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Psalm 1
Blessed is the man… (verse 1).
Define blessing. List three items or form a picture in your mind of a blessed life. What would it be for you?
Psalm 1 gives the image of a large tree planted by streams of water, that brings forth fruit in season, and the leaves don’t wither in either drought or plague. The Psalmist then declares:
In all that he does, he prospers (verse 3).
That’s being blessed.
I’ve observed many trees. A house that I lived in had a large oak tree fall on it. I was observing the utter magnificence of this tree the day before. When it fell, I saw that the trunk was eaten away from the inside.
As the oak tree fell it knocked over two other beautiful trees.
Blessed is the man… who walks not in the counsel of the wicked (verse 1).
Emerald Ash Borers have invaded the northern states of the United States. Ash is a great wood – Babe Ruth’s baseball bat was made from ash. The wood is stiff and hard. If you have an ash tree in your yard in Ohio, it is only a matter of time before it dies.
The Ash Borers travel from tree to tree.
Blessed is the man… who does not stand in the path of sinners (verse 1).
I often walk in a cemetery.
Perhaps a morbid habit. However, as a pastor for 49 years of constant comments from parishioners, I take solace in the cemetery. Not once has an occupant complained about a sermon, argued theology, or wanted to discuss the vaccine.
Bitterness comes from allowing the negativity of others to accumulate.
Anger is the root of scoffing against truth. I hear of great pastors stumbling and wonder – did too much bombarding criticism cause them to build their defensive walls so high they couldn’t hear truth?
This summer one of the large cemetery sycamore trees fell. Upended would be a better description. It toppled with its large root ball sticking 30 feet in the air. On an afternoon with no wind and the sun shining, the tree just rolled over on its side.
Blessed is the man… who does not sit in the seat of scoffers (verse 1).
Psalm 1 concludes with great advice:
His delight is in the law of the Lord!
He meditates on it day and night!
Psalms is the book of prosperity in the Bible. How to gain wisdom, defeat despair, understand calling, learn to praise, and perceive a great and loving God – all found in Psalms 1 to 150.
You can add wealth, peace, calling, and all things needed for prosperity.
It’s fitting that one of the greatest books in all of history begins by teaching God’s word as the key for avoiding the wayward thinking of doubt. Also, the diabolical actions justified by skepticism.
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 (Psalm 1:6, TPT).