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

Application: 

This explains how to find happiness. The word translated “happy” can also be translated as “blessed.” Being blessed by God is equivalent to being happy.

Everyone wants to be blessed, but we should clarify what that means. For many, being blessed is about possessions. However, one can have a lot of stuff and still be unhappy. Simply put, blessing is the God-given ability to experience, enjoy, and share in God’s goodness and favor in your life—regardless of how God’s goodness and favor manifest. 

Paul admits, “I know how to get by with little and also how to handle a lot. In any situation, I have learned the secret of being content—whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. I can do all things through him who gives me strength” (Phil 4:12–13). In other words, he had learned to enjoy God’s heavenly goodness no matter his earthly circumstances.

Interestingly, the psalmist explains what the blessed or happy person does not do. First, he does not walk in the advice of the wicked. The biblical metaphor of “walking” refers to how someone lives. The quickest way to miss your blessing is to take counsel from those who ignore God’s perspective on life. Second, he does not stand in the pathway with sinners. The blessed person does not hang out with people who might influence him toward sin and away from God. Third, he does not sit in the company of mockers. Mockers make light of serious matters, sitting in judgment of everyone and everything. Yet, they fail to allow their critical gaze to turn back on themselves. 

Notice the progression: walking, standing, sitting. The person who is regularly influenced by people with little regard for God increasingly feels comfortable with human viewpoints and misses out on God’s blessings.

What does the blessed person do? 

He takes delight in the Lord’s instruction. To delight in something means to find joy and pleasure in it. The blessed man or woman finds this in God’s Word, pondering it day and night. Someone might object, “I have a job and a family. I don’t have time to read the Bible day and night!” But, the psalmist doesn’t say the blessed person reads God’s instruction day and night; he says he meditates on it.

To meditate on something is to recall, ponder, and engage with it mentally. When we meditate on God’s Word, we mentally chew on it until it becomes part of us. 

This is why consuming God’s Word is often described as eating: “Your words were found, and I ate them. Your words became a delight to me and the joy of my heart” (Jer 15:16; see Ps 119:103; Ezek 3:1–3; Rev 10:9–10).

When we meditate on the Word of God, we consider how it relates to our lives. We ask ourselves, “How does the Word speak to the circumstances I am currently facing?” The gap between hearing the Word and being blessed is bridged through meditation. Viewing life from a divine perspective and acting accordingly brings the tangible experience of blessing.

Reference: Tony Evans, The Tony Evans Bible Commentary (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2019), 506-507

To God be the glory!

Our Lord Jesus Christ created everything! By Him, For Him!

“The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-26

Disclaimer

When God inspires me, I write blogs. Consider this writing as a Bible study. Like the Bereans in Acts 17:11, search the Scriptures to determine whether what I write is so. Always consult with your church ministers about biblical matters. I am also not a professional writer, so some grammar or spelling errors may be present. I try my best to write as efficiently as possible. Your brother in Christ, Ricardo

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