The Blessed Man Psalm 1

BLESSED The Blessed Man Psalm 1 We can have no peace of mind when we have no peace with God The “peace that surpasses all understanding” is the peace made possible by Christ (Phil 4:7, Rom 5:1) Peace is far more than protection from annihilation. The Blessed Man Psalm 1

BLESSED The Blessed Man Psalm 1 To be “blessed” (ʾašrê), man has to do something…. Usually this is something positiveNote the negative approach of Ps 1, “blessed is the man who does not.” He isolates himself and shuns the company of certain people, the ungodly. The psalm ends by noting that it is precisely these ungodly who will in the end be isolated. They will not stand in the judgment. They will be conspicuous by their absence for they will perish. (TWOT) The Blessed Man Psalm 1

BLESSED The Blessed Man Psalm 1 A drastic contrast: One life is full of promise, joy and peace, the other has nothing to look forward to but the certain promise of judgment One man depends fully on the wisdom of God while the other in its own resources limited perspective and foolish claims to wisdom The Blessed Man Psalm 1

Isolates Himself from Evil Influence The Psalmist here uses a series triplet which build in intensity with each progression demonstrating a profound truth - a minor deviation from God’s direction can only lead one to completely rejecting the instruction of God and ultimately to destroy any hope that one might have for peace in their life. The Blessed Man Psalm 1

Isolates Himself from Evil Influence Walk - describes the character and behavior of one’s life Counsel - “has two basic, though closely related, meanings: “counsel, advice” and “plan, purpose” (Mounce) Wicked - “denotes the category of people who have done wrong, are still living in sin, and are intent on continuing with wrongdoing” (Vine’s) The Blessed Man Psalm 1

Isolates Himself from Evil Influence Stand - to stand or prop but also to persevere, to remain “be or become servant of” Path - a road (as trodden); a course of life or mode of action Sinners - “exposed to condemnation” The Blessed Man Psalm 1

Isolates Himself from Evil Influence Sit - “to live, to inhabit, to dwell” (Mounce) Seat - “ seat, assembly, dwelling-place, dwelling, dwellers” (Brown, Driver, Briggs) Scoffers - “scorn” those who mock religion/God The Blessed Man Psalm 1

Insulates Himself from Evil Influence Delight - literally desire or will, but more than just a disposition of the mind The law of the Lord - direction, instruction, law (BDB) Meditates day and night - reflecting the sighing and low sounds one may make while musing, at least as the ancients practiced it. The Blessed Man Psalm 1

Intentional in His Faith Planted - “transplanted” (BDB), “firmly planted so that no winds that wage around it may move it from its place” (JFB) Brings forth fruit in his season - the fruit which one expects from it, it yields... and that at its appointed, proper time (Keil and Delitzsch) Its leaf does not whither - due to intentional planting and proper sustenance The Blessed Man Psalm 1

A Contrasted Life 4 The wicked are not so, But they are like chaff which the wind drives away. Psalm 1:4 (NASB95) The Blessed Man Psalm 1

A Contrasted Life 24 The Lord bless you, and keep you; 25 The Lord make His face shine on you, And be gracious to you; 26 The Lord lift up His countenance on you, And give you peace.’ Numbers 6:24–26 (NASB95) The Blessed Man Psalm 1