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.
Caption: Guidelines for kings.
Deuteronomy, 17:18–19NLT “When he sits on the throne as king, he must copy for himself this body of instruction on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests. 19 He must always keep that copy with him and read it daily as long as he lives. That way he will learn to fear the Lord his God by obeying all the terms of these instructions and decrees.
Joshua 1:8NLT Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.
Through this study in these chosen books of Psalms, we will surely see that no one is exempt from suffering. The righteous and the unrighteous alike, have trails and suffer.
However, The righteous walk with a touch of God upon their lives.
Throughout scripture, we learned that the unrighteous delight in wickedness, and lies. The unrighteous nation delights in war.
Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in God’s word.
Psalm 119:1-6NLT Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the Lord. 2 Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts. 3 They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in his paths. 4 You have charged us to keep your commandments carefully. 5 Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect your decrees! 6 Then I will not be ashamed when I compare my life with your commands.
The Psalmist declares in Verse 6, that he will not be shamed when he compares his life with God’s commands.
In Matthew 5:17-48, Jesus insisted that all behavior is governed by the affections of the heart.
Matthew 5:17-19NLT “Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose. 18 I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved. 19 So if you ignore the least commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God’s laws and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.
And that all of God's commandments can be summarized in the command to love.
John Wesley, the grandfather of Pentecostalism argued that holiness is a matter of the heart and life, showing that all behavior is an expression of their actions.
Matthew 5:20NLT “But I warn you—unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven!
Psalm 1, begins the book of Psalms, by speaking of renewed affection. And what delights us, invades us!
Therefore, to those who take delight in God’s word, Psalm 1:3TPT He will be standing firm like a flourishing tree planted by God’s design, deeply rooted by the brooks of bliss, bearing fruit in every season of life. He is never dry, never fainting, ever blessed, ever prosperous.
This doesn’t mean a life without trails. -On the contrary, but what verse 3 this depicts, that in every season of life this person bears fruit.
Living the Blessed life means, I stand firm, like a tree deeply rooted besides rivers of blessings. Why? -Because that’s his desire.
It shouldn’t be a stretch of your imagination to notice blessings, favor, gifts and fruit all around the person living Psalm 1. P.H
Rev Charles Capps would go fishing it’s reported that he would always quotes Psalm 1:3, “Whatever I do shall prosper.”
Psalm 1:4TPT But how different are the wicked. They are like chaff blown away by the wind.
Remember, The wicked are those who refuse God’s word.
The question is, Are you an Oak tree, or grass clippings?
Think for a moment, The righteous rooted and flourishing, the wicked blown away like dust.
Psalm 1:5TPT The wicked will not endure the day of judgment, for God will not defend them. Nothing they do will succeed or endure for long, for they have no part with those who walk in truth.
Again, Psalm 1 is more than a call to obedience, it’s a call to love God’s word with passion. -Fruit always follows. P.H
Psalm 1:6TPT But how different it is for the righteous! The Lord embraces their paths as they move forward while the way of the wicked leads only to doom.
~4 Truths about Psalm 1.
The choice is yours. What will you choose?
The song (psalm) belongs to you. What will you sing? What is your melody for life?
2. We are shown what we are not to do.
Therefore, Follow the path of the godly.
Psalm 92:12NLT But the godly will flourish like palm trees and grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon.
3. The godly will flourish. For the godly, earth is the biggest demotion they’ll ever have.
It gets- better and better!
4. The ungodly will face a big demotion. Hell. Life without God. A place of eternal flames. Where the worm dies not.
Luke 16:44NIV So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’
Benediction- Whose ready to live a blessed life?
