August 8, 2017 - The blessed man-
“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.” (Psalm 1:1-2)
First, I must tell you that I am a “blessed man”. Not because I am a perfect person, but far from it. I am a blessed man for God has taken me from a sinner, lost in a world of sin, and turned me into a “born-again-child of the Most High God.
Full of imperfections and weaknesses, lacking in so many ways, and while not worthy, still his own. Thank you Lord God, my Heavenly Father, my Blessed Redeemer.
What does our scripture actually say of being a blessed man.
First, it says he “walks not in the council of the wicked,” council being described as; “an assembly or group of people”. To be wicked is; “to sin and transgress against God and other people. A transgression is a wrong-doing against another person, while a sin is a wrong-doing against God.
So we are not to associate or walk with those who gather together in sin or who would do harm or wrong to other people.
Goodness, how much of this is highlighted daily on television. Graphic displays of violent protests, actually riots, against all who oppose them.
Second, “stands in the way of sinners” so the second part includes the first part in that it refers to the wicked by their actions which is to sin or transgress. It simply means the blessed man is not to associate, to walk or to stand with the wicked, those who sin and transgress.
Third, “nor sits in the seat of scoffers.” Who are the scoffers? Scoffers are described as those who mock others, who deride or laugh at or show scorn for others. To scoff or to gossip is a mayor cause of problems within churches today.
So we know to be a blessed man one must veer away from any who are described here. We come to another of life's choices, who shall I associate with!
We see what one who would become a blessed man must not do, now let us look to the scripture for what one is to do in order to become a blessed man.
“but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.”
Delight means; “to give great pleasure, satisfaction, or enjoyment”. So the blessed man takes great pleasure and satisfaction in the law of the Lord. To us of the present world, this law is found in the pages of God’s Word and on the lips of preachers and pastors. So we are being instructed if we wish to become “blessed” to enjoy the pleasures found in the Bible and also in the words spoken by the preachers and pastors of our land. Meaning to become “blessed” we are to read God’s Word and attend houses of worship where God’s Word is preached by a God-called preacher.
“On his law he meditates day and night” also meaning to become blessed we are to study, or to meditate, to contemplate, to think about God’s Word day and night.
As I said, I am a blessed man, for God lifted me from the pit of sin, gave me a new life and a new path and allows me to spend time each day in His Word, working for Him and His will. Certainly through nothing I have done nor deserved, but because of His amazing grace and mercy. May the blessings of our Lord be upon you this day…
