Companions and the Blessed Life | Psalm 1:1–2

“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.”

The beatitude of blessedness—we could render this verse, “Happy is the man.”  Even so, our idea of happiness is too restrictive for the idea of blessedness, since it’s based on happenings, and blessedness goes to a deep-rooted joy that flourishes regardless of circumstances.  Whether the winter winds blow, or the spring showers bring life, the blessed life isn’t moved.

How do we get a blessed life?  When we try to impart advice for wise living to our children, we communicate in negatives and positives; we tell them what they should not do and what they should do.  The psalmist does just that in these first two verses; you’re blessed if you don’t partner with unbelievers, and you are blessed if you delight in Scripture.  Both are essential to attaining deep-rooted blessedness.

We read two sets of threes in the first verse—three terms for unbeliever, and our three positions with them.  The believer mustn’t be walking alongside the wicked man, following his way, for the end of enemies of the cross of Christ “is destruction” (Phili 3:19).  Standing in the path of sinners is but compromise.  Sitting with scoffers is to honor their foolish words with the weight of wisdom.  They harm us spiritually.

Have you thought about those you spend time with, either friends or those digitally beamed into your home via various media?  Avoid the temptation to surround yourself with those who will affirm your sin and deny your need for God’s grace.  This could be anyone from a neighbor who you’ve always known (to get you into trouble), to unbelieving celebrities, to scoffers who are seemingly well-educated experts in various fields.  They may guilt you, or try to persuade you, leading you down a path to ruin (cf. Pv 13:15).  

If these are the people we allow to speak into our lives, we will be blessed to find a different set of counselors—some who will lead us to Scripture and to Christ.  Get into a church that loves Scripture, and surround yourself with those who seeming to honestly take a delight in it.  

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