The “blessed man” in Psalm one stands at the doorway of the Bible’s hymn book and introduces us to the laments and praises of the saints throughout the ages. It is said about the psalter, “For every sigh and every high there is a Psalm!”
The opening Psalm reveals to us the source of supernatural joy. The origin of the “blessed man’s” “heavenly happiness” comes from above and is not dependent on earthly conditions.
“Blessedness” has three distinct characteristics:
The Blessed Man Is Separate from The World.
Psa 1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
“The blessed man” is walking in the opposite direction of an “ungodly” world system. The “blessed man’s” ear is tuned into the counsel of the Word of God. His mind and heart are separated from the world’s wisdom and ways. “Can two walk together except they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3). Notice that the “blessed man’s” first distinctive is negative. He is known by the people he does not listen to and things he does not participate in or partner with.
Jesus told us that His disciples are “not of the world” (John 17:11-17); they do not “love the world,” “conform to it,” or have “friendship” with it. (John 17:11-17; I John 2:15-17; Romans 12:1-2; James 1:27). Likewise, the “blessed man’s” worldview and philosophy of life is not conformed to the world but is transformed by the Word (Rom. 12:1-2).
Since the “blessed man” is planted in and shaped by the Word and not the world, he avoids a slippery slope: He does not walk in ungodly counsel, so he avoids “standing with sinners,” meaning he is not a practitioner of sin. He does not “stand for” or make a defense of sinful behaviour. Finally, he avoids becoming a scorner. The scorner of Scripture is a person who mocks God, God’s Word, and God’s people.
The Blessed Man is Satisfied With The Word.
Psalms 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
It is easy for the blessed man to say “no” to the world’s appeal because he has a greater “yes!” burning inside. He denies “the counsel of the ungodly” because he “delights in the law of Lord.”
“Delight” means “a high degree of pleasure, or satisfaction of mind; joy.”
The “Blessed Man” Moses Denied Egypt Because He Delighted In Christ: Hebrews 11:24-26 “By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.”
The “Blessed Man” Paul Denied Being A Pharisee Because He Delighted In Christ: Philippians 3:7-8 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
The Blessed Man Is Situated By The Water.
Psalms 1:3-6 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
The blessed man has an eternal wellspring of joy by delighting in and meditating upon God’s Word. When others are being blown with ungodly counsel and burnt up like chaff with the circumstances of life, he will not be moved. He is not chaff. He is like a tree planted by living waters. He is an evergreen, planted, productive, and prospering. He will bring forth fruit in his season. He enjoys true success in life and eternity.
Jeremiah 17:5-9 Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD. For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited. Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?