The Blessed Beginning

“Blessed is the man….”  Psalm 1:1

The psalmbook begins with a blessing (the positive) for what we don’t do (the negative).  “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”(Ps. 1:1).  Since the progression is really a regression, let’s start with the best of the worst.

“Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked.”  Note that the psalm-writer does not say, “Blessed is the man who does not walk with the wicked,” for each day we journey through life with both those who know Jesus and those who need to know Him.  Our circle of influence and affection should include the godly and the ungodly, for where else will they see the footprints of Jesus if not in our steps?  Love them freely and graciously for God loved us when we were far away (Ephesians 2:13).  No, the blessing does not come from lack of association but from lack of agreement.  Though bits of sound advice and surely some wisdom can be found among friends who lack faith, their counsel is never centered on God’s plan and purpose.  What they say may be common sense or even seem to make the most sense, but when we’re making a choice, which carries the most weight?  Their words or God’s Word?  The one who chooses God’s best over any else’s good will be blessed.

Blessing also comes when we don’t “stand in the way of sinners.”  If we’re standing, it means we’ve stopped walking.  We’ve halted forward progress to hang out with those who live in rebellion and without regard for God.  When we’re following God’s way, we don’t need to pause and check out a different path.  We’ve been down that road before, and the final destination isn’t so fine. 

Unless we’re careful not to walk in agreement with people who aren’t seeking God and not to stand around soaking in their habits and behavior, we will soon find ourselves sitting with those who scorn our precious Savior.  “Blessed is the man who does not…sit in the seat of mockers.”  We sit when we’re comfortable in our surroundings—when we feel like we belong and not just dropping by. We can’t be blessed by God if we’re busy bashing God, but before we hastily and haughtily denounce those who speak against Him, let’s be quick to remember that God can be mocked by more than a mouth.  Our actions and attitudes speak louder than our words.

The safeguard against this regression into unrighteousness is stated in the next verse. “But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night.”  We are blessed when we avoid what pulls us away from God and when we avidly pursue what draws us near—His Word.  God’s Word should delight our hearts and dominate our thoughts.  “The words I have spoken to you, they are spirit and they are life,” Jesus declared (John 6:63), and we should know them well.

If we do, we will flourish and be fruitful in all the seasons of life—“He is like a tree planted by rivers of water that bears fruit in season.”  We will not lack anything we need—“His leaves also will not wither,” and we will fulfill God’s purpose in all we do—“and whatever he does will prosper.”

God’s blessings begin but they never end.

Live blessed.