I was a sinner who was saved by grace.” The Bible makes it clear that Christians do not have to sin, but if we do sin we can immediately repent and ask forgiveness. Sin, as it defines the life of a sinner, cannot define the life of a Christian. David said, a blessed man will not “….stands in the way of sinners.” The word “stands” paints the picture of a person making a deliberate choice to abide by or align himself with someone. It’s communicating that the person has examined the way of God and examined the way of the sinner and deliberately chose to reject the way of the sinner in order to choose the way of God. He does not follow their sinful paths and then justifies his actions as being okay. It’s a choice each of us has to make every single day. There must be a barrier between the sinful and the righteous person so that the life of the sinner man does not rub off on the righteous man.
Finally he says, “Nor sits in the seat of the scornful.” A blessed man will have no fellowship with those who “scorn” religion. The scornful are those who mock religion. Those who are called scorners are those who, having thrown off all fear of God, commit sin without restraint. They have no fear of punishment or the judgment of God, as if they would never be called to give an account for their life choices. So again, he’s saying the man/woman of God should not dwell in the seats of these people. If you are struggling thinking of who could be a scorner, think about an atheist. A Christian says “I know there is a God and Jesus is His Son.” An agnostic says, “I am not sure if there is a God.” The agnostic does not put a stake in the ground because they are unsure which is right. Now the atheist puts a stake in the ground. They say convincingly “There is no God.” And for them, because there is no God, there is no afterlife or punishment for sin or anything else once we die. For the atheist, when we die, we cease to exist. A person who rejects what the Bible says about the Day of Judgment will not have favor with God. The Bible says in Proverbs 3:34, “Surely He scorns the scornful: but He gives grace unto the lowly.”
The very first verse of the book of Psalms quickly tells us who is blessed. He is the man who finds it necessary to withdraw themselves from the company of the ungodly in order to live righteously before God. What is interesting is that as you understand these definitions, Christians do not set out to become this way. The writer makes it clear that if we are not doing what is said in verse two then we could by default do what was stated in verse one. We can corrupt ourselves simply by not following the Word of God while at the same time living according to the rules/acceptances of society. Let’s examine what He says delights this man of God.
“But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in His law does he meditate day and night.” I want you to really listen to me on this one. There are many people who go to Church weekly, sometimes twice a week and yet they do not feel blessed. They do all of the activities that a “good Christian” is supposed to do and yet there is emptiness still inside them. David said that the blessed person is one who loves the Word of God and “studies” it! In verse two he does not simply state that those who are happy are those who fear God as stated in other places. No, he designates godliness by the studying of the law, teaching us that God is only rightly served when His law is obeyed. We must understand that it is not left to every man to frame or design his own system of righteousness according to his own judgment, but the standard of godliness is to be taken from the Word of God. Remember, Proverbs 14:12 says, “There is a way which seems right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” This verse makes it clear that what might seem right to man does not make it right before God. A man living by his own “righteousness” will still end up in hell.
It’s important to also remember that when David speaks of the law it would be inclusive of all the Scripture. Although the New Testament hadn’t been written at this point it would be included in the sentiments of what David is expressing. Second Timothy 3:16-17 confirms this as it says, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” From his characterizing that the godly delights in the law of the Lord, we may learn that forced obedience is not at all acceptable to God. God wants us to freely choose Him and in doing so freely choose to seek Him through His word from which He speaks to us. Those who choose to study the Bible will come to it with a cheerful mind and in so doing will be delighted to learn what it says. It’s like studying your favorite subject in school – it wasn’t really hard because you loved the subject. Even doing the homework assignment was enjoyable. This is how “students of the Word” approach Bible study. They read the Word, learn something for the day, and then desire even more the next day. From this love of the law proceeds our constant meditation upon it. Remember how Jeremiah described this? He wrote, “Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and Thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by Thy name, O LORD God of hosts.” (Jeremiah 16:15) For Jeremiah, the person who delights in the law of the Lord will have a hunger that cannot be satisfied any other way than feasting at the table of the Lord. I think the point David and Jeremiah were making is that our “spiritual food – the Word of God” is more important than the physical food that we so much enjoy. Imagine studying God’s Word and getting the same pleasure as eating your favorite meal or dessert! So what is the result of this pleasure in God’s Word and living a blessed life? Let’s look at verse three.
“And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he does shall prosper.” Can this be stated more clearly? David says, in respect of those who fear God, that they are happy, not because they enjoy a fleeting and empty gladness, but because they are in a desirable condition. Consider the image of the tree that is planted in a well-watered area where it is always nourished. That tree will always bring forth fruit in its season. Think about the flow of these three verses! Verse one describes the person who is blessed and what he will not do. Verse two tells us why the blessed does not do what we read in verse one. But verse three tells us the promise that results because the blessed person delights in the law of the Lord – “And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he does shall prosper.” A tree that is not well-watered, although it may flourish beautifully for a time, it soon withers on account of the barrenness of the soil in which it is placed. This is the opposite of what David said about the righteous. It is the blessing of God alone which preserves any in a prosperous condition. With these words David is saying that the children of God constantly flourish and we are always watered with the secret influences of divine grace, so that whatever may befall us is conducive to our salvation, while, on the other hand, the ungodly are carried away by the sudden tempest, or consumed by the scorching heat. And when he says he “brings forth its fruit in its season” he expresses the full maturity of the fruit produced. The ungodly may present the appearance of developed fruitfulness, yet they produce nothing that comes to perfection.
If you are like me, you grew up thinking about the book of Psalms as a book of songs David and others wrote praising God. However, when you study it closely, you begin to see a pattern to the music – to the motivation behind them. The writers of Psalms wrote the songs based on situations that were being experienced or had been experienced. The songs had meaning far beyond just the words they expressed. David opened the Psalms with an exclamation about the man who is blessed. He contrasted the blessed man with the ungodly. He made it clear that the man who walks with God will seek to know and understand God through His word. A righteous man believes that his footsteps are ordered by the Lord and he studies God’s Word to understand more clearly what those steps are. As children of God, we are called to walk with Him. We cannot walk with God while seeking the counsel of the ungodly because the counsel of the ungodly will often conflict with the Word of God. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not unto your own understanding. 6In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”
New Light, the world defines “blessed” as someone with an abundance of material things, good health and “issue free” family. The world defines blessings as our being delivered from things that is negatively affecting others. But when you read Psalm One and other Scriptures in the Bible, God has a different definition of what it means to be blessed. Being blessed, in God’s eyes, has nothing to do with whether or not you have money, your health or a big house. Being blessed in God’s eyes has everything to do with our relationship with Him. When we are blessed because of our relationship with Him all of the other things are not as important as to how we define our lives. I want to close with what Jesus told us in Matthew chapter six. Jesus told us what we should be focusing on. In Matthew chapter six, He taught us why we should not worry about things we cannot control. He told us that God knows the things we need and would provide for us. Then He tells us what we need to do. I want to close with what Jesus said in Matthew 6:30-33 which exemplifies why the person who walks with God is blessed. “Therefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31Therefore take no thought, saying, ‘What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, How shall we be clothed?’ 32(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things. 33But seek you first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:30-33)
Until next time, “The Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord lift up His countenance on you and give you peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
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