To be blessed...

Week 4:

Psalm 1:1-3  1Blessed 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.  2But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.  3He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.  Whatever he does prospers.

I believe we are culturally in the middle of a grace movement in the western church.  It has been much needed for our current conservative church has been somewhat pharisaical in its approach to those outside of her.  This movement has been much needed.  However, during this movement, also believe that we at times have strayed too far from the word and the study of the word.  I am not advocating that we go back to “letter of the law” life, but I am concerned that we are not in the word enough.

 



Psalm 1:1-3 reminds us how important the law and word is to our faith.  Verse 1 is a reminder of who should influence us.  When the Psalmist talks about a blessed man, he notes that this man does not keep counsel with the wicked, sinner, or the mocker.  Now, this does not mean one does not associate with these, it means the individual does not seek their counsel, or better said, does not “buy in” to their philosophy. 

Here is why:  In verse 2, the law is his guide.  The blessed man can cross all the barriers and influence the wicked, sinner, and mocker because he delights and meditates on the law of the Lord.  Continual immersion into the word of God will equip the blessed man for any situation (2 Tim. 3:16-17).  He is able to be among the worldly yet unaffected by them. 

Not only would this man be unaffected by the worldly he will be fruitful and prosper.  What I am not encouraging here is the “health and wealth gospel” that is being preached these days.  The prospering the blessed man experiences may or may not be tied to material gain.  His soul prospers.  He becomes strong like a healthy tree.  He is able to bear fruit and not wither.  The word and law is his “streams of water”. 

To be blessed is to study, love, delight, and meditate on the law.  “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 prospers.”

Questions/challenges:

1. What do you think about the idea of a current grace movement in our churches today?
2. Do you believe this movement has steered away, to some degree, from the word?  Why or why not?
3. What does it mean to delight and meditate on the law?
4. What are some ways in which you meditate on God’s law?
5. What kind of commitment will you make toward getting deeper into the word?

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