Daily devotion – Blessed
Psalm 1:1 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful…
Blessed – the Hebrew word best rendered – “How happy!” It is a word derived from a primitive word meaning literally, “to be straight”, which is used in the widest sense. Its real expression is that of prosperity, resulting in straightness.
This opening word indicates at once what man supremely desires for himself, and what God desires for him as well.
The man is psalm 1 who is blessed, is the man who is delighting in the Law of God, meditating on it, conforming to its requirements, is the man who is prosperous. Just as the Lord spoke to Joshua when he was about to assume leadership from Moses.
Joshua 1:7 “Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.
It is this man who is the happy man.
The positive teaching is further strengthened by the negative – Psalm 1:4 The ungodly are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.
In the wicked person’s counsel, their way, their seat, there is no permanence, and therefore no true prosperity, and so no real blessedness.
The purpose of the Word of God is ever that of ensuring the prosperity, the happiness of man.
It is framed in infinite wisdom, and inspired by perfect love!
To rebel against it is foolishness and the most definite wickedness. To obey it however, is the true wisdom, and the one and only goodness.
Misery is the outcome of wickedness and happiness is the offspring of goodness.
The Word of God discovers to man the way of goodness, and so teaches him or her the way of happiness – blessed!