“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 the scoffers, 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, that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.”
During this season of illness and recovery, I have found myself reflecting a lot on these verses. I am probably in the final season of my life and my heart’s cry is, “LORD no matter how long this season is, I want to be a fruitful tree bringing forth fruit for Your glory.”
The first Psalm is actually like a gateway into the entire book of Psalms. It stresses the importance of those who would worship God in truth; they must embrace His law and the teachings found in His covenant. The writer takes topics found in wisdom literature such as Proverbs and presents them in the form of a song. Music is such a powerful force. The idea here is that for those who sing the Psalm, they will own its values. They will want more and more to be people of God who truly love His word. They will internalize His truth and realize more and more fully they are the heirs and stewards of redemption and hope, and their lives will manifest the transforming power of God’s perfect teaching and truth.
In John 8:32, Jesus said, “You shall know the truth and the truth will set you free.” Truth liberates. It transforms. The truly blessed person delights himself/herself in God’s work.
Do you see yourself as a blessed, happy person?
Do you really delight yourself in God’s word?
Do you realize that by embracing its principles and precepts how full and rich life can be?
The truly blessed or happy person guides his/her life by God’s teachings rather than the advice from those who are not really committed and choose rather live by their own rules. That life is on a collision course with much disappointment and heartache. Such people are described as wicked, sinners, and scoffers. They do not take God and His word seriously. They do not live by it. They will not know the pure joy of truly following and living out the blessedness of God’s Word. They are like chaff that is easily blown away by the wind.
Don’t you want to be like a deeply rooted tree that flourishes and is fruitful, even in the midst of adversity? Such a life is a powerful witness to those who are watching us. That is one of the reasons God loves to bless those who walk and live in His truth. Others who are searching can be drawn to Christ as he is lifted up in our lives.
Here is a closing, sobering truth — “For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.” (Psalm 1:6)
A fruitful tree or chaff — your choice.
God bless you,
Pastor Leonard
