Psalm 1:1-6 “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. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 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 Psalmist begins by speaking of a blessed man. The word “blessed” means to be happy or blessed and comes from a word meaning to be straight by being on the level, right, or happy; to be called blessed or happy, to go forward, to be honest. In verse 3, the Psalmist elaborates on the evidence of being “Blessed” when he said, “and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” The Psalmist speaks of this man being blessed in His Placement (planted by the rivers), His Product (his fruit), His Perseverance (leaf also shall not wither), and His Prosperity (shall prosper). While everyone wants these things, few are willing to do what is necessary to have them! Most believers will live their entire life being totally negative or totally positive; it’s all about their list of do’s and don’ts. Please carefully note that “Blessed is the man” that has a balance of positives and negatives. In verse 1, the man’s attitude was negative toward sin (walketh not, nor standeth, nor sitteth), but in verse 2, his appetite was positive toward the scriptures (his delight, doth he meditate). At my ordination, I was given a new Bible with these admonishing words written on the first page; “This book will keep you from sin and sin will keep you from this book.” That phrase emphasizes the same spiritual truth projected in Psalm 1. If I am to be the recipient of God’s blessings and enjoy a state of happiness on the journey, I must maintain a negative attitude toward sin and a positive appetite toward the scriptures! I must be balanced to be blessed!