The Blessed Life (Psalm 1)

Starting today, taking a quick break – Search for a King – 1 and 2 Sam. 4 weeks in the Psalms. Today – Psalm 1. Bible. Turn. I think it’s probably a toss up between Ge.1, Mt.1, and Ps.1, which is the most read chapter of the bible. Some people start in the very beginning, others start with the New Testament cause they want to get straight to Jesus, and then others start with the Psalms because they seem so relatable, they’re short, and it’s close to the middle of the bible – it’s right there when you open up randomly.

We don’t do this often… ***STAND*** for the reading of God’s Word. Text: Psalm 1 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; ² but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. ³ 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. ⁴ The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. ⁵ Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; ⁶ for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

Intro: If you could pick one thing that would make all the other things in your life work. – If I had this one thing, I would consider myself – Happy. What would it be? Depending on your life stage – 

University – Right, Top

Friends

Spouse

Kids

Career – Fulfilled. Purpose

Money – Comfort/Pleasure

How many can say right now? -I’m happy. (If you’re happy and you know, clap your hands. – Not very many…? Sad or Cultural) If you had this one thing, would it truly make you happy? Would it sustain you if everything else in your life fell apart? 

Context: Psalms – Hymnal for God’s people. Psalm 1 – Intro to the entire book. 

¹ 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; 

Blessed – Happy. Happy is the person – starts with some negatives – is not the one who… (NET Bible Notes)

1. Walks in the counsel of the wicked – Listening to the advice of those who hate God’s commands/Word
2. Stands in the way of sinners – To closely associate with the lifestyle of sinners – their sinful behavior contrary to God’s Word
3. Sits in the seat of scoffers – Scoffers – arrogant/proud, reject godly wisdom and correction. Sitting – completely identifying with their proud, sinful plans and behavior.

1. The blessed person doesn’t try to live or belong in the world. 

Not necessarily those the typical evil people that first come to mind when we think about the wicked – terrorists, human traffickers, murders, etc. We know they are bad. 

The wicked/sinners/scoffers – They’re anyone who lives their lives in a way that opposes God. They deny God – that he exists. They proudly oppose his ways. – They live as if they are king. (Series) “There is no God.” Do whatever seems good to them. Whatever benefits them. These are people who live for the world and for themselves…

Power – Oppress and take advantage of people. 

Money – Greedy. Cheat. Steal. Stingy.

Lust – Satisfy the flesh.

Proud – Untouchable. The rules don’t apply to them. Do whatever they want without consequences.

The tricky thing is – Many of the wicked people in the world – They look like they’re doing just fine. Lots of money. Lots of comforts. Lots of leisure. Their lives look amazing. If we are honest with ourselves – We often find ourselves coveting/envying their lives. We wish and fantasize about what our lives would be like if we were famous, rich, powerful – like them. 

Ps. 73 talks about this… ³ For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. ⁴ For they have no pangs until death; their bodies are fat and sleek. ⁵ They are not in trouble as others are; they are not stricken like the rest of mankind. ⁶ Therefore pride is their necklace; violence covers them as a garment. ⁷ Their eyes swell out through fatness; their hearts overflow with follies. ⁸ They scoff and speak with malice; loftily they threaten oppression. ⁹ They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongue struts through the earth…¹¹ And they say, “How can God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?” ¹² Behold, these are the wicked; always at ease, they increase in riches.

Everything looks good. Nothing is missing. Nothing bad is in their lives. They must be happy. Lives must be filled with joy, love, laughter, and rainbows.

But Ps. 1 – the person who is blessed/happy is NOT the one who doesn’t know God and whose life consists of those things. Blessing is not primarily stuff – earthly prosperity, riches, comfort, security. Those are usually the things when we think of when we think about blessings. Opposite – Blessed/Happy – The ones who are wise enough not to live this way and prioritize the things of the world.

You may think you’re dabbling in the world and sin a little and everything’s ok. Not really hurting anyone. But sin is like a rip current – sweep you from the safety of the shore/shallow out to the middle of the ocean in an instant. And your life is fully in danger. Progression – Walking in counsel – Think. Standing in the Way – Behavior. Sitting – Belonging. It’s who you become.

So if you don’t want your life ruined by sin, then don’t mess around with sin in the first place. If you don’t want to go to the destination, then don’t get on that train. The blessed/happy person keeps himself from the world. If you want to be happy. Don’t follow the world. The world does not change the blessed/happy person and shape who they become. Instead…

² but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. 

Again – How many of you feel blessed by God? When you look at your life? You might be tempted to think about all the things you have or don’t have to measure whether God has blessed you.

And I would challenge you that you don’t feel blessed, not because you don’t have more stuff in your life, but because you don’t richly have the Word of God in your life. 

2. The blessed person delights in and is rooted in God’s word. To be Happy/Blessed – Know God and his word. To find life in knowing his truth.

Can you really say you delight in the law of the Lord, in God’s Word, the Bible? Not just reading. Not just doing. But delight. Delight – You find joy in it. Crave. Can’t get enough. Intensely study. Meditate – Mumbling/Repeating it to yourself. You wake up and you can’t wait to open up your Bible and just be with God, hear from him, be changed by him. Day. And it’s the last thing on your mind before you fall asleep. 

Usually – I have to get this done so I can go about the rest of my day to the really important stuff. Or if I have time at the end of the day, I’ll squeeze it in – and you rarely do. It’s the last on your priority and to do list. And you treat it as optional. OR – I get my fill at church.

Look at how Ps. 19, 119 talk about God’s Word…

Ps. 19 ⁷ The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; ⁸ the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; ⁹ the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;

the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. ¹⁰ More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. ¹¹ Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

Ps. 119. Longest chapter in the bible. Acrostic. 22 sections, 8 verses each. 176 verses. Longer than 29 books of the bible.

¹ Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord! ² Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart.

¹⁴ In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches. ¹⁵ I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. ¹⁶ I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.

¹⁰⁵ Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

¹⁷⁴ I long for your salvation, O Lord, and your law is my delight.

Moses – Deut. 32 ⁴⁷ For it is no empty word for you, but your very life…

Listen – You cannot be blessed/happy apart from his Word – knowing God – and delighting in him. It’s not possible. If you’re stressed, overwhelmed, frustrated, and unhappy with life, it may very well be because you’ve been starving yourself of God’s Word – from his promises and goodness to you. Because it is impossible to be unhappy when you’re rooted in it and living it out.

Well, how’s that possible?…

³ 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. 

Notice – Happiness is not found in yourself or in the world. It’s not self-fulfillment – discovering something within you or fulfilling your dreams and desires. Your happiness/fruitfulness/fulfillment and whether you will be able to endure the seasons of life is dependent only on one thing – the stream you are drawing life from.

So what are you drawing life from? What you consume determines a lot of who you become. And if you don’t know – What kind of fruit are you bearing? Does the fruit your life is bearing show you’re more like the world or more like God?

Most people – They draw life from whatever content they look at on their phones. From social media influencers – Crazy. You draw life advice and are influenced by people who 1) You don’t really know them – you’ve never met them, had a conversation with them – they’re strangers. And you only think you know them because you follow them on whatever platform – But you only see one side of them – the content they allow you to see. And maybe the even bigger problem is 2) They definitely don’t know you. They don’t know your name. They probably don’t even follow you back. 

So why in the world would you allow someone like this to have so much influence and power over you? Cause here’s what eventually happens – You start to desire the things they desire. You start to think what they think. You want to do what they do. And you bear the fruit they bear because that’s the stream you’re drawing life from.

And no matter how promising, how glamorous and amazing their life looks – They/Their counsel will always lead to disappointment.

Your happiness/success in life, your prosperity, your fruitfulness in life – primarily dependent on one thing – Do you delight in God’s Word and are you deeply rooted in it? Are you planted by the streams of water and drawing life from it?

Happiness/Fruitfulness/Success that comes from being with God – Not getting into the right university, getting the right degree, the right job, finding the right spouse, having the perfect number of children, your children succeeding, having lots of money…(though He may give you these things…)

Fruit – Not because you deserve it or worked for it. Fruit – From God. Jesus – Abiding. John 15. Apart from me, you can do nothing. Fruit – WORD – From being with him. Looking at him. = Becoming like him. Again, the psalmists understood this – Why they talk about the love and presence of God as being so wonderful…

Ps. 16:11 You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Ps. 63 ¹ O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. ² So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. ³Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.

Ps. 84 ¹⁰ For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere.

Is this how you feel towards God – There’s nothing else I’d rather be doing. Nowhere else I’d rather be. PRESENCE – This is the blessed life, where joy is found. He’s all I need. In his presence, there’s fullness of joy and pleasures forever. In his presence, there’s safety and security – Shelter/Strong Tower – When life comes for you, it can’t touch you – Withstand – Seasons. Your leaf doesn’t wither. God’s got you. You’ve hid your life in Christ, in his Word.

Think – Value – It’s vital. You know. You agree. Ex: RM100m – Never read your bible again. Would you take it? Some of you would be tempted. It’s a lot of money and could change your life. Would you be sad to turn it down? Maybe. But if you would turn it down, and there’s no amount of money I could give you – Bible has infinite value – So why are you not completely immersed in it? You should be devouring – delighting in it day and night.

Why every Sunday here at Garden City, in our Community Groups, in our Men’s and Women’s Bible Studies, in Student Ministry, in our Kids Ministry, EVERY – We open the Word of God and hear from him. – You don’t need to know my personal thoughts – I have a lot of them and I think they are good. – But they don’t do anything for you. The Word of God in your life changes everything. 

Practical – (Personal. Daily)

1. Start with a reasonable/doable goal. – BRP. – I’m going to read every day for 1hr. – Love the heart but it’s probably not going to happen. 
2. Start the morning, every morning. Miss – Night.
3. Use a physical bible. Know yourself.
4. Don’t have your phone or other distractions by you.
5. Don’t let having to catch up stop you. If you’re a week/month behind, don’t worry. Just pick up on that day. 
6. Memorize Scripture. Meditate.
7. Pray Scripture. – Fruit.

Make it so normal that something is seriously wrong to go without reading your Bible. – You know that feeling when you’ve forgotten and don’t have your phone? You feel naked, starved without it. Where’s my phone? Where’s my phone? – Even if you know you forgot it at home – You keep reaching for it. – I need it. I crave it. I can’t be without it. And that feeling is how we were always meant to feel but with God…

–Ge.1 – We were created by the life giving breath of God. And we were always supposed to be sustained by it. 

–2Tim. 3 ¹⁶ All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, ¹⁷ that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 

–Jn. 20:22 – Jesus – Breathes on the disciples – Receive the Holy Spirit – The life giving Spirit of God.

Ventilator (Ever?) Breath of God/Word of God – Ventilator – Sustains our lives. Without him/his Word, there is no life. Through his Word, God breathes life and healing into all the places in your life. Why – This is the blessed/happy person. – Life breathed into you. Truly living.

If you think you’re good but you haven’t been in the Word – drawing life from God, something is wrong. – You’re not doing as well as you think you are. Most likely – Walking, Standing, Sitting with the world. Because you never naturally drift towards God, definitely not apart from his word. It’s always away from him.

This is the single most important thing you can do to change your life to be happy. Not just a book of stories and laws – though it has those. When you open your Bible – You are meeting with God. The Holy Spirit is showing you the incredible love God has for you. And if he loves you – you’re loved by your Creator, the God of the universe – You are blessed – You have everything. Doesn’t matter if you have nothing else.

When you draw from the Word/God like this – Effect – Look/Be different from the world. Because you have a different love, values, live and give differently – honoring God is your highest priority and joy – Fruit of the Spirit – Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-Control.

Holiness – Sets you apart from the world. X Isolation. Instead of belonging to the world – You need to find your belonging in God and in the church – The people you live life with matter. You need people who influence and shape how you think, how you behave, and remind you who you belong to according to God’s Word. Holiness – becoming more and more like God – Never just personal…

3. The blessed person is the one who is a blessing to others. Tree – Fruit – Benefits others. The person who is truly happy is the one who is a blessing to others. Instead of the world changing you, you change the world. This is how we were created…

Imago Dei – Trinity – 1 God. 3 Persons – Father, Son, Spirit – Holy, Holy, Holy. Self-giving, loving relationship for all eternity. Who he was, is, always will be. WE – Self-giving, loving relationship with God and others. The measure/test of whether we are truly delighting in God and his word – Does the fruit show it? Are we a blessing to others? – Primarily – Do we share where true life is found? SENT. Do we share the gospel with others? And can nonbelievers tell there’s something different about you – They enjoy being around you. They’re attracted to you. – GRACE. If you’re not a blessing to those around you – and it’s only personal – Then you’re not really growing in holiness or Christ-likeness. 

(Quickly…) ⁴ The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Unlike the tree that is rooted firmly, bears fruit, and weathers every storm and season. Wicked – Blown away. Worthless.

⁵ Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; Psalmist (73) – Don’t envy or covet the wicked – Their end is certain.

⁶ for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

Ps.1 – Starts with the word Blessed/Happy – Isolate themselves from the influence of the wicked – and ends with Perish – because the wicked will be isolated from God. Matter of salvation/eternity. Important – Not so much about do you know God but does God know you… 

What kind of life do you want? There’s a life that on the outside everything may look ok. But on the inside, there’s emptiness. But there’s another kind of life where even if everything around you is falling apart, there’s an unshakable hope and joy that can never be taken from you. Which do you want?

You can’t be one foot in and one foot out. You can’t be one person when you’re with your nonbelieving friends and another when you’re at church. There’s a medical diagnosis for people who have multiple personalities or think/act they’re multiple people. Not good. You’re either all in or all out and you have to make a decision. 

Conclusion/Gospel: Ps. 1 – Song. People of God sung Ps.1 to remind themselves to tether their lives to God, his Word – because that’s the only way to be blessed/happy. That’s why Jesus is the only way to be truly blessed/happy…We failed to delight in God’s Word and obey it. – Death and separation from God. But…

Jesus is the Word of God – He is the perfect fulfillment of the law. All of Scripture points to him. Bible – Primarily not about us. All about God/Jesus and his love for us. All of God’s promises find their yes and amen in Jesus. And he became flesh. He became one of us to restore us back to God through his perfect life, death in our place, and resurrection so we can be with him forever. – If you have him, you have life. You have everything you need for happiness and everlasting joy.  

Jesus’ invitation – know him and draw life from him. All the other places you try to draw life from in this world will leave you dry and empty. Not – Are you good enough. Have you done enough to save yourself? Receive. Believe. He’s already done everything necessary to save you.